A figure that makes you dizzy.
More than 150 people involved in the defense of human rights have been murdered during the first nine months of the year in Colombia, the office of the ombudsman announced on Friday 28 October.
Between January and September, this state body – which monitors respect for human rights – recorded 157 murders of activists, more than the 109 recorded in the first three quarters of 2021.
Thirty-two indigenous people are among these victims, in a country where 4.4% of the 50 million inhabitants belong to an indigenous people.
Since the conclusion of peace with the FARC guerrillas in 2016, the assassinations of leaders of ethnic communities have been recurrent.
NGOs say active guerrillas, drug traffickers and state agents are behind the killings.
Disputes over cocaine crop control
"I appeal once again to illegal armed groups to respect the life and integrity of leaders (of ethnic minority communities, editor's note) and human rights defenders, they play a fundamental role in guaranteeing the rights of communities and the strengthening of democracy in the regions", said the mediator, Carlos Camargo.
In areas where there have been the highest number of homicides, armed groups are vying for control of drug crops, with Colombia being the world's largest producer of cocaine.
This country is one of the most dangerous for activists, according to NGOs such as Global Witness, which in its 2021 report ranks it second in the killings of environmental defenders (33).
The new Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, wants to obtain through negotiations the disarmament of the rebels still in activity and that the drug traffickers be brought to justice.
With AFP
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