Politicians, security officials and media contribute to violence against Colombia's activists: repor

[Judi Lynn]

Children from Teorama burned candles to commemorate social leaders who have been killed. (Image: Agencia Prensa Rural)


by Canin Carlos December 19, 2018

Colombia’s government and media are contributing to the ongoing killing of social leaders in the country, according to a report by the National University.

The 280-page report by the Political Sciences and International Relations department of the National University assessed 257 homicides between November 26th, 2016 and July 31 of this year and claimed that many of the murders are apparent attempts to impede the effective implementation of a peace deal between former-President Juan Manuel Santos and demobilized FARC guerrillas.

Apart from the guerrillas’ disarmament and transition to politics, the deal sought to tackle multiple causes of the conflict like land distribution and drug trafficking, which has fueled the conflict since the 1980s.

Politicians’ and state officials’ role in the killings
But according to the report, “powerful sectors within the state and the civil society are opposed to this type of transformation,” and alleges these forces to “use of all means, both legal as illegal, to stop all kinds of changes favorable to peace and transformation” of the countryside.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/politicians-security-officials-and-media-contribute-to-violence-against-colombias-activists-report/