Another human rights defender murdered in the department of Arauca

The month of April has not been easy for social leaders throughout the country, as the constant threats and harassment against them have jeopardized their work as defenders of different causes and life itself. Unfortunately, in the last few hours there was a new murder in the eastern part of the country, because a human rights defender was killed in confusing events that are still under investigation, precisely in an area where he reported a massacre a few hours ago.

The victim was identified as John Jairo Esquivel, a member of the Guardia Campesina and the National Campesino Association ASONALCA. The violent incident occurred in the Salem village of the municipality of Fortul in Arauca, however, so far the motives for the incident have not been clarified, the information established by the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz), highlights that, with this crime, 56 leaders have already been killed so far this year 2022, in addition to the 15 signatories of peace who have also perished this year from various criminal causes.

For the department of Arauca, different calls for attention have already been issued, regarding the presence of criminal groups and the escalation of violence in the territory, this has become even more visible since the beginning of the year, since conflicts in the border area between armed groups have directly submerged the population in constant belligerence. These events have directly violated the integrity of the community, which has had to travel to different areas of the country and within the same department, because it has been directly intimidated by the insurgent groups.

The community itself has complained about the constant militarization of the region, which has also urged criminals to increase their weapons behavior and leave city dwellers in the midst of the conflict, as it has gradually moved to urban areas, leaving both women, children and the elderly adrift.

According to the Joel Sierra Foundation, an organization that suffered an attack on its facilities in January, it warned the previous week about seven criminal acts against the Araucanos, and also pointed out that government intervention in this region has had different purposes than safeguarding the same citizenship.

In the communiqué made by the non-state organization, it was quoted: “The Araucano people continue to face the escalation of the political, social and armed conflict, since the first days of the year; which already leaves leaders murdered, threatened, attacked, acts of barbarism and terrorism, displaced. As well as, more than a hundred violent deaths of which seven are women, including a minor.”

The concern increases, because despite the fact that the Ministries of the Interior and Defence have announced different measures regarding the increase of military force, however, this has not been enough for the wide precariousness suffered by the inhabitants of the municipalities surrounding the border, considering that they are the most affected points because of violence, because of the need of armed groups to seize territory and areas of interference with drug trafficking routes.

Another event that has increased concern was the massacre of four people in the municipality of Tame, including two minors. As a result of this criminal act, five people were also injured who are in recovery at the San Antonio de Tame hospital in that jurisdiction.

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