Petro denied any political motivation behind the attack on the congressman advocating for radical change, stating, “He became involved with a gang of criminals.”

<p>The  Radical Change Party  has raised alarms over the deteriorating  security  conditions for its members in Colombia. The party recently sought urgent action from the  Inter-American Commission on Human Rights  (IACHR) for its 29 congressmen. This appeal follows the armed attack against Congressman  Julio César Triana , who was targeted while traveling through a rural area in  Huila .</p>

<p>According to the party led by  Germán Vargas Lleras , its legislators are subjected to a "hostile environment" that endangers their lives and stifles their political exercise. Despite reporting threats to the  Attorney General's Office  and the  National Protection Unit (UNP) , there has been a lack of effective measures from the government to ensure their safety.</p>

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<p>The application submitted to the IACHR hints at a significant risk to Colombian democracy. The opposition congressmen, along with regional leaders like mayors and deputies, are threatened, which obstructs their ability to function effectively. According to Córdoba, the assault on Triana epitomizes a "maximum danger" scenario.</p>

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        <img alt="Precautionary measures request" class="global-image" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" height="1072" loading="lazy" src="https://www.infobae.com/resizer/v2/BRDZFBCB3VE7BD6H3IAKODULKA.jpeg?auth=d1ef084b2240d30080158b87faa1fdf1e3b3f308e977b8ff070dc24488c88c95&amp;smart=true&amp;width=350&amp;height=428&amp;quality=85" width="876"/>
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    <figcaption class="article-figcaption-img">The urgent precautionary measures requested by Radical Change from the IACHR highlight the vulnerability of opposition congressmen - credit Radical Change</figcaption>
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<p>The party has criticized the current administration's handling of these issues. According to Córdoba, the government has exhibited "negligence, inoperance, and indifference" toward the threats faced by its congressmen. Radical Change has urged the IACHR to mandate immediate enhancement of security protocols for its members and even their families.</p>

<p>Moreover, the party intends to convene a formal meeting in  Washington  with the IACHR commissioners. They aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of the situation and propose specific measures to ensure the effective functioning of political opposition in Colombia.</p>

<p>In response to the Radical Change's accusations, President  Gustavo Petro  utilized his social media platform to clarify his stance regarding the attack on Representative Triana. He suggested that Triana's attack was not politically motivated but rather resulted from a criminal incident involving a  banded checkpoint . The president reassured the public that the escort assigned to the representative successfully removed him from danger.</p>

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        <img alt="Radical Change's statement" class="global-image" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" height="736" loading="lazy" src="https://www.infobae.com/resizer/v2/Y3IUTVFB75BC7GFEAZSUPSHRNY.png?auth=f393ea3449b15dfb273725484be11fc52b014cf61040e22789298cdd9a10ca5a&amp;smart=true&amp;width=350&amp;height=264&amp;quality=85" width="976"/>
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    <figcaption class="article-figcaption-img">Radical Change denounced a "hostile environment" against their congressmen, while Gustavo Petro addressed the situation - credit @petrogustavo/x</figcaption>
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<p>The president's comments ignited fierce debate among the public, with many criticizing him for not taking responsibility for the security of opposition members. Detractors voiced concerns over the state's inability to safeguard legislators, while others viewed the attack as politically motivated, if only as a strategy of the opposition against the administration.</p>

<p>Details surrounding the incident reveal that armed assailants targeted Triana's armored vehicle with rifles and guns along a road connecting  La Plata  and  Paicol  in Huila. Notably, this incident occurred on  August 13 , when the vehicle endured between eight to ten bullet impacts. Thankfully, the six individuals aboard survived due to the vehicle's armor.</p>

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        <img alt="Vehicle during the attack" class="global-image" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" height="1080" loading="lazy" src="https://www.infobae.com/resizer/v2/NSAXYX2WNBAI5PBBK43LAZB6WI.jpg?auth=5697d718a7d97b023355147184d205bd3bc7da1ffa07fc90ef51205200f40a42&amp;smart=true&amp;width=350&amp;height=197&amp;quality=85" width="1920"/>
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    <figcaption class="article-figcaption-img">This was the vehicle in which Congressman Julio César Triana was attacked in Huila - Credit video @trianacongreso/x</figcaption>
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<p>Congressman Triana recounted that the attackers — described as seven young men affiliated with illegal armed groups — began shooting indiscriminately. He expressed deep concern for his safety, recounting how the  FARC dissidents , led by a figure known as  Iván Bite , have been targeting him. He highlighted an alarming 300% increase in forced recruitment in Huila, which fosters a climate of fear that hampers community support and institutional presence.</p>