US congressmen urge action to stop killing of Colombia community leaders
US congressmen urge action to stop killing of Colombia community leaders
written by Jack Norman December 15, 2016
A surge in violence against rights activists and community leaders in Colombia has prompted 37 US Congressmen to ask Secretary of State John Kerry to act quickly to help stop the political violence.
In a letter to Kerry, Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and three dozen other Democratic Congressmen urged the Secretary of State to send Ambassador Kevin Whitaker to the most affected areas in Colombia, among other actions, including providing “protection so that [social leaders} may continue exercising their invaluable leadership and work.”
Just days ago, one of Colombia’s largest peasant organizations, Cumbre Agraria, reported that 94 of its regional leaders have been assassinated so far this year, a 49% increase compared to the same period last year.
Earlier this month, the United Nations expressed its concern over the increase in killings of rights and community leaders. Its Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported 57 assassinations of social leaders and 35 additional attempted assassinations in the first 11 months of 2016.
More:
http://colombiareports.com/us-congressmen-urge-action-stop-killing-colombia-community-leaders/
LA forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141641204