On May 2, the Group of Inter-American Humanitarian Demining Monitors in Colombia (GMI-CO), a mission of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) together with the Comprehensive Action Program against Antipersonnel Mines of the Organization of American States (AICMA-OAS) ), participated, in the municipality of El Carmen de Bolívar, in the delivery of the Montes de María Subregion as free of suspicion of contamination by antipersonnel mines.
This Subregion It is the agricultural lung of the Colombian Caribbean, with 19 municipalities demined since 2009 by 2,250 marines from the Demining Battalion and Amphibious Engineers of the country's Navy. 5,695 inhabitants were trained, to identify explosives and proceed if they are found. Such actions 2.5 million people benefited, allowing work and travel peacefully through the liberated land. This entire process had the participation of AICMA-OAS, certifying the standards of the activity.
The ceremony, organized by the Colombian Navy, commanded by Admiral Francisco Hernando Cubides Granados, was attended by President Gustavo Petro, the Minister of Defense Iván Velásquez Gómez, the High Commissioner for Peace Otty Patiño, the Commander General of the Military Forces , General Helder Fernan Giraldo Bonilla, the Commanders of the Army and Air Force, the Mayor of El Carmen de Bolívar and a representative of the Department of Bolívar, among other authorities. The GMI-CO was represented by its Chief, Captain (Brazilian Marine) Leonel Mariano da Silva Júnior. Other Brazilian Marines, from the Humanitarian Demining Instructors and Advisors Mission of that country, also participated.
Since 2006, GMI-CO has supported efforts in Colombia against antipersonnel mines and improvised explosive devices, which have penalized its population for six decades. Currently, the Group is made up of officers from the Brazilian Navy, Brazilian Army and Mexican Army.
