Left Under Attack in Colombia

The peace deal signed in 2016 between the Colombian Government and FARC promised a better future for millions of Colombians. Several years on and the deal is already under significant strain, in many areas it has simply made no advances.

According to the independent human rights organisation Indepaz, since the start of the peace process, roughly 1000 human rights defenders and community leaders have been murdered. There were over 250 in 2020 alone.

At least twenty of those killed in 2020 were Trade Union organisers, while the early months of 2021 have already seen the killings of at least four Trade Unionists. 

In the most recent murder on Monday 29 March, Carlos Vidal was shot dead while walking his dog near his home in Valle del Cauca. Carlos was the president of the SINTRACOS union for sugar industry workers and a member of the CGT trade union centre. He was also known for his community activism.

His and other deaths reflect the fact that Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a Trade Union organiser. There are also considerable dangers faced by environmental and human rights activists.

In many cases the killings are the responsibility of criminal gangs however according to the US State Department, Colombian state agents intentionally murdered 15 civilians between January and August 2020. The US State Department has also noted that Colombian authorities continue to keep opposition politicians, journalists and trade unionists under surveillance. Clearly the Colombian Government has thus far failed to live up to their obligations under the peace deal.

Is uafásach agus náireach an scéal é. Tá dualgas ar an bpobal idirnáisiúnta agus ar Rialtas na Colóime le díriú ar dheireadh a chur lena dúnmharuithe agus an phróiseas síochána a chur i bhfeidhim mar is ceart.

le Ciarán Ó Meachair, Oifigeach Idirnáisiúnta