Voices Silenced: The Tragic Tales of Social Leaders in Colombia's Caribbean Region.

Social leaders Nestor Martinez, Jhon Rueda & Temistocles Beltran were murdered in the Caribbean region throughout 2023.

*Article written by Carla Hernandez, Daniela Lugo & Nicole Mateus.

Colombia is a nation renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural diversity, yet an unsettling reality often casts a shadow over its beauty: the perilous situation faced by social leaders. According to the Human Rights Ombudsperson's Office, more than 1,000 human rights defenders and social leaders have tragically lost their lives since 2016, shedding light on the dire circumstances they confront (Human Rights Watch, 2023). To comprehend the gravity of this issue, one must delve into the alarming statistics. Threats and assassinations targeting these individuals persist relentlessly. In the Caribbean region alone, between 2010 and 2018, a staggering 114 leaders fell victim to violence. This alarming figure encompasses various categories of leaders, with 19% being peasant leaders and 14% holding positions as ethnic authorities (Comisión de la Verdad, 2022). This heart-wrenching toll underscores the widespread nature of the problem, transcending regional borders and emphasizing the urgency of addressing the situation. Furthermore, the situation is further complicated by the involvement of armed groups that threaten the lives of these social leaders who dare to expose their injustices and crimes. These leaders, often driven by an unwavering commitment to their communities, play a vital role in the public sphere as human rights advocates, territorial defenders, and catalysts for change. However, this dedication to progress comes at a grave personal cost, and social leaders like Nestor Martinez, Jhon Rueda, and Temistocles Beltran paid the ultimate price in their perilous struggle for justice and equality in Colombia's complex social landscape, unfortunately being murdered for their efforts towards making a positive change. 

Néstor Enrique Martínez Brito, an official working for the Office of the Ombudsman (Defensoría Del Pueblo) in the La Guajira region, tragically met his demise on the morning of March 15th, 2023. Martínez Brito, a dedicated social leader, had served as Community Ombudsman of the Ombudsman's Office of La Guajira since 2016. He showed a strong commitment to his responsibilities and became known for his exemplary dedication. Martínez Brito's work mainly revolved around addressing issues related to displacement and migration. His tenure as Community Defender was marked by his tireless efforts to protect and defend the rights and welfare of the local population. The Platform of Human Rights Defenders, Activists and Social Leaders of the Sierra Nevada has raised the disturbing possibility of the involvement of the “Clan del Golfo”, an illegal armed group in the region, in the murder of Néstor Enrique Martínez Brito. This case highlights the complexity and risk associated with social leadership in contexts where armed actors operate outside the law, underscoring the urgent need to address impunity and ensure the safety of those who work tirelessly to promote rights and justice in these areas. Similarly, in the following paragraph, we will delve into the case of Jhon Fredy Ruedas Rodrigez, another social leader whose life was cut short under violent circumstances. 

Jhon Fredy Rueda Rodriguez was a Colombian social leader who lived in Sincelejo where he was recognized for his social work as a Human Rights defender. Jhon Fredy worked as part of the Veeduria ciudadana por la Movilidad de Colombia (VEEMCOL) which works as an operational and administrative surveillance system for traffic institutes and ministries. Jhon Fredy was also acting as a social leader for those living in a land invasion (a process whereby people build homes on unused plots of land without formal permission) named Quintas de Belen located between two neighborhoods, Bitar and Pablo Sexto, a territory where he was leading the land invasion process by protecting the human rights of these communities and denouncing criminal acts within these groups. Quintas de Belen was the territory where his family and the community had to occupy illegally since they had no place to live due to the lack of opportunities they had to deal with, especially because of the pandemic and the economic crisis. Many of these inhabitants have lost their jobs and with them their income to pay rents, which has caused them to settle illegally in these territories. This social leader’s killing is still under investigation by local authorities, but some alternative sources have stood up for the case, such as the Instituto de estudios para el desarrollo y la paz Indepaz (Indepaz) which is a nongovernmental organization that works as a Human Rights Observatory with its main purpose being to generate development and peace in a post conflict context.  Indepaz has attributed responsibility in this case to the armed group that has been making threats against organizations of this region; the Clan del Golfo is the main suspect since it is the most active and powerful criminal group in the area. Even though local authorities continue to investigate the homicide, many organizations and social leaders are calling for their safety to be guaranteed, since this is not the first case that has taken place in this region and threats increase daily. To keep exploring the Caribbean social leader's problematic situation, in the next section we will move on to the department of Cesar, and the case of Temistocles Beltran, who worked promoting justice and human rights. 

