Ernesto Samper To Duque: Protect the Lives of Colombia’s Social Leaders
Former Colombian President Ernesto Samper asked the regime led by Ivan Duque to guarantee the life and safety of the social leaders of that nation, since so far in 2020, 14 leaders have been killed.
Through a message posted on his Twitter account, Samper said that this should be one of Duque’s priorities.
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“Protecting the lives of social leaders and human rights defenders should be the number one priority of the government. It is imperative that the respective risk studies be done and all measures taken so that not one more dies. It is the only way towards a peaceful country”, was the tweet published by the ex-president.
Proteger la vida de los líderes sociales y defensores de DDHH debe ser la prioridad número uno del Gobierno. Es imperativo que se hagan los respectivos estudios de riesgo y se tomen todas las medidas para que no muera ni uno más. Es el único camino para un país en paz.
— Ernesto Samper P. (@ernestosamperp) January 12, 2020
So far this year Carlos Cardona (Antioquia), Cristian David Caicedo (Cauca), Gloria Ocampo ( Putumayo ), Virginia Silva Paez (Cauca), Carlos Alonso Quintero (Putumayo) and Emilio Campaña (Putumayo) have been killed.
This macabre list also includes Mireya Hernández Guevara (Huila), Anuar Rojas Isaramá (Chocó), Óscar Quinter (Putumayo), Gentil Hernandez (Putumayo), Amparo Guegía (Cauca), Juan Pablo Guejia (Cauca), Jhon Freddy Álvarez (Huila), in addition to Benjamín Banguera González, demobilized from the Farc-EP, who was killed in Cauca.
Featured image: Indigenous Guardia attends the funeral of Gersaín Yatacué who was assassinated on August 1 in Caloto, Cauca. The banner reads: “They are killing us”. Photo: Twitter/Peoples Dispatch
Translated by JRE/EF
