According to the Colombian Ministry of Defense, the attack on the border with Ecuador on last Thursday, which killed five insurgents and one Ecuadorian soldier, was conducted by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The clash occurred in Puerto Mestanza (Sucumbios), bordering with the Colombian department of Putumayo and according to the Ecuadorian officials, the fighting broke out after Ecuadorian military patrolling the area detected and surrounded an armed group that was attacked on Thursday dawn.
About the attack, Ecuador expressed its “outrage and dismay” and demanded to Colombia to strengthen their military surveillance in the border and warned the Colombian groups operating in the area that they will be “relentless” in the defense of their territory.
For its part, Colombia expressed their solidarity with the family of murdered Ecuadorian soldier, while recognizing “the commitment of the Government of Ecuador against the FARC and the defense of their territory.”
The body of the deceased soldier, Diego Maldonado Gomez, arrived yesterday from Nueva Loja to Quito and in the Eloy Alfaro Military School a mass was performed to honor him. The event was attended by family, friends and authorities.
The Colombian William F., who was arrested by the army in the site of the armed conflict, was charged for endangering the security of the State so an arrest warrant was issued, but not for the Colombian woman that was also arrested, Yarledy O., since she is pregnant, but she remains, with her two sons, in Nueva Loja, under state custody.
