Eight Venezuelan soldiers killed on the border with Colombia
The strategic operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) reported on Wednesday that eight Venezuelan soldiers lost their lives in the border fight against irregular groups in the national territory. The soldiers were identified as Naywill José Torres Moreno, Álvaro Mariño Osto, Luis David Lira Negrón, Michael Miguel Medina Sequera, Wilmer Ferrebus, Santiago Reyes Farfán, Andy José Miranda and Ronald José Marcano Castillo.
One of the general commanders of the Bolivarian Army, Domingo Hernández Lárez, paid tribute to his murdered comrades and confirmed the news via Twitter: "The Bolivarian Army pays posthumous tribute to S/A Wilmer Ferrebus, S/A Santiago Reyes Farfán, SM/1ra Andy José Miranda, SM/1ra Ronald José Marcano Castillo, who fell in the field of honour for the defence of the homeland. Peace to their souls! #FanbInDefenceOfDignity". The clashes between the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and Colombian guerrillas began on 21 March. The state of Apure has been the battleground, an area that borders the department of Arauca (Colombia), where one of the main entrances to drug trafficking routes is located. This conflict has caused 5,000 people to migrate from Venezuela to Colombia.
The Minister of Defence, Vladimir Padrino López, has reported an increase in the number of Venezuelan army troops deployed to the border in recent weeks. "Venezuela has its heroes; brave soldiers who, braving the greatest dangers, come to the defence of the homeland at the risk of giving their lives in this fight for our national sovereignty. Eternal honour and glory to our soldiers", said the Minister of Defence. According to this government body, the assassins were illegal Colombian groups in the town of La Victoria, Paez municipality, in the state of Apure. Several of the Venezuelan army corpses were recovered at the weekend by representatives of the Catholic Church, according to politician Walter Márquez. The Bishops' Conference in Venezuela preferred not to comment on the matter.
The NGO Human Rights Watch published a report on Monday in which it recounts the various violations of the human rights of the people of Apure, in addition to the case that the regime of Nicolás Maduro has before the International Criminal Court for allegedly committing crimes against humanity. The NGO reported cases since the beginning of the conflict in the area, where it found evidence of the execution of four peasants, arbitrary detentions, the prosecution of civilians before military tribunals and torture of residents who, according to the Venezuelan army, are allegedly collaborating with Colombian guerrillas. The Venezuelan foreign minister referred to this report; "our FANB protects the people by confronting irregular Colombian groups. Our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased troops. The usual opinionators attack it, while the #FANB strives to expel the violent ones to guarantee human rights to all", said Jorge Arreaza.
For years, FARC dissidents have coexisted well with the Venezuelan armed forces, and since Hugo Chávez came to power in Venezuela, the FARC has found a territorial refuge and centre of operations. On several occasions, both the former Venezuelan president and FARC leaders publicly acknowledged their ideological connection and common position against the Colombian state. After the signing of the Peace Accord in 2016, the guerrillas migrated to Venezuela to continue their criminal network on the other side of the border. While the Venezuelan army protected the guerrillas, both were profiting from the criminal networks of drug trafficking and illegal gold mining.
Today, we can observe how the FARC dissidence is divided into two groups, the group of Iván Márquez and Santrich who have a better relationship with the regime of Nicolás Maduro, while the group of alias Gentil Duarte seems to have been in charge of directing the attacks against the FANB.