Ejercito Nacional de Colombia

It is clear that the FARC want to recover the strategic corridor of the Sumapaz, since it is in the entry gate to the capital of the country. The Armed Forces have known this for quite a while and for this reason they do not yield 1 cm in this area. Nevertheless, the guerrilla is unyielding in its intention and the proof of this is the so-called reawakening plan, conjured up by subversive group leader, alias Alfonso Cano, who has as an objective the recovery of several old pathways, among them, the mountain region which is adjacent to Bogotá.

The ones in charge of confronting this guerrilla threat are led by the Commander of the 13th brigade, General Juan Pablo Amaya Kerquelen, who agreed to an interview with newspaper EL NUEVO SIGLO to explain what the strategy is to assure that FARC no longer go back to the Sumapaz.

EL NUEVO SIGLO:- General, what is the military plan to assure public order in Cundinamarca and Bogota?
JUAN PABLO AMAYA KERQUELEN:- in the 13th brigades military plan has as a fundamental quest acceleration of the military defeat of the threat (from the guerrilla). We are aware of some of FARCs intentions of recovering some strategic corridors, but we consider it almost a suicidal attempt. We are continuously carrying out operations, in coordination with adjacent brigades and with the Joint Omega Force, because the fundamental objective is to defeat FARC and all other illegally armed groups.
Not only are we working in the combat field, but also on the Defense of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, because for us a demobilized individual is more important than a dead one. For this reason we are incentivating the demobilization of subversives and all support structures that these terrorists have in the jurisdiction, but luckily are but a few. Everything is done to preserve the levels of security and tranquility that prevail in the Department of Cundinamarca and the capital city.

ENS:- Is there a message for the people who live within the jurisdiction of the brigade?
JPAK:- first of all to highlight the commitment from the citizens with their country, because in Cundinamarca, and in Bogotá there have sprung up networks of cooperators are in at to provide information, the hand in hand with the Military Armed Forces and the Police Department, have resulted in the most important and significant results in the consolidation of peace, progress and development. In Cundinamarca and in the capital city one can see it growing development, more investment, due to better safety and the economy picking up thanks to security.
Of course security is the responsibility of each and every one of us and this concept of support from the civil population is fundamental and determining for the authorities. I am hereby inviting all of the citizens who observe any irregular actions or the presence of any suspicious individuals, to immediately get in touch with authorities in order to execute operations seeking to neutralize any attacks on public order, especially those directly and having to do with the community and the State.