Terrorist attack on Colombia's Vía Panamericana kills seven, injures 17

The Vía Panamericana, a vital artery connecting communities in southwestern Colombia, has once again become the scene of horrific violence. This Saturday, an indiscriminate terrorist attack in the municipality of Cajibío, Cauca, claimed the lives of at least seven civilians and left 17 others wounded. A bus, a symbol of everyday life and connection, was obliterated by an explosive-laden cylinder, leaving a gaping wound in the highway and in the hearts of our communities.

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Fue activado un artefacto explosivo en la vía Panamericana, en el sector de El Túnel, Cajibío, en un ataque indiscriminado contra la población civil que, de manera preliminar, deja 7 civiles muertos y más de 17 heridos de gravedad

As reported by EFE and local authorities, the perpetrators, believed to be dissident guerrillas, have plunged our region into mourning. Governor Octavio Guzmán rightly called it a "tragedy that tears us apart as a department and deeply grieves our families." This is not just an attack on a road; it is an assault on the peace and normalcy that our people desperately seek. The images from Cajibío are a stark reminder of the persistent threat that violence poses to civilian populations in this region.

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Fue activado un artefacto explosivo” en un cilindro que cayó sobre un ómnibus y “dejó 7 civiles muertos y más de 20 heridos de gravedad

This incident occurs at a particularly sensitive time, with presidential elections on the horizon. The timing and nature of this attack underscore the challenges faced by the state in ensuring security and stability. While national leaders may discuss security strategies in distant capitals, here in Cauca, we live with the immediate consequences of such violence. The call for protection from the state, echoed by figures like presidential candidate Paloma Valencia, highlights a deep-seated concern that the security of southwestern Colombia is not receiving the attention it deserves.

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Es una tragedia que nos desgarra como departamento y enluta profundamente a nuestras familias. No hay palabras suficientes para el dolor que hoy sentimos

From our perspective at El Deber, this event is more than a news report; it is a painful reflection of ongoing struggles. While international media may focus on the statistics of casualties and the political implications, we see the faces of the victims, the shattered lives, and the fear that grips our towns. The Vía Panamericana, meant to unite, has been tragically divided by terror, leaving us to question when true peace will prevail.

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Las escenas de Cajibío, Cauca, son terribles. Toda la solidaridad con los ciudadanos. Exigimos protección del Estado para el suroccidente. No más paz total