The Colombian Peace Agreement (EN)

2015, 14 citizens were assassinated in the city of Tumaco, where there is a strong state
presence. In June, a member of a family who had filed a land restitution claim was
killed in Ayapel (Córdoba). In Urabá a post-demobilization armed group threatened
and kidnapped peasants who were dispossessed of their land. In Magdalena a judge
dealing with land restitution claims was repeatedly threatened, and in Cesar computers
and information on land restitution processes were stolen. 52
Offences against human rights defenders usually occur in four different ways. The first
one involves land disputes, especially in areas inhabited by indigenous people and afro-Colombians.
Recent assassinations of indigenous leaders and threats against community
councils in the Pacific region have occurred in the context of their opposition
to the exploitation of land for legal and illegal mining. The second modality relates
to human rights workers seeking justice: many victims have been intimidated during
trials, especially in cases involving state agents; tailings, thefts of information and of
photographic evidence usually coincide with key phases of judicial proceedings. The
third modality targets social and political leaders, through threats and stigmatizations
for allegedly siding with the guerrillas. During a popular television program, for example,
an army officer publicly declared that a peasant organization had ties with the
FARC, due to its declarations in favour of a ceasefire. Finally, all forms of activism supporting
peace lead to persecution: people and organizations that have participated
to victims’ hearings in Havana have also reportedly been threatened. 53 Elections often
coincide with peaks in violence. On 25 October 2015, date of the regional elections,
the Electoral Observation Mission reported 179 acts related to political violence, in 122
Municipalities of 28 Departments: 124 threats, 29 assaults, 4 kidnappings and 2 disappeared.
Victims were either candidates, public officers or political leaders. 54
Now that the peace deal has reached its final phase, many NGOs and civil society
organizations have started pressuring the government for a full and transparent ac-
Carlos Castaño Gil, founder and leader of the AUC
Credit: Steve Salisbury
Source: Peace Insider, https://www.peaceinsider.com/9-human-rights/ad_907_a07/
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