Siege of Mitú facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Mitú
Part of the Colombian conflict
Date November 1–4, 1998 Location Mitú, Colombia Result Occupation of the town by guerrillas Destruction of much of Mitú by FARC Colombian reinforcements quell attack four days later
Belligerents
FARC	Military Forces of Colombia Colombian police
Commanders and leaders
	Luis Peña   Julián Ernesto Guevara  (POW) Luis Mendieta [es]  (POW) Enrique Murillo  (POW)
Strength
~1,500	120
Casualties and losses
800 (killed by Colombian reinforcements)	~31-150 estimated 31 confirmed 61 abducted
11+ civilians killed by FARC 40 buildings destroyed

From November 1 to 4, 1998, a big event happened in the town of Mitú, Colombia. A group called the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which was a rebel group, attacked and took over the town. This event is known as the Siege of Mitú and was part of the larger Colombian conflict.

What Happened in Mitú?

The Attack Begins

On November 1, 1998, about 1,500 FARC fighters launched a surprise attack on Mitú. This town is the main city of the Vaupés Department. The FARC fighters quickly entered the town and took control of the airport. They then moved towards the police station, which was a strong building.

Police Fight Back

The police force in Mitú was much smaller, with only 120 officers. They were greatly outnumbered by the FARC. The fighting was very intense. Many police officers were killed, and some were taken as prisoners. One officer remembered seeing 18 of his friends die during the attack.

Town Taken Over

The FARC managed to take control of the entire town. They tried to stop all communication with the outside world. Mitú is a hard place to reach by land, so cutting off communication made it very isolated. The last radio message from the town was heard on November 1. Only one plane, from the Colombian Red Cross, was allowed to land. It helped evacuate four young people who were hurt, aged from 3 to 20 years old.

Help Arrives

On November 4, the Colombian army sent about 500 soldiers to help Mitú. These soldiers had to travel through part of Brazil to get there, which Brazil said was not allowed. The Colombian troops fought back against the FARC. They managed to take Mitú back from the rebels. It is thought that over 800 FARC fighters were killed during this counter-attack.

After the Battle

People Affected

After the fighting, at least 37 soldiers and police officers were confirmed to have died. Some reports say the number was as high as 150. Also, at least 11 regular people, including a 19-year-old, were killed by FARC.

Many people were captured by FARC during the siege. Some of these prisoners were killed later. For example, the mayor of Mitú, Luis Peña, was killed after he complained about his living conditions. One soldier, Luis Mendieta, was held by FARC for a very long time. He was not released until 2010, making him one of FARC's longest-held prisoners.

Damage to the Town

A large part of Mitú was destroyed during the battle. Historians say that at least 40 buildings were ruined by FARC. These included important places like a courthouse and a hospital. About 200 explosives were set off. The United States government also reported that entire parts of the town were destroyed, including homes, a church, and a school.

See also

In Spanish: Toma de Mitú para niños