Colombia: Duque Orders Militarization of Border With Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After a virtual meeting with his cabinet, the governor of the Amazonas department, Jesús Galdino, and Mayor Jorge Luis Mendoza of border town Leticia, Duque explained that the aim is to prevent the entry of people infected with the virus.

According to the National Institute of Health, Leticia is the city with the highest infection rate per population, while Amazonas has the highest infection rate of all departments. “A decision has been made to increase the military presence in all border points and to carry out the appropriate controls to prevent the virus from being imported as a result of border traffic,” the President said.

The decision to tighten protective measures was taken following a recommendation by the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the focus will continue to be placed on the use of protective masks and social distancing.

According to Dr. Carlos Vargas, medical coordinator of the Fundación Clínica Leticia, the reasons for the high increase are the direct proximity to Brazil and Peru, the two countries in Latin America most affected by the virus, on the one hand.

On the other hand, the situation is the result of a penetrable and inadequately guarded border.

Also, Vargas complains that the spread of the virus is due to “the authorities’ inadequate preparation and response and the population’s lack of interest in implementing safety measures at the appropriate time.”

Planned measures include increasing the capacity of hospital care with new emergency units by using the hotel infrastructure and mobilizing additional resources.

Medical personnel is reported to have been deployed to the region last Tuesday, together with civil defense personnel.

The region of Tres Fronteras (Three Borders), the name given to the border area between Colombia, Brazil, and Peru with the three neighboring towns of Leticia (Colombia), Tabatinga (Brazil) and Santa Rosa (Peru), is marked by a particular local, social and economic dynamic. As a result, the cities have grown together, and the inhabitants can move back and forth, virtually irrespective of national borders.

The decision has therefore triggered much criticism from the local population, as the new situation is likely to have a major impact on the local economy. Leticia now runs the risk of becoming more vulnerable to a food crisis due to the restrictions on trade and market supply.

From an economic perspective, Tabatinga is the city in the border region that sustains trade, according to Lycia Brasil, a researcher at the Igarapé Institute.

Many would like to see a concerted strategy by the three countries to tackle Covid-19 in the region.

Source: Amerika21