Central Colombia in flames after military attempt to clear nature reserve goes awry
by Adriaan Alsema February 23, 2020
Two soldiers were killed, one was taken hostage and a major forest fire broke out in central Colombia after military efforts to try to evict communities living in a nature reserve went awry, local media reported on Saturday.
Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo‘s order to deploy the military to evict communities from the Tinigua nature reserve descended into chaos almost immediately.
The Environment Ministry using the military?
The defense minister and Environment Minister Ricardo Lozano invited national press to the remote area for a propaganda outing, presumably not expecting they were walking into a disaster.
Trujillo’s “Operation Artemisa” triggered deadly violence between the local communities, presumed FARC dissidents, environmental officials and members of the security forces.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/central-colombia-in-flames-after-military-use-in-environmental-operation-goes-awry/
