Jhon Gil, councilor of the municipality of Jamundí in southwestern Colombia and member of the indigenous Mais party, was brutally murdered by armed men, as confirmed by local authorities this Saturday.
The Mayor’s Office of Jamundí issued a statement in which it strongly condemns the act, calling it a cowardly attack that threatens democracy and the country’s institutions. Gil, elected in the last October elections, was also a recognized political leader in the region.
The tragic event occurred while Gil was in a food establishment near the town’s stadium, at which time hitmen broke in and took his life, according to the Institute for the Development of Peace Studies (Indepaz), through its observatory of violence.
Indepaz also pointed out the imposition of norms and forms of social control by armed groups as a constant risk to the rights of the population. In this context, the presence in Jamundí of the Jaime Martínez front of the Central General Staff, led by ‘Iván Mordisco’, the main dissident group of the FARC, as well as local criminal gangs, stood out.
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, and the senator of Mais, Aida Quilcué, joined the rejection of the murder, pledging to work tirelessly with the relevant authorities to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this execrable crime.
With Gil’s murder, the number of social leaders and human rights defenders murdered so far this year rises to 55, according to the Indepaz report. This event highlights the urgent need to protect those who work to build a more just and equitable society in Colombia.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
To be well informed, receive relevant news and information in your email.