Excmo. Sr. Presidente Gustavo Petro Urrego President of the Republic of Colombia contacto@presidencia.gov.co | Sra. Luz Adriana Camargo Attorney General of Colombia |
November 23, 2025
Dear President Petro and Attorney General Camargo:
We write to you with a deep sadness and anger over the killing of Wilmer Noguera España, a signatory of the 2016 Peace Agreement and former combatant of the now demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). His body was found in the rural area of Dagua, Valle del Cauca Department, on October 27, 2025.
On October 25, Wilmer Noguera España and a companion were leaving school in the zone of kilometer 30 of Dagua at around 1:30pm when they were intercepted by unknown individuals. His companion was released, but Wilmer Noguera España was killed. His body was found in the same area two days later.
In the Early Alert AT 013/25 issued on October 7 by the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, Dagua is listed amongst the territories requiring urgent action, stating "the imposition of rules and other forms of illegal governance by armed groups represents a constant risk of human rights violations." Criminal gangs and dissident factions of the FARC (which broke off and did not sign the Peace Agreement) are known to be active in this region.
When the Peace Agreement was signed in November 2016, in exchange for fighters laying down their weapons, the government pledged to help over 14,000 former guerrillas reintegrate into society. Most went to live in any of 24 camps scattered across Colombia, known as Territorial Spaces for Training and Reintegration (ETCR). But there are risks faced by those who opted to enroll in the formal reintegration process. Since November 2016, more than 460 former guerrilla combatants have been murdered. When Wilmer Noguera España was killed on October 25, he became the 35th signatory of the Peace Agreement assassinated so far in 2025. One year ago, his brother, Uber Noguera España (also an ex-combatant and signatory of the Peace Agreement) was killed in the same municipality. This deadly violence threatens the reintegration process of all former combatants.
We strongly urge that authorities in Colombia:
(1) conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing of William Noguera España, publish the results, and bring those responsible to justice
(2) consult with other ex-combatants enrolled in the National Community Reincorporation Corporation (CNRC) in Valle del Cauca to implement protective measures, in strict accordance with their wishes
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan Szittai, Co-Coordinator
copies:
Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo, Ambassador of Colombia to the US ~ via email
José Luis Caballero Ochoa, Rapporteur for Colombia , Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ~ via email
UN: Scott Campbell, Representative in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ~ via email
US Embassy: John McNamara (Chargé d’Affaires); Adam Levy (human rights) ~ via email
US State Department: Desk Officer for Colombia ~ via email
US Senators from Ohio: Husted and Moreno ~ via email
US Representatives from Ohio: Beatty, Brown, Jordan, Joyce, Kaptur, Latta, Miller, Rulli, Sykes ~ via email
27 OCT 2025_Infobae_Colombia
