Petro defended a military operation against a guerrilla group where 7 minors died
President Gustavo Petro stated that had the military attack not taken place, guerrilla members would have ambushed 20 soldiers
Colombian military forces carried out two bombings in Arauca and the jungle region of Guaviare, against the dissidents of Ivan Mordisco, one of the country's most wanted criminals.
In one of these attacks, 19 deaths were reported, including at least Seven minors, according to reports from the Ombudsman's Office and Forensic Medicine.
The fact that several children are among the victims calls into question Gustavo Petro's promise to comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in these operations.
Through social media, the Colombian Ombudsman's Office denounced this Saturday the deaths of the seven minors recruited by guerrillas.
“The principle of humanity must prevail over war. The Military Forces carried out an operation in Guaviare against the dissidents of Ivan Mordisco, in which the deaths of six children and adolescents, victims of forced recruitment, were confirmed, as well as the recovery of four unidentified bodies,” the publication in X states.
“This deeply regrettable event demands reiterating that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) establishes strict limits even within the framework of hostilities,” it adds.
Furthermore, Ombudsman Iris Marin sent an audio message to the Colombian press in which he stated: “All of this is regrettable; it is war in its painful and inhumane unfolding, affecting the most vulnerable: minors recruited due to a lack of protection and now turned into military targets.”
In response to these statements, President Gustavo Petro replied on social media.
“Of course, every death is regrettable, especially the death of minors. But if Ivan Mordisco’s 150 men were allowed to advance through the jungle, they would ambush 20 young soldiers who were a few kilometers away. Perhaps the criticism I would face today is because I allowed the soldiers to be ambushed,” the Colombian president wrote.
“I took, at the risk,the decision to save their lives. It's easy to paint maps red, it's difficult to recognize the risks of reclaiming territory,” Petro added.
The operation against Ivan Mordisco and his men, which resulted in the deaths of minors, has reignited the debate about the limits and responsibilities of the State in the recovery of territories controlled by armed actors.