According to information published by Week Magazinethe Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) established its official position after the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences confirmed the identification of several minors among the fatal victims of the clashes that occurred in the Barranco Colorado village, rural area of San José del Guaviare.
The events were recorded on May 27 during combats between dissidents led by alias Iván Mordisco and alias Calarcá. After completing the forensic work, Legal Medicine confirmed that among the deceased were 11 minors, a situation that provoked an immediate reaction from the authorities in charge of child protection.
Forensic Medicine completed the process of addressing and identifying 43 of the 48 bodies recovered after the armed clashes. According to the official report, 39 of the identified victims are men and nine are women.
Within the balance provided by the forensic authority, it was established that among the victims are 11 minors, of which eight are men and three are womena finding that increased the concern of state entities about the recruitment of children and adolescents in areas affected by the armed conflict.
According to the report cited by Week Magazinefive of the bodies have not yet been fully identified. Identification efforts continue while authorities advance the corresponding judicial and forensic procedures.
The case became one of the most serious episodes recorded in recent months in the country due to the high number of victims and the presence of minors within the illegal armed structures that operate in that region.
The situation also led to statements from different national entities, including the Ministry of Defense and the Attorney General’s Office, which condemned what happened and asked for progress in the investigations to establish responsibilities.
Faced with the results revealed by Legal Medicine, the general director of the ICBF, Astrid Eliana Cáceres, pointed out that the death of the minors reflects the consequences of recruitment by illegal armed groups.
According to statements collected by Week Magazinethe official assured that the war practices of illegal structures continue to put the lives of children and adolescents in different regions of the country at risk.
“The war practices of Iván Mordisco and other illegal groups continue to murder and put the lives of children at risk”Cáceres expressed through a public message.
The director also highlighted that during the last three years the authorities have managed to rescue more than 500 minors from illegal armed organizations and that currently about 300 children and adolescents participate in separation and recovery programs.
The statement included a direct condemnation of the events recorded in Guaviare. “We condemn that in the Guaviare confrontation they murdered 11 boys and girls who should never have been linked to their war”said the official.
Likewise, he called on armed organizations to respect the norms of international humanitarian law, separate minors from their structures and allow communities affected by violence to live without pressure from illegal groups.
The director of the ICBF concluded by pointing out that no armed confrontation can justify the participation of children and adolescents in activities related to war and reiterated that the protection of children must be a priority in any scenario in the country.
