A married couple and six neighbors. All evangelicals, all farmers who came from other lands to progress in a region plagued by settlers. The guerrilla group summoned them in early April and they never showed signs of life again. The authorities have also not taken actions to secure their freedom. Local leaders shield themselves behind the dangerousness of the area. And the military remains silent, causing anguish to the relatives of Óscar García, Maryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza, James Caicedo, and Jesús Valero. "Apart from serving Christ, he served the community," commented a relative of Caicedo.
"Apart from serving Christ, he served the community," commented a relative of Caicedo, 58 years old and father of two children.
It happened in the department of Guaviare, in the Colombian Orinoquía, in Pueblo Seco, a hamlet in the municipality of Calamar, a population that is always under the control of a criminal gang. Previously, it was the Farc led by Timochenko, now the leader of the political party Comunes. And now there are two dissident Farc groups - led by aliases Mordisco and Calarcá - who are the owners of the territory. Both groups used to be one, but they split last year and have been at war since then, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
This newspaper asked a commander of one of the Farc factions if he knew anything about their whereabouts. He responded with a cryptic message that did not clarify anything and only hinted at the complexity of the situation.
The families still do not know which group has them or why they are not being released. Only that on April 4, two of them were summoned, and the next day, five more. Maribel Silva, a mother of two young children, accompanied her husband believing they would return within a few hours. In Colombia, controlled by terrorist groups, it is normal to attend the meetings they convene since they exercise real authority.
Far from Guaviare, in southern Caquetá, Sandra Milena Martínez's husband is desperate due to the kidnapping of his wife. Mordisco's Farc abducted her in November, four months pregnant, and they have not provided any proof of life or made any economic demands.
"I think she has already given birth. It's a boy, and when they took her, we were deciding on a name for him. I don't understand why they don't tell me what they want," Camilo, who prefers not to give his last name, told this newspaper.
The UN and the Ombudsman's Office have called for her release, but they have not received any response. Martínez worked for an NGO dedicated to supporting rural communities. She never had problems with the guerrilla group, threats, or anything that suggested she could be kidnapped.
Also in Caquetá, the two dissident groups are engaged in a confrontation with gunfire. The same is happening in Cauca, although in the western department of Colombia, where the bloody confrontation also involves the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, the ELN, and the New Marquetalia (another Farc dissident group).
Attacks on police stations and the Army are constant. They are being bombed with drones, a weapon that the Armed Forces do not even have to counteract them.
On May 14, Mordisco's Farc committed three simultaneous attacks in Timba, El Plateado, and Tacueyó, resulting in one death, several injuries, and severe material damage to homes in the three towns.
"We raise our voice from the territory, No more indifference! We cannot be condemned to oblivion!" Octavio Guzmán, governor of Cauca, wrote on his social media, tired of the subversive attacks and never seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
They recalled the attack by Mordisco's Farc exactly a year ago. They riddled the police station with bullets, killing two police officers and two prisoners who were in the cells. Then they raided the Banco Agrario and took a hefty loot.
"We need urgent support," the officers pleaded with their superiors. "My sergeant, don't let me die. Support on the ground, help me with support." But reinforcements were not sent in time.
The recurring lack of effective response from military and security forces, which the Government of Gustavo Petro has weakened with drastic budget cuts and the removal of high-ranking officials, is the constant criticism of the political opposition, as well as the mayors and governors affected by the terrorist wave.
In the neighboring town of Jamundí, bordering Cali in the department of Valle del Cauca, Angie Bonilla, mother of Lyan, an 11-year-old boy kidnapped by the Farc on May 3, pleaded for his freedom during a citizen demonstration that took to the streets of the municipal seat. Although Gustavo Petro is very active on his X account, he has not written a single line about the boy yet.
Jamundí has also been the scene of bombings and homicides for months.
Regarding the so-called Plan pistola by the AGC, another headache that involves assassinating police officers anywhere, whether they are on duty or off. There have been 23 deaths due to a plan initiated to avenge the arrests of some leaders.
Although there are more departments affected by terrorism, perhaps the region of Catatumbo, which includes 11 municipalities in Norte de Santander, is facing the most difficult situation. Bordering Venezuela, it remains embroiled in the war declared by the ELN, with the support of the Chavista government, against the Farc of Calarcá since last January. According to the latest report from the governor's office, there have been 130 civilian homicides; thirteen military and police officers killed, in addition to 66,468 people who have had to flee their homes and 11,490 who cannot leave their hamlets to safeguard their lives.
The majority of the victims are caused by the ELN, despite which President Petro insists on resuming the peace process with this criminal group. A step that few believe will have a future because even within the ELN, there is no unanimity on the steps to follow, and they have not even agreed to stop kidnapping citizens as a means of financing.
Petro reported that last Monday, during his audience with León XIV, he asked the Pope for the Vatican to host new peace talks. However, the Holy See had to deny in a statement that this point was discussed. It is worth noting that Gustavo Petro promised during his campaign and upon assuming the presidency that he would achieve peace with the ELN in just three months.