Human Rights Watch blames Colombia attacks on failed peace policy
Human Rights Watch (HRW) blamed the attacks on President Gustavo Petro's controversial 'total peace' policy, arguing that it has failed to curb the power of armed groups.
'The absence of effective security and justice measures has allowed armed groups to expand their control and increase their capacity to inflict harm — even in major cities,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at HRW.
Authorities have attributed the attacks to dissident factions of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), led by Iván Mordisco. These groups rejected the 2016 peace agreement and have since intensified violent operations.
The wave of explosions rocked southwest Colombia is believed to be targeting the country's police.
According to police reports, the attacks included four car bombs, three motorcycle bombs, 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), gunfire, and the discovery of two gas-cylinder bombs planted on public roads.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia also condemned the 'indiscriminate attacks,' citing serious human rights violations.
'We stand in solidarity with the victims, civil authorities, military and police in Cauca and Valle del Cauca, and with Colombian society during this difficult time,' said Scott Campbell, the UN's top human rights official in Colombia.
The UN called for thorough investigations and accountability for both the perpetrators and the masterminds behind the attacks. 'Justice is not only a fundamental right of victims,' Campbell added, 'but also an effective means to fight impunity and prevent future violence.'
In response, the Colombian government announced the creation of a new elite unit — the Multicrime Search Units — to combat the growing threat from criminal organizations in the region.
The unit will be led by a colonel and include experts in intelligence, criminal investigation, and urban operations. It will coordinate with the military and the Attorney General's Office, said General Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán, director of the National Police.
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