The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, has urged mayors and regional administrations to get directly involved in the fight against crime, emphasizing that "they should not get used to living with problems." His message is framed within the line of firmness in security that he has adopted since taking office and in which he has reiterated his refusal to engage in conversations with criminal organizations.
"To achieve peace, I will not negotiate with terrorism; I am confronting it with all the capacity of the State within the framework of the Constitution and the law and under the protection of the rule of law until defeating crime in all its expressions," he emphasized at an event held in Cúcuta, an area where Colombian authorities have recently intensified their operations.
De la Espriella has insisted that Colombia, during the last four years, referring to the mandate of Gustavo Petro, "was governed by a government complacent with terrorism" and that, in his view, that stage "teaches that the normalization of crime is impossible."
In this context, he has stressed that his purpose is "to restore security to the homeland by reason or by force." "I have the decision, the fervor, the character, and the authority to do so. I have a vigorous public force and the necessary means to defeat crime," he added, making it clear that he hopes to count on the support of municipal and district leaders as partners in this strategy.
The new Colombian head of state, who has not yet completed a month in office, has stated that his aspiration is to leave a Colombia "transformed into a haven of peace," "where families can live without fear and where the legitimate authority of the State is felt in every corner."
In the same vein, the Minister of Defense, General Jorge Mora, has emphasized that "terrorists are not negotiated with fear nor is ground conceded to them." "They are confronted with all the legitimate capacity of the State," he insisted, following the offensive announced in response to the car bomb attack by the ELN in Cúcuta, which left one dead and eleven injured.
"What happened in Cúcuta demonstrates that the timely reaction of our Public Force can make the difference between a threat and a tragedy," he stated, defending the operation with which Bogotá claims to have prevented another possible car bomb attack.
Mora has warned that Colombia "does not kneel before terrorism." "The security of citizens comes first, and those who threaten it must answer before justice," he has concluded.