Iris Marín, the Defensora del Pueblo, visited Huila for two days and voiced concerns over the expansion of armed groups, including a new permanent ELN presence, unprecedented in the department. She highlighted rising forced recruitment of minors and threats to communal leaders. Authorities and communities demand greater state presence and urgent national government support.
During her visit on Thursday in La Plata and Friday in Neiva, Iris Marín, the Defensora del Pueblo, responded to an urgent call from the Huila congressional delegation amid rising insecurity and human rights violations by armed groups, particularly FARC dissidents.
Marín noted that seven alerts from the Defensoría persist, warning of the expansion of Estado Mayor Central (EMC) dissidents from the 'Mordisco' line, with permanent presence in Huila from the Cauca region. She highlighted the new ELN presence, unseen before, as well as dissidents from 'Calarcá' and 'Segunda Marquetalia'. Operating in the area are fronts like 'Ismael Ruiz', led by alias 'Libardo González', and 'Hernando González Acosta', under alias 'Sebastián', from the 'Isaías Pardo' block commanded by 'Iván Mordisco'.
"Siguen persistiendo las alertas de la Defensoría del Pueblo; hay siete vigentes", Marín stated. She expressed concern over grave human rights violations, particularly affecting children, girls, and adolescents, with increased forced recruitment. This year, 10 cases were verified via the 'botón de reclutamiento', but communities report at least 10 more unregistered, and mayors indicate over 30 minors missing, presumed recruited. "Las comunidades nos informan que, en algunos municipios, las juntas de acción comunal intentan recuperar a unos 10 niños y niñas adicionales", she said.
Minors are lured with offers like cell phones or motorcycles, but Marín clarified that any recruitment of minors is a war crime. She also highlighted the prohibited use of drones with explosives, causing indiscriminate effects on civilians, violating International Humanitarian Law.
Attendees included congress members Esperanza Andrade, Carlos Julio González, Leila Rincón, and Flora Perdomo; Governor Rodrigo Villalba; Government Secretary Juan Carlos Casallas; and Pitalito Mayor Yider Luna. Villalba described the ELN presence as "una parte negativa", worrying due to its novelty, and stressed the need to focus efforts on public forces, investment, and state presence.
Senator González insisted on verifying compliance with the national Development Plan, requesting a high mountain battalion for western Huila, greater military presence, and surveillance cameras in municipalities like Neiva, Garzón, and Pitalito. Marín issued an urgent call to the National Government for immediate social investment and stronger institutional support, acknowledging the Governor's efforts but deeming them insufficient without central backing.