Violence persists in Arauca: seven murders reported in April

The human rights foundation Joel Sierra, located in Arauca, warned of the escalation of violence in this department, as there have been seven murders in April, which highlights the deaths of two women. It is important to keep in mind that, since the beginning of 2022, this region has been hit by the harsh armed conflict, perpetrated by dissidents from the FARC, ELN and the constant militarization by the armed forces.

In a lengthy statement, the Foundation said: “The Araucano people continue to face the escalation of political, social and armed conflict, since the first days of the year; which already leaves leaders killed, 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 victims revealed by the foundation are: 54-year-old Blanca Sánchez Gómez, murdered on April 5, in which Mr. Mario Montoya also died. Similarly, the death of Juvenal Carrillo Galvis, age 56, and Jorge González,

On the other hand, 25-year-old José Alexander Vargas Piñeros was shot dead in the hamlet of Flor Amarillo on Saturday, April 9, while on Sunday, April 10; 44-year-old Maria Nidia Martínez Duarte and 28-year-old Yeison Javier Martínez Duarte died from several gunshot wounds, the latter two victims being mother and son.

It is important to keep in mind that the reported deceased have a common denominator, in relation to the way in which they were gunned down, since firearms were used to end their lives.

Likewise, the organization made a strong appeal to the National Government, emphasizing that the military presence was focused on protecting extractive behaviors only, while the community was at the mercy of violence. Faced with this, it was stated: “The framework of a humanitarian crisis is the lack of access to justice, truth and clarification of the facts, while on the part of the Colombian State, militarization is only increased in implementation of its proposal of future zones, to guarantee the interests of the imperial world of plundering the assets of nature and its interventionist and interventionist claims, towards the sister Republic Bolivarian of Venezuela”.

Likewise, concern was raised about the allegations that stigmatize the community, linking it to the ELN, a situation that would jeopardize its integrity: “On the other hand, a statement supposedly signed by the so-called FARC-EP dissidents is issued, where they make serious allegations to the Banana Growers Association to be financed by the ELN, as well as stigmatizing the activities of the peasant communities, which are in urgent need to carry out, in order to obtain resources for the maintenance and repair of tertiary roads, which due to the lack of political will of the rulers are abandoned”.

It is important to bear in mind that the foundation that imposes the complaint was the victim of a car bomb attack on January 19, in the municipality of Saravena, a criminal act that would have been perpetrated by the dissidents of 'Gentil Duarte', commanded by alias 'Antonio Medina', with the aim of intimidating the population of this area.

Finally, in the statement, the Joel Sierra Foundation requested the accompaniment of national and international organizations in order to oversee the region and accompany the affected communities.

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