EL UNIVERSAL

Venezuelan Minister of the Interior and Justice Pedro Carreño Tuesday clarified that, based on investigations conducted by the Scientific, Crime and Criminalistics Corps (Cicpc), the irregular forces acting on the Venezuela-Colombia border are "dissident groups" rather than "constituted groups," and claimed that such organizations "come to Venezuela to find logistic input."

"Obviously, when there is a conflict in a given territory, any neighbor territory free from conflict is useful as a logistic base. Therefore, irregular groups on the Colombia-Venezuela border come to our country to find their logistic input, through involvement in cattle thief, extortion, kidnappings, drug traffic, and other crimes that are usual in border areas," Carreño said before submitting the annual report of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice to the Venezuelan Legislature.

He added that he was meeting Wednesday with the Inspector Office of the National Armed Force (FAN) in order to reconsider the role of the military theaters of operations located on the border.

"We are going to make some recommendations for optimized performance of these military units." Carreño stated that the Colombia-Venezuela border "has a very high production potential that is underused because of prevailing insecurity."

Church rejects attacks
Priest Antonio José Pérez Cardozo, general vicar of the diocese of San Fernando de Apure, in southwestern Apure state, on Venezuela-Colombia border, condemned raids by insurgent groups in Alto Apure region. "The Catholic Church regrets such violent events in our communities because most of the times they result in victims. The Church does not accept the culture of violence."

He added he was deeply concerned about the reports made by Grupo Pastoral El Nula about hired murders, kidnappings and forced recruitment of youth in the area.

Pérez Cardoso praised Mayor Jorge Rodríguez actions vis-à-vis the irregular groups, but added: "as a priest I can notice that there is a lack of authority and leadership by the regional government. I hope that Governor Jesús Aguilarte reacts and does something for the communities in Alto Apure."

For residents in Alto Apure, living in fear and uncertainty is "normal," as they are usually exposed to armed clashes between Colombian irregular forces. Last February 22nd, the militia of Front Domingo Laín, Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), and Front 10 of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), shot each other in broad daylight in town El Amparo. They were fighting to hold control over this territory, just like they have for the last few years, but this time innocent people was hit. A four-year-old girl was killed and another boy and two adults were injured.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
msuarez@eluniversal.com