By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – According to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian military killed nine rebels in a fierce battle on Monday in the southern part of Caqueta, in the Amazonian region. 

Colombian officials stated that the Colombian Air Force and Joint Task Force OMEGA located a rebel camp run by Rodolfo Atanas and took action.  During the attack, Colombian armed forces seized a 60 mm mortar, guns and radio communication equipment.

This attack comes on the heels of another attack on a rebel camp on Sunday, which occurred in the central state of Tolima and claimed the lives of 12 rebels. 

In what proved to be a bloody day in Colombia’s constant fight against guerrilla groups, ten Colombian soldiers were also killed Sunday in a separate battle with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the Arauca state in northeastern Colombia.  The FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, is said to have 8,000 fighters.

According to President Uribe’s website, a female rebel leader known as “Maryeri” was among those killed on Sunday.  Maryeri is said to be responsible for as many as 70 Colombian soldiers’ deaths spanning the past eight years.  Additionally, the rebel group targeted on Sunday is responsible for more than 30 attacks in the Tolima area over the past two years.

In Arauca state, Colombian soldiers approached members of the rebel group as the guerrillas were attempting to blow up an electric plant.  When the rebels spotted the Colombian military, a gun fight broke out, killing ten Colombian military officials.

The Colombian government has been battling the FARC, as well as other paramilitary rebel groups, since the mid-1960’s.  Many of these groups use the drug trade, as well as extortion, to finance their activities.  The FARC also routinely capture people and holds them hostage in exchange for ransom.  In March, the FARC released one hostage and in June, Colombian officials successfully rescued four additional hostages.

The FARC appears to be stepping up activities with the approach of the August 7 presidential inauguration of former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santo.  The weekend’s clashes between Colombian security forces and rebels left a total of 31 people dead. However, it is being hailed as a significant blow to the FARC’s southern bloc.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Colombian Army Kills 12 FARC Rebels, president says – 12 June 2010

Colombia Reports – Army Kills 9 FARC guerrillas in Caqueta – 12 June 2010

Latin American Herald Tribune – Colombian Troops Kill 9 Rebels – 11 June 2010