Rapid Response Network

Assassinations of Awa indigenous leaders Hector Ramiro García and his son, Arturo García, on December 2 in Ricaurte, Cundinamarca Department.

Increasing harassment of members of the indigenous association Central Campesina Ch’ortí Nuevo Día (CCCND) involved in environmental defense, including surveillance of CCCND Coordinator Norma Sánchez, threats to member Ubaldino García, and the murder of member Elizandro Pérez.

Sentencing of Q’eqchi’ environmental defender and community leader Bernardo Caal Xol to 7 years and 4 months in Cobán prison for his nonviolent resistance against the Oxec I and Oxec II hydroelectric projects on the Cahabón River in Alta Verapaz Department (cf our letter of June 26 2018).

Escalating armed assaults and murders of social leaders and human rights defenders that have occurred in Colombia in 2018. We are calling for justice in the assassinations of Edwin Dagua Ipia and Gilberto Antonio Zuluago Ramirez, and the armed attack on German Valencia, all which occurred in Cauca Department this month.

Recent threats to Enrique Cabezas, a leader of the collective of Afro-descendent territories in Curvaradó (Chocó Department, western Colombia), because of his work defending their ancestral territory and the right of the communities to not be involved in the armed conflict.

Media smear campaign that is being carried on against Juana Esquivel, director of the Fundación San Alonso Rodriguez in Tocoa, Colón Department.

Murder, on November 4, of Edilberto Niño Cristancho, a senior leader of the National Union of Workers in the Cooking Fats and Food Industry (SINTRAIMAGRA), in Villavicencio in Meta Department.

killing of Noel Castillo Aguilar, age 44, a member of the Committee for Defense of Indigenous Rights (CODEDI), in the community of Barra de la Cruz in the municipality of Santiago Astata, Oaxaca Department.

physical attacks on journalists who were covering the eviction of more than 350 persons from the Encampment for Life in the community of El Guapinol, Tocoa in Colón Department. The eight journalists are Rigoberto Mendoza, Osmán Corea, Vitalino Álvarez and Erick Mendoza (Comunicaciones Mendoza); Jhony Castillo (Canal 5), Wenceslao Canales (Canal 29); Donaldo Domínguez and César Obando (Radio Progreso); and Miguel Dubón (Radio Globo).

Threatening message directed to Genaro de Jesus Graciano and Isabel Cristina Zuleta, co-founders and active members of the Ríos Vivos Movement Antioquia (MRVA) in Ituango, northern Antioquia Department.