Colombia: Indigenous Leader Killed in Cauca Department
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Albeiro Camayo, Colombia. (photo: Twitter/@federicorios) Colombia: Indigenous Leader Killed in Cauca Department
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Although the Colombian State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed a Peace Agreement in 2016, at least 1,295 social leaders have been murdered over the last six years.
At around 15:00, the El Cabuyo and La Primavera neighborhoods were forced to participate in meetings arranged by paramilitaries who mobilized nearby their zones.
When the criminals were in the La Primavera neighborhood, activists demanded respect for the civilian population and managed to expel them from the territory with the help of Indigenous guards.
Shortly after, however, the armed groups came back with reinforcements and started opening fire against authorities and community leaders, among whom was Camayo.
We travelled with the Minga in 2020 from Ibagué to Bogotá. @Notranquilo and I had the honor to briefly meet Albeiro Camayo, who organized the camps each night, made sure everyone was safe and acted as an informal community leader
— Joshua Collins (@InvisiblesMuros) January 25, 2022
He was killed by armed groups today in Cauca https://t.co/RiMWqd3ieo
Among the criminals who attacked was the "El Paisa," who previously murdered environmentalist Breiner Cucuñame and Guillermo Chicame, who was a member of the Indigenous guard at the Las Delicias neighborhood.
Although the Colombian State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a Peace Agreement in 2016, at least 1,295 social leaders have been assassinated over the last six years.
To counteract violence increasing in northern Cauca, Indigenous communities urged the State to expand its presence in the zone and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to support pro-peace strategies.