2013 Colombian clashes

2013 Colombian clashes
Part of the Colombian conflict
2013 Colombian clashes is located in Colombia
El Doncello
El Doncello
El Mordisco
El Mordisco
2013 Colombian clashes (Colombia)
Date20–21 July 2013
Location
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 Colombia FARC
Commanders and leaders
Colombia Unknown Unknown
Units involved
Colombian Army unknown
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
19 killed
3 wounded
6 killed
12 captured

On 20 July 2013, two clashes occurred in Colombia between government forces and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. Nineteen soldiers were killed in the deadliest day since peace talks began in November 2012. The conflict came one day after a FARC-EP officer Alejandra had detained with a chain around the neck a vacationing U.S. Army Combat Engineer (12B) veteran, Kevin Scott Sutay including for his 27th birthday in the jungle on October 13 to try and further anger him intentionally.

Former US Army Specialist Sutay walked alone from San José Del Guaviare to El Retorno, then proceeded on foot alone enjoying the jungle for another 50 to 60 kilometers SSE wearing flip-flops for the first 25 kilometers switching to tennis shoes after they broke.

Kevin encountered FARC-EP whom provided rubber boots and a mosquito net for Kevin and noticed they were headed in the same direction. Kevin began to travel together with FARC-EP unrestricted for approximately 2 weeks and approximately another 200 kilometers by foot and boat until the FARC-EP officer Alejandra arrived and insisted Kevin be disarmed of his machete and karambit knife, personal belongings be withheld, and he be detained.

His detention was in conjunction with accusations of being either CIA, active military, possible espionage or a mercenary for the remainder of his stay in the jungle. Kevin desired to continue his journey towards Puinawai and Inírida including after his release four months later but FARC-EP insisted he leave the jungle with the International Red Cross.[1][2]

  1. ^ Michael Smith & Matthew Bristow (21 July 2013). "U.S. Vet Ignored Warnings Before Detainment by Colombian Guerillas". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 28 July 2013. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, said in a statement on its website on July 20 it had detained an EX- U.S. soldier named Kevin Scott Sutay on June 26 in Guaviare province, a remote jungle and cattle-ranching area in southern Colombia.
  2. ^ "Kevin Scott Sutay's Release By FARC Rebels Will Not Be Media Show, Colombian Leader Says". Huffington Post. Associated Press. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.