The Alternative Revolutionary Force of the Common (FARC) party denounced on Sunday the murder of peace signatories in Colombia, where they are frequent victims of violence.
“They continue murdering peace signatories in different parts of the country,” the political group said through its Twitter account after learning that another former combatant in the process of reincorporation was killed.
Fernando Antonio Castro, former combatant of the former guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), who had taken refuge in the peace process, was assassinated in the department of Norte de Santander, local media reported.
According to the information disclosed, the authorities are investigating the incident.
According to a report by the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, a new wave of political violence is shaking Colombia on account of murders committed against ex-guerrillas of the now defunct FARC-EP who are in the process of being reincorporated.
Between November 24, 2016 (the date on which the Peace Agreement between the State and the then guerrilla was signed) and August 12, 2019, the Foundation registered 106 murdered persons who were carrying out work to reincorporate them into civilian life.
These people were active in different work and educational settings and in leadership roles in their communities for the defense of peace, the environment, the implementation of the Agreement, among other activities. In addition, 26 of their relatives have been murdered.
According to the material disclosed, violence against ex-combatants has a great impact on the possibility of building peace and reconciliation.
The academy and research centers specialized in Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration processes seem to agree that the lack of physical security is the cornerstone that could mark the success or failure of reincorporation into civilian life and, at the same time, it is a factor in recidivism due to the lack of security guarantees.
The lack of political will to implement and maintain the National Security Guarantees Commission and the Special Investigation Unit makes it difficult to create possible solutions to mitigate threats to those who signed the Agreement.
September has been a black month for the former members of the FARC: five murders have been reported.
