Monday, September 3, 2018

Colombia: Two More Social Leaders Killed, 158 Murdered So Far in 2018

from TeleSUR

 A woman holds a placard that reads ‘No one more death’ as she takes part in a protest against the killing of social activists, in Bogota, Colombia, on July 6, 2018.

Amid the growing murder of social leaders, the Patriotic Union Party on Saturday requested an emergency meeting with President Iván Duque to address the issue. With the latest murder of two social leaders, which took place over the weekend, the number of social leaders killed so far this year reaches 158.

Oliver Herrera Camacho, president of the Community Action Board of Brisas del Guayabero, and Alirio Antonio Arenas Gómez, president of the Convention Municipal Council and recognized the social leader of Ocaña, were the latest victims of an escalating campaign against rights defenders and social leaders in Colombia over the past few years.

On Friday night, armed men arrived at the residence of Oliver in the municipality of La Macarena and shot him dead, according to the National Confederation of Community Action.

The homicide occurred at 7:00 p.m. local time and the man lost his life at the scene. According to Jaime Gutiérrez, human rights advisor of that community organization, the social leader had not received previous threats and was very appreciated by his community...

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