By IANS/EFE,
Bogota : A group of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, rebels attacked the police station at a northwestern Colombian town, an assault that comes less than a month after the guerrilla group’s leadership declared a unilateral two-month truce.
Authorities Saturday reported the gunfire attack in the town of Murindo, although National Police spokespersons told EFE they would not provide details for the time being.
The government secretary of Antioquia province, Santiago Londono, told Caracol Radio that the attack lasted 45 minutes and that no casualties or damage were reported.
Media reported, however, that several people were treated for nervous attacks at an area hospital.
“The FARC’s 34th Front, which is present in the area of the Atrato Medio (river), has carried out 10 attacks on the town of Murindo over the past two years,” Londono said.
The aggressors are a “small faction of that front” who, though they only direct their attacks against the police station, “generate fear in the population”.
On Nov 19, the FARC’s leadership declared a unilateral two-month cease-fire that took effect the following day, a move that was not reciprocated by the Colombian government.
The truce comes amid peace talks in Havana between the rebels and a Colombian government negotiating team.
The FARC’s 36th Front, active in much of Antioquia, said following the unilateral truce announcement in the Cuban capital and after knocking down two power pylons that they carried out those actions because they were unaware of the cease-fire order.