Eln and Epl deny their responsibility in the massacre of El Tarra

Authorities confirmed Tuesday morning that in the massacre committed in this municipality of Norte de Santander, 9 people died and 2 were wounded.

The two National Liberation Army (Eln) as The People's Liberation Army (EPL) dismissed the massacre committed on Monday, July 30 in the 39; El Tarra, in the Catatumbo area, in the north of Santander, and denied any responsibility in it.

"We reject the facts in the municipality of El Tarra and we want to clarify to the community of the department and especially to the relatives and friends of the victims of this war action that violates international humanitarian law, that our organization of This has nothing to do with this attack and we reaffirm that one of our pillars is to defend the population and its permanence in the territory, "said the statement issued by Epl since Tuesday evening.

Lea: Denunciation of the massacre of at least seven people in El Tarra

For its part, from Havana, Cuba, the ELN also rejected the act . "We express our public and categorical condemnation of the massacre committed in the municipality of El Tarra," said the guerrillas in the communication issued Tuesday morning and signed by the dialogues of the delegation for peace. "We call for a quick, independent and effective investigation to find those responsible for this mass killing, which increases the state of anxiety that lives in this region," they said.

The massacre was originally attributed to the clashes that these two armed groups suffered in this region for several months and which paralyzed Catatumbo . The conflict between these guerrillas has already displaced hundreds of people from these municipalities in northern Santander and has caused indefinite suspension of classes in several schools in the region.

Measures of the authorities

For his part, Secretary of the Victims, Peace and Post-conflict of the North of Santander, Luis Fernando Niño accompanied the mayor of El Tarra, Jose de Dios Toro as well as the commander in charge of the police of Norte de Santander, the generals of the army, the Municipal Personality, the UNP, among other authorities, have confirmed that the number of deaths left by the massacre is 9 people as well as 2 wounded. Among them, two dead were part of the peace process with the FARC, as ex-combatants, as well as one of the wounded, all certified by the Office of the High Commission for Peace .

Read also: Santos promises to capture those responsible for the massacre in El Tarra

Niño also pointed out that the other victims are identified but that among them is the chairman of the Community Action Board of Kilómetro District 84, Frederman Quintero and one of the wounded is his brother.

"On the part of the National Police, an elite body coordinated by the Police and the Prosecutor immediately begins the investigation of the case, a police station with a special group of 39 Men will be strengthened with a device, an item will be brought Finally, the police will bring a group of prevention promoters into community care programs and the national army will increase the number of staff in the region, and This effort will be supported after these events and in coordination with the government of the department, a reward of 50 million pesos is offered to those who offer information, "said the secretary of the Department of Victims, Peace and Security. l & # 39; post-conflict.