IRTF News

Attack against Esteban Hermelindo Cux and Fredy Qib, two indigenous community leaders. On September 2, approximately 20 masked men armed with machetes and firemarms attacked the home of Esteban Hermelindo Cux, an indigenous Q’eqchi’ organizer in Panzós in Alto Verapaz Department.

Murder of peasant farmer leader Cecilia Coicue, age 62, in the village of Cominera, municipality of Corinto in Cauca Department.

Concern for the safety of human rights defender Rocío Campos, a member of the Magdalena Medio chapter of Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE).

Escalating wave of intimidation against legal officials. At 6am on August 15 in Guatemala City, eight armed men posing as police officers forced their way into the house of Ramón Cadena Rámila, Central America Director of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

The National Federation of Agricultural Workers Unions (Fensuagro), their affiliate and allies in the Department of Putumayo, are in imminent danger from the Colombian Armed Forces.

Death threats to human rights defender Jorge Jiménez, who works for the nongovernmental organization CODEH (Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras).

Death threats issued by the paramilitary group Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) against human rights defenders.

Death threats from an anonymous caller on July 18 to Iván Madero Vergel, President of the Regional Corporation for Defending Human Rights (CREDHOS), in Barrancabermeja, Santander Department.

Killing on June 19 of journalist Elidio Ramos Zárate, age 45, a crime reporter for the regional daily newspaper El Sur, who was fatally shot in the neck by two unknown assailants driving a motorcycle.