Another tragic and deeply troubling illustration of the dangerous conditions that social leaders and human rights defenders often face in Colombia is the case of Temistocles Beltrán. Temistocles was a prominent figure known for his dedicated work with victims and peasants in the municipality of El Copey. His commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of marginalized communities made him a respected social leader in the region. Tragically, Beltran was brutally murdered in a rural area on the night of June 19th 2023. This assassination followed weeks of threats and intimidation directed towards Temistocles by the criminal group known as the Clan del Golfo, implicating them as the likely culprits behind his murder. The context in which this tragedy occurred is particularly grim, as the south of the department has seen a rise in kidnapping and homicides, which have become primary sources of funding for illegal groups. Temistocles Beltrán was not only a social leader but also a human rights defender and aspired to become a councilman for the municipality of El Copey. His dedication to improving the lives of rural communities was evident through his relentless pursuit of projects and solutions to address their needs. The situation in El Copey has prompted the Ombudsman's Office to issue early alerts due to the direct confrontations between criminal gangs and rival micro-trafficking networks. These conflicts involve criminal structures associated with the AGC and the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN), also known as 'Los Pachenca,' further highlighting the perilous conditions in the area. The threats and violence against human rights defenders in the Caribbean Region underscore the urgency of addressing the security challenges faced by those advocating for justice and equality in Colombia. The tragic fate of Temistocles Beltrán mirrors a disturbing pattern of violence against social leaders and human rights defenders in Colombia, setting the stage for an analysis of the striking similarities between the cases previously outlined of social leaders of the Caribbean region. 

       The three cases presented above correspond to only a small part of the total number of assassinations of social leaders since the signing of the peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla group in November 2016. In the national context, the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (INDEPAZ) reported a concerning statistic for 2023, stating that 188 social leaders were brutally assassinated across the country. This grim figure underscores the ongoing challenges and threats faced by leaders who are working to advocate for human rights and justice (INDEPAZ, 2023). Turning our attention to the regional panorama, the Caribbean region, while not having the highest number of social leader victims, has seen a significant impact. Of the 188 cases of murdered social leaders throughout Colombia durinng 2023, 34 of these tragic homicides occurred in the Caribbean departments. To understand these distressing events, it's imperative to delve into the historical context of the armed conflict in Colombia. Despite efforts to reduce regional conflicts and violence, the Caribbean region continues to grapple with the enduring presence of illegal armed groups and their connections to illicit economies. 

According to the Truth Commission (2022), despite efforts to reduce regional conflicts and violence, various factors of violence associated with illicit economies and illegal armed groups continue to persist, affecting the territories and communities in the Caribbean region. During the worst years of the armed conflict, these areas were under the control of paramilitary groups that terrorized the population with violent measures to gain respect and subordination from the civilians. One of the most common ways in which these illegal groups operated were under “land dispossession and extortion, selective assassinations and massacres” (OMC, 2022, p.8), including confrontations with the FARC and EPL guerrillas over control of land and drug trade. The most terrible consequence of these violent acts was that many people were victims of forces displacement losing their territory so they could save their life. Fast forward to nowadays, this is evident in the presence of armed groups in the areas where social leaders Néstor Enrique Martínez Brito (La Guajira), Jhon Fredy Rueda Rodriguez (Sincelejo), and Temistocles Beltrán (El Copey) were tragically murdered. What these cases have in common is their connection to the threat posed by local armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo (AGC) and the ACSN, which "coincidentally" targeted these leaders. These leaders were not only defending human rights but also actively seeking solutions to return or allocate land to victims and affected individuals in the region.  

