Pumping of Colombian Pipeline Halted After Bomb Attack

By teleSUR

15 January 18

The group is also allegedly responsible for the detention of an Ecopetrol contractor repairing damage to the Cano-Limon pipeline, also bombed by the ELN, according to the army.

umping on Colombia’s southern Transandino pipeline was halted Sunday after a bomb attack allegedly carried out by the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels spilled crude into a river, state-run oil company Ecopetrol and the military said.

The attack, which occurred late on Saturday in Mallama municipality in Narino province, has not affected exports or crude production at fields in the southern jungle zone along the border with Ecuador, Ecopetrol said.

In a statement, the armed forces claimed that the attack was carried out by the ELN unit "José Luis Cabrera Ruales" but the ELN has not confirmed the allegations yet. 

The group is also allegedly responsible for the detention of an Ecopetrol contractor repairing damage to the Cano-Limon pipeline, also bombed by the ELN, the army said.

Peace talks were suspended by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos after his government claimed that members of the ELN had carried out several attacks against Colombian security forces and infrastructures shortly after the ceasefire agreement between the rebel movement and the government expired on Jan. 9.

Wednesday that "the incidents [...] happened in the midst of a complex situation of conflict," adding "the course of conversations to reach a political solution to the conflict should not be altered."

Several countries and international organizations urged the Colombian government to continue the bilateral ceasefire negotiations following the president’s announcement earlier today to suspend further peace talks.