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Retrato de Luz Amanda Pallares, alias Silvana Guerrero, cabecilla del Frente de Guerra Nororiental del ELN
Alias Silvana Guerrero, comandante del Frente de Guerra Nororiental del ELN, cuya supuesta muerte en un bombardeo en Apure fue desmentida por la propia guerrilla. · Foto de prensa

ELN says commander Silvana Guerrero did not die in Apure bombing

The ELN said in a statement that alias Silvana Guerrero did not die in the October 30 bombing in Apure and that she remains in Catatumbo.

--- The context --- On October 30, Venezuelan military forces carried out a bombing against a guerrilla structure in Buenavista del Meta, in the state of Apure, according to information reported by Semana. After the operation, claims circulated on social media that a senior ELN commander was among the dead. --- The facts --- Among the names was Luz Amanda Pallares, alias Silvana Guerrero, commander of the ELN Northeastern War Front. According to the source, Venezuelan authorities have not provided an official death toll. Preliminary information indicates that between 19 and 23 guerrillas may have died, without official confirmation. Former Venezuelan lawmaker Juan Francisco Escalona confirmed the bombing was carried out by the Venezuelan Army. --- The positions --- In recent hours, according to the ELN, the group said in a statement that alias Silvana Guerrero did not die and remains in Catatumbo carrying out her missions, in good health and safety. The group also claimed the bombing did not affect its structures and asserted, without evidence, that the Colombian Air Force carried it out, presenting it as a «false positive» by President Abelardo De La Espriella. That accusation is unsupported in the source and contradicts the confirmation attributed to Escalona. --- What remains unknown --- Missing is official Venezuelan confirmation of the toll and identities. The source also has no independent verification on alias Silvana Guerrero and no documents supporting the ELN accusation. --- Unanswered questions --- Will Venezuela publish an official toll with verified identities? Will the ELN present verifiable proof about its commander in Catatumbo? Will it provide evidence for its accusation against the Colombian Air Force? Will independent confirmation clarify who carried out the bombing? --- EPM analysis --- From a perspective prioritizing verification and civilian protection, the central issue is what can be proven. The source supports the bombing, the confirmation attributed to Escalona and the statement, but not the death or survival of the commander, or the preliminary toll. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, when faced with a statement from an armed group and with claims circulating on social media, journalistic responsibility means attributing, comparing sources and refusing to turn any claim into fact without official confirmation or independent verification. The ELN accusation against the Colombian Air Force and against President De La Espriella must be read as what the source shows it to be: an accusation without evidence, not a conclusion. Until Venezuela publishes verifiable information about those killed, the prudent course is to keep the essential questions open.
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