"The US focus on drugs and neighbouring Venezuela has brought an international dimension to what was an internal Colombian conflict. The Catatumbo region, which stretches along the border with Venezuela in the department of Norte de Santander, is Colombia's most volatile frontier. Endowed with oil reserves and coca crops but impoverished and neglected, this border area has historically been a site of violent competition between armed groups fighting for territorial control."
"Entering the area, it's immediately apparent that the ELN is in total control here. There is no evidence of the country's military. ELN flags decorate the sideroads, and the signs give a clear message of the way the group's members see Colombia right now. Total peace is a failure, they say. There is also no mobile phone signal. People tell the Al Jazeera team that telephone companies do not want to pay a tax to the armed groups controlling the territory."
US focus on drugs and neighbouring Venezuela has added an international dimension to Colombia's armed conflict. The Catatumbo region along the Venezuela border contains oil reserves and coca crops yet remains impoverished and neglected, prompting violent competition for territorial control. The National Liberation Army (ELN) maintains a strong, organised presence and operates across the porous border. Fighting between the ELN and FARC dissidents displaced thousands in January as both sides vie for border access used to move drugs. ELN control is visible through flags, absence of the military and mobile signals, and telephone companies avoid paying taxes to armed groups. President Gustavo Petro promised a total peace plan, but negotiations have been suspended because of the fighting.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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