In a letter, 30 NGOs from around the world have strongly expressed their concern and sought justice for the human-rights activist Hernán Bedoya. The organizations have strongly condemned the brutal killing of the activist on 8 December in the Provionce of Choco. Furthermore, their letter written from Europe’s capital Brussels urges to take real action to protect the lives of Hernán’s relatives and the dozens of threatened community leaders in the region.
Colombian Human Rights organisation Justicia y Paz said, “The Bedoya was shot dead by the neo-paramilitary group “Autodefensas Gaitanisas.”
According to the thirty environmental, developmental and human rights organisations, “The Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs María Holguín and ambassador Sergio Jaramillo, have to duly investigate the murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
In 1996, paramilitary groups displaced Hernán from his land in Pedeguita and Mancilla, located in Riosucio in the Department of Chocó. In 2012 he returned and henceforth, Bedoya had fought to recover his land, leading him to create the humanitarian and bio-diverse zone ‘Mi Tierra’. He became a community leader and took action against palm oil, banana and rancher companies and denounced them for their illegal land-grabbing and deforestation. Hernán generously gave testimony about palm oil expansion for bio diesel production in Colombia for the award-winning documentary “Frontera Invisible”.
Hernán Bedoya was shot to death in the collective territory of Pedeguita and Mancilla. He is the second leader to be assassinated in the region in 2 weeks. Mario Castaño Bravo, was another social leader, murdered on 26 November. There is a growing international concern about the murders of community leaders and social activists in Colombia that have taken place after the historic peace agreement with the Farc over 12 months ago.
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