UN concerned over killings of Colombia local leaders

The UNHCR has said it has noted "with growing concern" an increase in the killings of community leaders and rights defenders in Colombia's Pacific Coast region.

"In most cases, the victims are from indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities," Xinhua news agency quoted United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson William Spindler as saying at a UN briefing in Geneva on Friday.

Jose Jair Cortes, a leader from the Afro-Colombian community of Alto Mira y Frontera in Tumaco, in the south-western department of Narino, was killed a month ago by an unknown armed group, he added.

At least seven other leaders have been killed and many others threatened since then, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia.

Implementation of Colombia's Peace Agreement with the former guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), announced a year ago, has sprung many challenges with the presence of armed groups and unlawful activities such as drug trafficking and illegal mining, said the UNHCR.

"In all there are 78 known deaths of leaders and members of social organisations this year and at least 13 other suspected murders. By any measure this is alarming," said Spindler.

--IANS

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