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Arcangel Pantoja & Omar Agudelo represented rural communities in Puerto Libertador, Córdoba
Violence in Colombia has not stopped for a long time. Despite the signing of a peace agreement with the country’s main armed group, the FARC guerrilla organisation, many insurgent groups and illegal armed groups continue to be present in different territories, maintaining drug trafficking and, of course, violence as a result of their struggle for power and territory. The consequences of violence are reflected in the violation of human rights, most recently with the wave of violence towards social leaders who seek to defend their communities and change the situation. This article covers the case of two peasant leaders murdered in the south of Córdoba, the context in which it occurred and what relationship there is of this event with other factors such as the peace agreement, and drug trafficking, among others.
Regardless of the signing of the peace treaty in 2016, the south of Córdoba continues to be affected by violence due to its geographical location , since it connects growing areas and centers for the production and storage of cocaine hydrochloride with transport routes and points of export (Irreño and Martínez, 2018; Trejos et al. 2019), and the strong presence of armed groups such as the Caparrós, the Clan del Golfo (Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia / AGC), and the Rastrojos, among others that for their political and economic interests , keep the region in armed conflict in which the violation of human rights and the murder of social leaders is present to a greater extent.
According to Trejos & Badillo (2020), the conflict in the south of Cordoba is determined by three factors: firstly by the constant confrontation between the security forces and the armed actors. Secondly the dispute over territorial power between the armed groups, and finally by the situation of violence that comes from Bajo Cauca, which directly affects the dynamic in the sub region. All these factors have determined the current situation in this region of the department of Cordoba. According to data from different sources such as the Ombudsmans Office, “Somos Defensores”, “Misión de observación Electoral” (MOE), “Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento” (CODHES), “Fundación Paz y Reconciliación” (Pares), from the signing of the agreement in November 2016 to March 2020, there have been at least 111 attacks on leaders of the south of Córdoba: 76 cases of threats, 33 murders and two attacks (El Espectador, 2020). Behind every statistic of course, lies a story of human loss.
One example of the previously mentioned violence is the death of two peasant leaders Arcangel Pantoja and Omar Agudelo. The events occurred in the municipality of Puerto Libertador, in the south of Córdoba. They were both founder members of the Asociación de Campesinos al Sur de Córdoba (ACSOCOR), which is a non-profit peasant social organization, and defender of human rights and international humanitarian law that promotes the peace agreement. Omar was also part of the Communal Action Board of the village of Río Sucio. Within a short time on the 1st of June, their murders occurred in the same way: they were forced to leave their homes, moved nearby and shot several times. Although the case was reported by the organization to which they both belonged, the authorities have not yet clarified the facts nor found the whereabouts of those responsible. However, Camilo Barrocal, Cordoba’s secretary of interior and citizen participation pointed out the hypothesis that the group that may be behind the murders could be the Clan del Golfo (AGC). The peasants in the area blame the government for the lack of guarantees in the protection of their rights and demand the preservation of the community’s well-being in the face of the imminent threat they face in the middle of territorial disputes between armed groups. The community complains about the numerous murders of social leaders in addition to that of Omar and Arcangel. The case of the murder of Luis Darío Rodríguez is added to the list. He was part of different associations to serve their community, and to protect and denounce the situation in Córdoba. Similarly, the voice of María del Pilar Hurtado, who represented her community by claiming land rights in Tierralta, was silenced along with that of 42 other peasants following the signing of the peace agreement according to the Cordobexia Foundation.
Taking into account the power vacuum in the region and the huge amount of power that dangerous groups have, there must be someone taking care of the lives of the communities there. These suggestions are good steps to begin with the solution of the problem as a whole and are a goal we all must look up to achieve soon. In order to change and begin improving the situation related to social leaders and human rights defenders it is important to apply these recommendations suggested by different entities (UNHCHR & UNCaribe). Given the lack of state presence and the presence of armed groups in the south of Córdoba region, what can be done in order to protect the threatened communities there? First, it is important to respect and promote accords that have already been made with armed groups since 2016. Not only this but, it is also relevant to be open to negotiate new accords directly with the illegal groups that lead and dominate these territories in which the attacks, killings and persecution occurs. This must be done through mechanisms of resolution of conflicts to finally be able to establish some new limits that cannot be overlooked or broken and that can protect to some degree the integrity of social leaders and human rights defenders. Secondly, international cooperation, organizations, and institutions can be useful to supervise and manage the conflict from another perspective. For example, institutions such as the church can fulfil a role of peacemakers and mediators. Thirdly, two main institutions must be strengthened and supported. The first one is the “Comision Nacional de Garantías de la Seguridad” [National Commission on Security Assurances] whose main function is to promote and be in charge of the protection and safety of human rights defenders and social leaders. This is achieved through the planning of strategies of security and protections for the possible targets. The second institution is the UNP (Unidad Nacional de Protección/National Protection Unit) and its main function is to analyze and evaluate situations regarding human rights and vulnerable communities in the country. Their function can be exponentially faster and more efficient if it receives more financing and resources. And last but not least there are other relevant suggestions regarding this topic and they involve: working and developing real solutions alongside with local and regional governors, to stop increasing the military presence in conflictive areas, to act instantly and preventatively when the Ombudsman’s Office warns of any possible attack or damage, and always develop the social leaders security and integrity with other projects that promote the social, economic , cultural and political development of the areas. Making actions such as these can make a huge impact in the life of the communities of Cordoba and other regions of Colombia, and will for sure reduce the amount of victims that faced a terrible fate like Omar Agudelo and Arcangel Pantoja.
To conclude, in the southern area of the department of Cordoba, several actors such as armed and illegal groups have been systematically threatening the integrity of social leaders to fullfill their own interests. In other terms, the situation there is entirely defined by the social, economic and political interests of groups outside of the law whose only purpose is to establish their own domain in the territory. This is only to take advantage of the resources of the department for illegal cultivation , while committing murder, threats and violence against leaders whose only purpose is to defend the lives, interests and needs of their people. All of this has culminated in the insecurity and constant fear for the community, not allowing them to develop in a climate of peace.
*Article researched and written by Isabella Boyano, Gabriella Quintero & Gabriela Urango
Information sourced from:
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El Espectador. (2020, 06 02). Ante la ola de crímenes, campesinos del sur de Córdoba denuncian olvido estatal. El Espectador. https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/nacional/asesinatos-a-campesinos-en-el-sur-de-cordoba/
El Espectador. (2020, 08 18). ¿Quiénes amenazan y asesinan a los líderes sociales en el sur de Córdoba? El Espectador. https://www.elespectador.com/colombia2020/pais/quienes-amenazan-y-asesinan-a-los-lideres-sociales-en-el-sur-de-cordoba/
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Trejos, L. F., & Sarmiento, R. B. (2020, 06). Los cuatro conflictos del Caribe colombiano: Balance de la confrontación armada durante el primer semestre del 2020. Universidad del Norte. https://www.uninorte.edu.co/documents/12067923/14752905/Los+cuatro+conflictos+del+Caribe+-+Informe+del+primer+semestre+%282020%29.pdf/6babd784-dec2-4b44-a1b5-d49b9c02de90United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights*. (2020, 02 26). Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia.
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