Dear Sirs:
We are saddened to learn of the assassination of José Enrique Roa Cruz, who became the third signer of the Peace Accords murdered in 2024. Since the signing of the peace agreement in November 2016, 411 FARC ex-combatants—most of them enrolled in the formal reincorporation process—have been killed.
On the afternoon of January 14, José Enrique Roa Cruz was kidnapped by an armed group in the village of Gucacallo, Huila Department, while he was at a meeting. His two bodyguards, part of the National Protection Unit (UNP), Eduardo Sterling and Yilber Silva, were also victims. According to the Police of Huila, the perpetrators fled after the attack and took with them José Enrique Roa Cruz, the two badly wounded bodyguards, and two others (names not disclosed). Two days after he was kidnapped, the body of José Enrique Roa Cruz was located in the village of Sinaí, a rural area of La Argentina, in Pitalito, Huila Department. Further to the southwest, in the village of La Jamaica, the bodies of the two agents of the UNP were found, with signs of torture.
Armed groups are known to be present in that area, including the Ismael Ruiz Frront of the Central General Staff (frente Ismael Ruiz del autodenominado Estado Mayor Central [EMC]) and the Second Marquetalia (Segunda Marquetalia).
We urge that you
- conduct an impartial, transparent investigation into the assassination of José Enrique Roa Cruz, publish the results, and bring those responsible to justice
- provide sufficient resources to the UNP (National Protection Unit) to enable people under protection schemes to be guaranteed protection of their rights to life, freedom, physical integrity and safety
- fulfill the government’s commitments made in the Peace Accords, especially the end of threats and assassinations against all signatories of the Peace Accords
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan Szittai Christine L. Stonebraker-Martínez
Co-Coordinators
copies:
Luis Gilberto Murillo, Ambassador of Colombia to the US ~ via email, US mail
José Luis Caballero Ochoa, Rapporteur for Colombia , Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ~ via email, US mail
UN: Juliette De Rivero, Representative in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ~ via email
US Embassy: Francisco Palmieri (Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim); Adam Levy (human rights) ~ via email
US State Department: Desk Officer for Colombia ~ via email
US Senators from Ohio: Brown & Vance ~ via email
US Representatives from Ohio: Beatty, Brown, Jordan, Joyce, Kaptur, Latta, Miller, Sykes ~ via email
