The ambush took place in the town of Gonzalez in Cesar department as the police patrol was carrying out routine operations in the area, according to officials in the local government and the police department.
Both the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaFARC or FARC-EP, is either a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization or a narco mob based in Colombia. It claims to represent the rural poor in a struggle against Colombia's wealthier classes, and opposes United States influence in Colombia, neo-imperialism, monopolization of natural resources by multinational corporations, and the usual raft of complaints. It funds itself principally through ransom kidnappings, taxation of the drug trade, extortion, shakedowns, and
donations. It has lately begun calling itself
Bolivarianand is greatly admired by Venezuela's President-for-Life Chavez, who seemingly fantasizes about living in the woods and kidnapping people himself. He provides FARC with safe areas along the border.
(FARC) -- Latin America's oldest rebel movement, with 8,000 fighters -- and the National Liberation Army (ELN), with 2,500 members, are active in the area.
Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera has said the two groups are increasingly using guerrilla tactics such as surprise attacks in their battle with security forces.