Colombians call for justice with white carnations for murdered social leaders

Bogotá, Feb 20 (EFE).- Hundreds of Colombians took to the streets on Tuesday in several cities across the country, including Bogotá, brandishing white carnations and showing deep emotion to demand justice for the social leaders and peace agreement signatories killed in recent years.

Gloria Arias, spokesperson for Defend Peace, the movement organising the rallies, called for a collective mourning and protest against the violence that has claimed the lives of at least 1,608 social leaders and 420 peace agreement signatories since the peace deal with the FARC on November 24, 2016.

Despite the fact that the murder of social leaders and human rights defenders decreased by 16% in 2023 compared to 2022, 181 victims, protesters, and former FARC leaders, who are now part of the political party Comunes, argue that the numbers remain alarmingly high, similar to those of the government of Iván Duque (2018-2022).

They urge the current administration of President Gustavo Petro to take more decisive action to protect these vital community figures and fully implement the peace agreement.

The rallies, filled with artistic expressions and moments of solemn remembrance, culminated in calls for a more committed pursuit of peace and protection of social leaders, echoing in cities such as Medellín and Bogotá, where more than 70 widows of murdered leaders gathered to mourn and demand justice. (Camera: JUAN DIEGO LÓPEZ).

SHOT LIST: SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS PROTEST AGAINST THE ASSASSINATIONS OF FARC PEACE ACTIVISTS AND SOCIAL LEADERS IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA.