Colombia massacres keep on mounting
Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
Increasing levels of violence in Colombia this year are setting off alarm bells. This is based on the fragility of this nation over many decades. Therefore, in parts of the country, the centralized state is but a figment of the imagination.
In the last two weeks, at least 39 people have been killed in several massacres. Hence, the legacy of civil war – and criminality – runs deep.
The Guardian reports, “On Saturday, six people were killed in Tumaco, a port city near the southern border with Ecuador, just days after the provincial governor warned that the region was descending into a “state of anarchy”. That same day, three people were shot dead near Medellín, Colombia’s second city, while three more were murdered in Arauca, in the country’s eastern plains.”
President Ivan Duque uttered, “It hurts that in recent years we have seen that the main victims of violence are youth. It hurts that in many communities these armed groups have always tried to recruit children.”
Sadly, for the people of Colombia, death at the hands of criminals, narcotic gangs, and various political armed groups is all too common. Thus, over 250,000 people since 1964 – mainly civilians – have been killed.
Last year over 100 human-rights people were targetted and killed. The same pattern is happening this year.
Voice of America reports, “According to the U.N., 107 human rights defenders were killed in 2019, a worrying number that could grow to 120 as investigations are completed. At least 10 activists have been reported killed in the first two weeks of 2020.”
Colombia is also under enormous strains from the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Hence, with over 18,000 deaths already – and negative economic consequences – then 2020 is very bleak for Colombia.
It appears that massacres will continue for the foreseeable future.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/27/colombia-massacres-violence-farc-civil-war
https://www.voanews.com/americas/un-alarmed-staggering-deaths-rights-activists-colombia
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