By Natalia Rueda 
On Wednesday night, an attack on a police station and National Army personnel in Fortul, Arauca, Colombia marred the optimism of the recent ceasefire agreement between the ELN guerrilla and the government. Citizens reported strong harassment with rifle bursts that lasted almost ten minutes, as residents sought shelter from bullets and explosives known as “Tatucos.”
The incident occurred around 8:15 pm as members of the guerrilla group arrived with rifles and explosives to attack the station. According to a statement issued by the National Police, the police officers activated the unit’s defense plan and were able to ward off the attack with no casualties reported.
The police also denounced the attack as well as the continued criminal activities of the ELN in some areas of the country, and condemned “this type of criminal action that puts the lives of citizens and police officers at the service of the community at risk”.
The new attack has also highlighted the fragile security situation in Colombia’s remote areas, where poverty and disputes over land are exacerbating the country’s deep-rooted intractable conflicts and fueling right-wing paramilitary activity.
In the wake of the attack, citizens in the region have called for increased protection by the colonel and a greater presence of the military and police forces in the area. The ceasefire agreement, issued just hours before the attack, had been announced by the government in an effort to bring peace to the long-troubled region. The recently negotiated agreement, which includes a ceasefire and the gradual progress of negotiations, is seen by the government and the international community as a critical step in Colombia’s path to peace and stability.
Despite the government’s pledge of nonviolence, the attack on the Fortul station highlights the fragility of the situation and the need for the international community to remain engaged in the region. Colombia still has a long way to go before a lasting peace can be achieved.