Former guerrilla fighters and their families fled their homes in Miravalle, southern Colombia, en masse on Tuesday due to death threats from the Iván Díaz front, a rebellious faction active in the Caqueta province. This group accused the residents, all former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who had laid down arms in 2016, of aiding rival rebels. Given 40 days to vacate, over 80 individuals, including ex-fighters, spouses, and children, relocated on Tuesday to another village of former FARC members 200 km south, with assistance from the Colombian government.
The displaced families had resided in Miravalle since the 2016 peace agreement, which led to the creation of 24 Transition Spaces for Capacity Building and Reincorporation (ETCR), designed to help the former guerrillas reintegrate through farming and tourism ventures. Despite such efforts, security issues have plagued these communities. Carlos Zamudio, a former FARC combatant, expressed optimism in a video by the ARN agency, stating: "We are leaving this place, but we'll continue to focus on building peace."
Miravalle's evacuation is part of a broader trend impacting ETCRs. Once bustling with ex-FARC fighters working towards new beginnings, these areas have seen declining populations due to persistent threats and employment difficulties. Five ETCRs have now been deserted. As the Colombian government engages in peace negotiations with remaining rebel factions, ensuring the safety of former fighters remains fraught with challenges. A UN report from April noted 416 former FARC fighters had been murdered since the 2016 accord. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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