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Wave of violence grips Colombia's southwest: son of victims' leader killed in Jamundí, peace signatory slain with father
🇨🇴 Colombia /Conflict & Security

Wave of violence grips Colombia's southwest: son of victims' leader killed in Jamundí, peace signatory slain with father in Cajibío

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Two violent incidents have heightened security concerns in Colombia's southwest: the son of a victims' leader was murdered in Jamundí, and a peace signatory and his father were killed in Cajibío.
  • In Jamundí, armed assailants forcibly entered the home of Marleny Mamián, a prominent victims' rights advocate, and killed her son, Jefferson Maquerry Mamián Santa Cruz.
  • The Mesa de Víctimas (Victims' Table) issued a strong statement condemning the violence and demanding effective guarantees for the safety of social leaders and peace advocates.

A wave of violence is escalating in Colombia's southwest, with two separate killings highlighting the precarious security situation for social leaders and peace advocates. In Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, armed men violently entered the home of Marleny Mamián, a respected leader and member of the Municipal Victims' Participation Table, and murdered her son, Jefferson Maquerry Mamián Santa Cruz.

We categorically, forcefully, and totally reject the murder of social leaders and leaders, human rights defenders, and victims' representatives in our country.

— Mesa de VíctimasCondemning the killing of Jefferson Maquerry Mamián Santa Cruz and other leaders.

The attackers forcibly removed the young man from his home before killing him. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with the Mesa de Víctimas issuing a strong condemnation. The organization denounced the killing of social leaders, human rights defenders, and victims' representatives, stating that such acts aim to silence courageous voices working for peace, justice, truth, and dignity.

These criminal acts not only take lives but also seek to silence brave voices working for peace, justice, truth, and dignity for their communities.

— Mesa de VíctimasDescribing the impact of violence against social leaders.

Simultaneously, in Cajibío, Cauca, a peace signatory and his father were also killed. This double homicide adds to the alarming humanitarian crisis in the region and underscores the extreme vulnerability faced by individuals involved in peace-building processes. The Institute for Peace and Development Studies (Indepaz) has pointed to the ongoing insecurity faced by these groups.

We will not allow fear and violence to prevail over hope and social commitment.

— Mesa de VíctimasStating their resolve in the face of violence.

Organizations advocating for human rights have urgently called on the Colombian state to provide real and effective guarantees for the lives, integrity, and leadership activities of social advocates. The Mesa de Víctimas expressed their profound condolences to Marleny Mamián and her family, vowing not to let fear and violence prevail over hope and social commitment.

We demand urgent and effective guarantees from the Colombian state for the life, integrity, and exercise of social leadership.

— Mesa de VíctimasCalling on the government for protection.
About this summary

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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