IRTF News

Murder, on November 4, of Edilberto Niño Cristancho, a senior leader of the National Union of Workers in the Cooking Fats and Food Industry (SINTRAIMAGRA), in Villavicencio in Meta Department.

killing of Noel Castillo Aguilar, age 44, a member of the Committee for Defense of Indigenous Rights (CODEDI), in the community of Barra de la Cruz in the municipality of Santiago Astata, Oaxaca Department.

physical attacks on journalists who were covering the eviction of more than 350 persons from the Encampment for Life in the community of El Guapinol, Tocoa in Colón Department. The eight journalists are Rigoberto Mendoza, Osmán Corea, Vitalino Álvarez and Erick Mendoza (Comunicaciones Mendoza); Jhony Castillo (Canal 5), Wenceslao Canales (Canal 29); Donaldo Domínguez and César Obando (Radio Progreso); and Miguel Dubón (Radio Globo).

Violent eviction in the community of El Guapinol, Tocoa municipality, in Colón Department. On October 23 we wrote to you about our concern at the eviction order for the environmental defense organization Encampment for Life and the issuing of arrest warrants for 18 of its members (cf our letter of Oct 23).

Threats against Ians Rivera and Fredy Molina, members of the Broad Movement for Dignity and Justice (MADJ)

threats to human rights defender Malena Mariet Martínez Montoya, a member of the Sucre branch of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE). She was threatened at the dental clinic where she works in Sincelejo, Sucre Department.

Threatening pamphlets against indigenous rights organizations that were found on the streets and railroad tracks in Uribia municipality in La Guajira Department.

Eviction order for the environmental defense organization Encampment for Life and the issuing of arrest warrants for 18 of its members in Tocoa, Colón Department. We are also concerned about an attack by security agents of a mining company which left Encampment member Rigoberto Hernández López injured from a bullet wound