ConflictBarometer_2016

THE AMERICAS
COLOMBIA (ELN)
Intensity: 4 | Change: | Start: 1964
Conflict parties:
ELN vs. government
Conflict items: system/ideology, subnational predominance,
resources
The conflict over the orientation of the political system, subnational
predominance, and resources between the Army of
National Liberation (ELN) and the government escalated to a
limited war as the government stepped up military pressure
on the group.
The Marxist-Leninist ELN, estimated to count about 2,500
armed members, concentrated its activities in the Norte
de Santander, Arauca, Chocó, Antioquia, and Nariño departments,
among others. The group financed itself mainly
through involvement in the production and commercialization
of narcotics, extortion, illegal mining, and kidnapping.
At least 97 combatants and civilians were killed throughout
the year. The government stated that 49 ELN members were
killed and 434 captured in security operations until December.
On February 8, after an ELN attack on a military base in Arauca,
President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the security forces to
concentrate efforts on combating the ELN and intensify actions
against the group. The Colombian Air Force (FAC) repeatedly
targeted ELN camps with Tucano aircrafts, in particular in
Chocó and Arauca. For instance, in Litoral de San Juan, Chocó,
on March 13, military and police conducted ajoint operation
which included airstrikes and the deployment of ground
troops, killing seven militants. In the same municipality, FAC
killed three ELN members and injured another in airstrikes
on April 10. Due to the military operation, more than 450
indigenous people were displaced. In Arauca, an airstrike left
at least six ELN members dead in Puerto Rendón on February
20. On September 3, airstrikes against an ELN camp in Fortul
affected an indigenous reserve. While no one was injured, a
school building and a health center were reportedly damaged.
The conflict also spilled over into neighboring Venezuela. On
August 8, Venezuelan security forces clashed with the ELN
in Apure state, killing at least two ELN fighters. In ajoint operation
between Colombian and Venezuelan security forces
on September 6, one ELN member was killed and six were
captured in Las Palmas, Apure.
Throughout the year, the ELN targeted members and facilities
of the security forces, often in drive-by shootings and with
hit-and-run tactics. For instance, on July 3, the ELN allegedly
killed four marines and one soldier on the Orinoco river at
the Venezuelan border in Puerto Carreño, Vichada. On December
13, the ELN killed two police officers with explosives
and machine guns in Saravena, Arauca.
The ELN caused significant disruptions to the economy, security,
and public services during two ''armed strikes”. The first
one, from February 14 to 17, commemorated the anniversary
of the death of ELN leader Camilo Torres Restrepo in 1966. It
included mobility restrictions and the closing down of businesses
and schools, affecting 2.2 million people according to
UNOCHA. During the strike, the ELN killed two policemen in
Olaya Herrera, Nariño, and another in Ocaña, Norte de Santander.
Three municipalities were left without power after
an ELN attack on apower pylon in Aguachica, Cesar. During
a second ''armed strike” from September 12 to 15, schools,
businesses, and public transport in six departments were affected.
The ELN also targeted the country's infrastructure. The Caño
Limón-Coveñas oil pipeline was attacked 31 times up to
September. For instance, on April 28, the ELN caused an explosion
at the pipeline in Saravena, Arauca, leaving Arauquita
municipality without water.
The ELN presence as well as combats with security forces
caused displacement, particularly in Chocó. In April, in Bajo
Baudó, confrontations between the ELN and the military led
to the displacement of more than 600 indigenous people. In
March and April, more than 3,000 persons were displaced in
Litoral de San Juan due to the presence of the ELN as well
as confrontations between the military and armed groups [→
Colombia (neo-paramilitary groups, drug cartels)]. In December,
the ELN forcibly displaced approx. 2,000 people in the
same municipality.
Efforts to settle the conflict continued. While the conflict parties
engaged in pre-negotiations, formal peace talks were not
held. On March 31, the ELN and the government announced
to begin official negotiations. The peace talks were supposed
to be initiated in Quito, Ecuador, on October 27. However,
Santos had previously conditioned the initiation upon the
ELN stopping its practice of kidnapping. The government
canceled the start of the talks last-minute as the ELN had not
released a high-profile hostage, Odín Sánchez. kgr
COLOMBIA (FARC)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1964
Conflict parties: FARC vs. government
Conflict items: system/ideology, subnational predominance,
resources
The conflict over the orientation of the political system, subnational
predominance, and resources between the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government
de-escalated to aviolent crisis. The Marxist-Leninist
FARC, which according to their recent figures comprised 5,765
armed members, financed their activities through involvement
in drug production and trafficking, extortion, and illegal
mining.
The peace negotiations initiated in 2012 continued in Havana,
Cuba, resulting in the signing of an amended peace
agreement on November 24 and its approval by Congress on
December 1. The first peace deal had been signed in September
and was rejected in a plebiscite in October. Beside a bilateral
ceasefire, the agreement included the establishment of
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