  It is crucial to acknowledge that these armed groups continue to exert control over parts of the territory because they are driven by illicit economic pursuits, such as coca cultivation. In pursuit of these activities, they target communities, and in this case, social leaders who defend the land and expose their negligence (Truth Commission, 2022). The historical impact of the armed conflict and the lingering influence of paramilitary groups, even years after the demobilization process, are key factors shaping the current context in these areas, particularly in Sucre and Cesar, where the intertwining of violence, politics, and illicit economies remains significant. Additionally, the similarity in the targeting of these three victims underscores the ongoing challenges faced by social leaders who advocate for justice, human rights, and land reform in the region. 

In conclusion, the cases of Néstor Enrique Martínez Brito, Jhon Fredy Rueda Rodriguez, and Temistocles Beltrán present a distressing pattern of violence against social leaders and human rights defenders in the Caribbean region of Colombia. These individuals, committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of marginalized communities, faced threats, intimidation, and ultimately, violent deaths. The common thread linking these cases is the ominous presence of the criminal group known as the Clan del Golfo (AGC), illustrating the perilous conditions in which social leaders operate. The urgent need to address impunity and ensure the safety of those advocating for justice and equality in these areas cannot be overstated. As the investigations continue, the broader context of armed groups operating outside the law further emphasizes the complexity and risks associated with social leadership in these regions. The international community must also pay careful attention to these cases, supporting efforts to bring perpetrators to justice and working collaboratively to create a safer environment for those who dedicate their lives to promoting human rights in Colombia. The tragic fate of Nestor Enrique Martínez Brito, Jhon Fredy Rueda Rodriguez, and Temistocles Beltrán serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by social leaders, urging authorities and society at large to address the root causes of violence and insecurity that persist in these vulnerable communities. 

References 

Human Rights Watch (2023). Informe Mundial 2023: Tendencias de derechos en Colombia. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/colombia 

Comisión de la Verdad (2022). FOCUS ON CARIBE. Colombia Adentro, Relatos territoriales sobre el conflicto armado en CARIIBE. Comisión de la Verdad.  https://www.comisiondelaverdad.co/colombia-adentro-1 

INDEPAZ (2023). Violencia en Colombia: Informe anual 2023. INDEPAZ. https://indepaz.org.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/INFORME-FINAL-2023.pdf 

Observatorio y Memoria del Conflicto (2022). Boletín Estadístico de Eventos de Violencia Durante el Conflicto Armado Interno N. 3 Nacional. Centro Nacional de Memoria Historica.  https://micrositios.centrodememoriahistorica.gov.co/observatorio/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Boleti%CC%81n-Colombia-Completo.pdf. ( p.8) 

Barrios, F (2023). Asesinan a líder social en Sincelejo que denunciaba invasión de tierras. El tiempo.  https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/asesinan-a-lider-social-en-sincelejo-767863 

Caracol Radio (2023). Asesinan a líder social de El Copey, Cesar en su finca. Caracol Radio. https://caracol.com.co/2023/06/22/asesinan-a-lider-social-de-el-copey-cesar-en-su-finca/#:~:text=Beltr%C3%A1n%20era%20reconocido%20por%20su,conocer%20en%20las%20%C3%BAltimas%20horas. 

Semana (2023). Capturan en Cesar a dos hombres que llevaban camuflados con mensajes alusivos a disidencias; se les acusa de varios delitos. Semana. https://www.semana.com/nacion/valledupar/articulo/capturan-en-cesar-a-dos-hombres-que-llevaban-camuflados-con-mensajes-alusivos-a-disidencias-se-les-acusa-de-varios-delitos/202349// 

El Heraldo (2023). Asesinan a líder social del campesinado en El Copey, Cesar. El Heraldo. https://www.elheraldo.co/cesar/cesar-asesinan-lider-social-del-campesinado-en-el-copey-10101855