48 Dead in Clash Between Dissident FARC Factions in Colombian Amazon

Kathmandu. Local officials told AFP on Thursday that 48 people have died in a clash between two dissident factions of the dissolved FARC guerrilla movement in the Colombian Amazon.

Regional capital San Jose del Guaviare Mayor Willy Rodriguez told AFP in an interview, "48 people have died in a clash between two dissident groups of the dissolved FARC guerrilla movement."

"The bodies are piled up, they need to be removed," he said. Colombia has been shocked by the worst violence in a decade since the FARC laid down its arms in 2016 after half a century of war with the government.

Various small guerrilla groups are still competing for control of the jungle region, once under the control of the rebel army, as well as for income from drug trafficking and illegal mining.

Rescue teams are waiting for permission from armed groups present in Guaviare to travel to the scene to retrieve the bodies. The mayor said, "The fighting took place in the Vereda Piripalito settlement and the locals provided the death toll."

This bloodshed has created a new blow to the failed 'total peace' strategy of outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro. Leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who is leading the race for Petro's successor, has pledged to continue negotiations with armed groups.

His right-wing rivals, led by staunch lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella, a fan of US President Donald Trump, have argued that rebels need to be militarily suppressed.

Petro's government has increased attacks against guerrillas in recent months.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez told Blu Radio on Thursday, "Despite supporting revolutionary rhetoric, the FARC dissidents seem to have only the objective of surviving from the 'criminal economy, i.e. drug trafficking'."

He said, "Weather conditions have made it impossible to deploy troops by air in this region, but they are advancing by land."

Guaviare is one of the historical strongholds of the guerrilla groups. Military sources told AFP that the clashes started on Monday, but it could not be confirmed whether the fighting is still ongoing.