Cáritas Colombiana condemns the murder of María Palechor and James Flor and demands guarantees for social leaders

The National Secretariat of Social Pastoral–Cáritas Colombiana expressed its rejection of the murder of indigenous leader María Ovidia Palechor and social leader James Edimer Flor, which occurred in her home on September 1 in La Pedregosa, Cajibío, Cauca.

The statement, issued during the Week for Peace, focused on the need to guarantee the life and free exercise of those who lead community processes and peacebuilding.

María Ovidia Palechor Anacona exercised leadership linked to the defense of human rights, victims, and women, while James Edimer Flor supported processes of peasant communities and victims of the conflict. Both carried out their work in spaces of community organization and peacebuilding in Cajibío.

Cáritas Colombiana pointed out that these murders are not isolated incidents, but are part of a context of violence marked by disputes between illegal armed actors, territorial control, threats, and displacements.

The impact of these murders, the organization warned, "not only violates their right to life." Violence also leaves communities terrified, weakens their organizations, restricts participation and threatens the efforts of reintegration, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.

In light of the recurrence of murders in Cauca and Nariño, Cáritas Colombiana called for strengthening prevention and protection measures, with differentiated responses that take into account the conditions of rural, indigenous, and peasant communities.

The Church warned that the murders, threats, and displacements of those who laid down their arms put reintegration at risk and warned that guaranteeing their safety is "an indispensable condition for the effective implementation of the Peace Agreement."

The organization insisted that the protection of social leadership cannot be reduced to individual schemes and called for strengthening territorial and collective strategies that allow communities to remain in their territories and exercise their leadership without threats.

In the Week for Peace, Cáritas Colombiana warned about the risks of stigmatizing those who defend human rights, accompany communities, or protect the common home, and called to avoid discourses and practices that may foster new violence.

Finally, the Church reiterated that building peace requires effective guarantees for life, social participation, and the safe exercise of territorial leadership. "It is not enough to promote reconciliation initiatives" while those who work for peace continue to be threatened, displaced, or murdered.

Photo: El País

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