In the middle of a children’s party, shootings sow panic in a small town in Colombia

Shots rang out in El Tarra, a small town in northern Colombia, on the sidelines of activities for “Children’s Day” on April 27. They caused panic among the participants, mostly children, and injured four people, including two civilians. Authorities accused guerrillas of being behind the shooting. Interviewed by our editorial staff, mothers say that violence is recurrent in the area, undermined by armed groups and drug trafficking. El Tarra is a small town in the Norte de Santander department, bordering Venezuela. On April 27, activities were organized in a multi-sport gymnasium in the city, to celebrate “Children’s Day”. About 3,000 people took part, including 2,500 children. The shots began to ring out around 4.30 p.m., according to two mothers interviewed by our editorial staff, who wished to remain anonymous. with his 11-year-old daughter: At one point, someone told me there was shooting, but I hadn’t noticed it because of the music. I heard them only afterwards. With my daughter, we hid under the stage to protect ourselves, until the end of the shooting. I had the impression that the shots were quite close, but I did not see any armed men. It was chaos: there were screams, mothers looking everywhere for their children… I was scared, because you never know how it could end. A man I know, who was close to me, was shot in the leg. A 14-year-old girl was also injured, a little further. They were then taken to a health post. In the video below, we see a man carrying a girl in his arms: this is the injured teenager, according to Gloria. Video shot in the omnisports gymnasium of El Tarra, Colombia, on April 27: at 0’16, a man carries the injured teenager in his arms. In another video – which follows the first – a lady laments : “The girl, she got shot here, Lord!” In these two videos, we also see children running, we hear people screaming, crying, and a woman screaming into a loudspeaker: “Please stop shooting, there are children!” On the other hand, we do not hear the shots in these videos. Serious situation in el #Tarra in activity of the día niño population civil queda en medio del fuego cruzado, exigimos la necesidad de l’respect al IHL y la puesta en marche de los Mínimos Humanitaires, Nos solidarizamos con la familia de la menor de edad herida y población del Tarra pic.twitter.com/GMw0ofNtlq— AscamcatOficial (@AscamcatOficia) April 28, 2022 Video shot in the omnisport gymnasium of El Tarra, Colombia, on April 27 (continuation of the previous video). the municipalityContacted by our editorial staff, the mayor of El Tarra, Yair Díaz Peñaranda, affirmed that the shootings had been initiated in the city by members of Front 33, a dissident group of the former FARC guerrillas (officially demobilized since peace agreement signed with the government in 2016): “The guerrillas attacked the La Esperanza military base [située au nord de la ville, à un kilomètre environ du gymnase omnisports] and the police station. The army then reacted immediately, which generated a confrontation. The shooting lasted about forty minutes.” He specified that the shootings had taken place in different places in the city. This is shown in particular by the two videos below, shot in the north of the city, far from the sports hall. In the first, we see children lying on the ground in a classroom, we hear bursts of shots, and their teacher who repeats to them: “Quiet, nothing will happen, we are on the ground!” Contacted by our editorial staff, she said: “We locked ourselves in the classroom, trying to stay calm, waiting for it to pass.” Parar esta violencia es un imperativo ético. No puede ser que una maestra en el Tarra tenga que vivir esta terrible situation con sus alumnos. Necesitamos una #PazTotal pic.twitter.com/hpj7CsB774— Diana Sánchez Lara (@DianaDefensora) April 28, 2022 Video shot in a classroom about 400 meters from the military base in El Tarra, Colombia, on April 27 (similar to this other video). In the second video, shots ring out and a gun is seen in the street. Video shot in El Tarra, Colombia, near the military base, on April 27: we hear shots and we see a weapon activated, at 0’14. For its part, on April 28, the army rejected the fault on the ELN, another group of guerrillas, accusing it of having attacked the population and the military base with the dissidents of the FARC. She also indicated that two soldiers had been injured, in addition to the two civilians mentioned by Gloria. All were transferred to Cucuta, the capital of the department, to receive treatment there. For the time being, nothing clearly indicates who injured the two civilians, but the army claims not to have used weapons against them. “If I flee the violence here, I know I will find it elsewhere”Valentina (pseudonym) also attended the events of April 27 with her two daughters:Shots are frequently heard in the city. When that happens, we try to stay calm, we hide in our homes, where the bullets can’t hit us. But there are sometimes injuries, even if it is rare: for example, in 2021, a bullet went through the roof of a house and injured a child. The military base is very close, which can represent a danger, for example for students who have to cross its perimeter to go to school, since the base is a target for armed groups. It is a particular atmosphere: there is insecurity, children’s rights are violated… But here we have our home and our job, so we’re not going to leave. And then if I flee the violence from here, I know that I will find it elsewhere… In the Catatumbo, sub-region of the department where El Tarra is located, different groups of guerrillas and paramilitaries clash for control of the territory . About 40,000 hectares of coca plantations and numerous laboratories for producing cocaine are located in this area, which is strategic for drug trafficking. Photos taken in El Tarra, Colombia, on April 29, during a march organized for peace, in reaction to the events of the day before the day before.

1 thought on “In the middle of a children’s party, shootings sow panic in a small town in Colombia”

  1. Download Danilushka – Judische Volksmusik Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Lemonchill – Chillout Senses Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Jon Ososki – Reach Through the Noise Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download HIGHS – Dazzle Camouflage Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Relaxing Zen Music Ensemble – 50 Relaxing Sounds – Healing Music Therapy for Meditation, Songs for Yoga, Reiki & Sleep, Natural Ambient for Massage Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Varios Artistas – Rockholic Vol.3 – EP Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Nosaj Thing – No Reality – EP Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Austin Allsup – This Weary Land Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Jon Ososki – Reach Through the Noise Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download E.N Young – Call on Me Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Kurt Thomas – Give It Hell Tryin’ Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download J Billups – Steppers (Remastered) Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Fela Ransome Kuti & His Koola Lobitos – Highlife: Jazz and Afro: Soul (1963-1969) Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Morly – Something More Holy – EP Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Tim McNary – Above the Trees Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Various Artists – ลูกทุ่งเพลงใหม่ ป้ายแดง Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Morly – Something More Holy – EP Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Paul Cherryseed – The Story of Saint Anonymous Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Relax α Wave – Sweet Baby Lullabies: Studio Ghibli and Classical/Children Songs – Good Sleep Music for Babies by Harp Covers Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download J Billups – Steppers (Remastered) Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Kurt Thomas – Give It Hell Tryin’ Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Relaxing Zen Music Ensemble – 50 Relaxing Sounds – Healing Music Therapy for Meditation, Songs for Yoga, Reiki & Sleep, Natural Ambient for Massage Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Relax α Wave – Sweet Baby Lullabies: Studio Ghibli and Classical/Children Songs – Good Sleep Music for Babies by Harp Covers Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Mull Historical Society – Dear Satellite Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08
    Download Mr Eurodisco – Euro Synth Anthems Album Mp3 Zip 2016-04-08

Comments are closed.