MEDELLIN-BOGOTA HIGHWAY UNDER GUERRILLA CONTROL
Date Reported: Tuesday, February 08, 2000
Incident Type: SECURITY
Country: ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, COLOMBIA Incident: The Bogota daily El Tiempo reports that the Medellin-Bogota highway remains under ELN control for a third straight day. According to the report, no Colombian military or police units are currently patrolling the highway, and civilian traffic has been barred since Friday afternoon. The ELN blockaded the road Friday afternoon, claiming that the Army abandoned control of the area in order to allow illegal paramilitary units to operate freely. A military spokesman, however, said that the 400 man unit (4th Brigade) normally stationed in the area was moved north to defend the Department's remaining electrical towers from further ELN attack. Ground transportation companies and private citizens have begun using Medell!n-Puerto Berr!o highway as an alternate route. In the meantime, an estimated 2,000 vehicles are awaiting access to the road at a blockaded point near the Medellin. At least one vehicle was disabled by rebel fire when it attempted to transit the highway. It is unknown when the road will be reopened.
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