section_path: Reactions/Domestic
section_name: Domestic
paragraph_text: Domestic
  
  On 17 January, President of Colombia Gustavo Petro suspended peace talks with the group as a result of the attacks. The government demanded that the ELN cease all attacks and allow authorities to enter the region and provide humanitarian aid. In response to the ELN clashes, he stated the group has "chosen the path of war, and a war they will have".
  
  On 18 January, the city of Ocaña enabled the city's coliseum to receive internally displaced persons and called for the national government to declare a state of emergency to address the conflict.
  
  On 20 January, Petro announced plans to declare a state of economic emergency and a state of domestic commotion which provides the executive branch extraordinary capacities to re-establish public order in the region. The Government of the Cesar Department sent humanitarian aid to the towns of González and Río de Oro, which border the Catatumbo region, anticipating the arrival of refugees. In addition, the Mayor of Cúcuta, Jorge Acevedo said that over 11,000 internally displaced persons have arrived at the city since the start of the conflict and requested further assistance from the national government. On 19 January, Cúcuta's Estadio General Santander was repurposed to receive refugees.
  
  On 20 January, officials from Bucaramanga announced that they would evaluate establishing temporary camps for possible refugees. Officials also said they would send humanitarian aid to the Catatumbo region.
  
  The Colombian energy company Ecopetrol said that it would restrict work and movement at the Tibu oil field and the Sardinata gas plant in Catatumbo.
  
  Rodrigo Londoño, former commander of the FARC-EP and leader of the Comunes party, criticized the ELN in a letter responding to the statements of Antonio García, commander of the ELN.
  
  On 27 January, President Gustavo Petro responded to a letter from Jhon Mechas of the FARC-EP dissidents.
  
  120 social leaders from Catatumbo protested in Plaza de Bolívar, Bogotá demanding a meeting with the national government but withdrew following negotiations for better provision of services.
  
  Former ELN commander Carlos Arturo Velandia, alias Felipe Torres, criticized the actions of the ELN and violations of International Humanitarian Law.
  
  Colombian Ombudsman Iris Marín stated that “Catatumbo seals the political death of the ELN.” On 3 February, in a statement, the FARC-EP dissidents accused the ELN of treason.
  
  On 3 February, ELN commander Antonio García accused Gustavo Petro's government of not complying with what was agreed upon in the peace talks.
  
  ELN commander Antonio García accused President Gustavo Petro of treason for the policy implemented in Catatumbo.
  
  On 8 February 2025, high judicial officials held a meeting with regards to the Catatumbo crisis.
  
  On 10 March, ELN accused Gustavo Petro's government of turning the policy of total peace into total war.