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Mass Abduction of Military Personnel in Cauca Region
In a dramatic escalation of violence in southwestern Colombia, 45 soldiers have been kidnapped by a large crowd of approximately 600 people in the Micay canyon, according to Colombian military officials. The incident occurred during an anti-drug operation in the Cauca department, a region notorious for coca cultivation and rebel influence.
Operation Perseus Faces Fierce Resistance
The soldiers were conducting operations under 'Operation Perseus' - a year-long government initiative targeting armed groups and illegal coca cultivation in the strategic canyon area. The region remains under the influence of FARC dissident groups that broke away from the main rebel organization after the 2016 peace agreement.
A military spokesperson stated: Our personnel were surrounded while implementing measures to combat illegal coca leaf cultivation. This represents a serious challenge to state authority in remote regions.
Pattern of Military Abductions Emerges
This marks the second major kidnapping incident within a month. In August, 33 soldiers were abducted in the southern Guaviare department by villagers allegedly acting under orders from the same rebel faction. That confrontation resulted in eleven rebel casualties during preceding firefights.
According to El Tiempo newspaper, the situation in Micay canyon has been increasingly volatile, with authorities frequently encountering violent resistance. Just last week, a group of civilians attempted to burn two soldiers alive.
Historical Context of Colombian Conflict
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) waged a decades-long insurgency before signing a peace deal with the government in 2016. However, dissident factions who rejected the agreement continue to operate, particularly in remote rural areas where state presence remains limited. These groups often control territory through a combination of ideological appeal and involvement in the lucrative cocaine trade.
The Colombian government continues to struggle with establishing control over certain rural territories where drug cartels and rebel groups battle for dominance in areas abandoned by the demobilized FARC forces.
