Safeguarding the Promise: Protecting Ex-Combatants in Colombia’s Fragile Peace.

Originally published on Jun 24, 2024.

Ex-combatant Jaime Díaz wanted to enter politics. His murder, and that of over 400 signatories of the 2016 agreement, have generated mistrust and brought about painful memories from the past in Colombia.

Article written by Joaquin Castillo, María Fernanda Herrera & Valentina Torres

Amidst the optimism that followed the signing of the historic peace accords in Colombia, agreed by the Colombian state and the FARC guerrillas in 2016, a haunting reality emerged: the lives of ex-combatants have remained perilously vulnerable. Eight years have passed since the signatories made the commitment to emerge from deep within the jungles of our country, but gradually this promise has been undermined by threats and attacks on the lives of ex-combatants. Such a situation has also been a factor in relation to the numbers of ex-combatants who have decided to wield arms again and return to a life of arms; they believe they are safer armed in the jungle than unarmed and scattered throughout the country. It is, however, important to highlight that according to the reports of the Truth Commission, almost 95% of the 13,609 fighters who signed the 2016 agreement are actively complying with the processes of peaceful reintegration into society (2022). It is for this reason that it is necessary to shine a light on the grave dangers being faced by those who have laid down their arms in the name of peace. The story of ex-combatants falling victim to assassination paints a stark picture of the complexities and challenges that persist long after the agreements. Such a scenario evokes painful memories from the past and is also extremely pertinent keeping in mind that the current president of Colombia is an ex-combatant himself and that the national government is keen to achieve peace agreements with several other armed groups still operating across the national territory. In this article, we dive into the tragic phenomenon of ex-combatants being killed after the signing of the peace accords by looking primarily at the case of one such slain ex-combatant, Jaime Diaz.

Jaime Luis Diaz Ricardo belongs to the group of those who have fallen victims of the insecurity in peripheral areas of the country. Diaz Ricardo was a signatory of the 2016 Peace Agreement who was involved in the process of reincorporation (El Universal, 2023). The reincorporation process involved former FARC guerillas like Diaz Ricardo demobilizing and reintegrating into civilian life by turning in their weapons and receiving training and support to transition to legal economic activities under the terms of the 2016 Peace Agreement. After demobilizing from the FARC and going through the reincorporation program, he decided to enter politics. He was a candidate for the Municipal Council of Chalán in Sucre, for the Independent Social Alliance (ASI) party (Seguimiento.co, 2023). On October 27th 2023, at around 2pm, he was driving on the road leading from Chalán to Colosó, near the village of Desbarrancao, where he had been on campaign business, when he was approached and shot dead by two armed men (El Heraldo, 2023). He had lived in the Arriba de Chalán neighborhood, where he ran his parents’ store. People affectionately called him ‘el Niño’. Jaime left behind three small children.

The region where the crime took place has a long history of violence stemming from the armed conflict, with various illegal armed groups disputing control of the territory and its strategic importance for drug trafficking routes. One of the most prominent criminal organizations currently operating in the area is the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo or AGC), which emerged from the demobilization of right-wing paramilitary groups. The AGC has violently asserted its control over illegal economies like drug trafficking and illegal mining in the Montes de María region, using intimidation and violence against social leaders, human rights defenders, and political candidates seen as opposing their interests (InSight Crime, 2022). After Diaz´ assassination, the governor of Sucre, Hector Olimpo Espinosa, claimed he had issued repeated warnings regarding the dangerous environment for candidates in this departmental election, expressing concern regarding the lack of attention being paid by the national government to the Sucre region in relation to potential threats to candidates, and the potential involvement of criminal gangs within the electoral process (Caracol Radio, 2024).

The assassination of Jaime Diaz and other ex-combatants casts a haunting shadow over Colombia’s pursuit of peace. According to figures from Indepaz, there have now been over 400 ex-combatants of the FARC murdered throughout Colombia since the agreement was signed in 2016. Such figures evoke tragic memories of the nation’s turbulent past. The demobilization and attempted political integration of the Patriotic Union (UP) party in the 1980s ended disastrously, with thousands of its members and leaders assassinated by paramilitary groups and narco-traffickers threatened by their political aspirations (Dudley, 2008). This brutal chapter demonstrated the perils ex-combatants face when attempting to reintegrate into civil society, underscoring the need for robust security guarantees. The current stakes are heightened further as Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, is himself a former M-19 guerrilla fighter (The New York Times, 2022), lending personal resonance to the plight of ex-combatants and the existential importance of safeguarding the fragile peace process he has championed.

These kinds of killings during a post-conflict era in Colombia demand urgent action from authorities at the local, national, and international level. Locally, law enforcement must intensify investigations and provide comprehensive protection and support programs for ex-combatants to ensure successful reintegration (Justice for Colombia, 2022). Nationally, the Colombian government must prioritize ex-combatant protection, strengthening security measures, allocating resources for socioeconomic reintegration, and swiftly prosecuting perpetrators (De-Arteaga et. Al, 2019). Internationally, organizations like the United Nations should provide technical assistance, monitor human rights violations, and advocate for ex-combatant protection while pressuring Colombia to fulfill peace accord commitments and address the root causes of violence (OHCHR, 2024). A coordinated effort is crucial in order to uphold peace, justice, and reconciliation and create a safer, more prosperous future for Colombians.

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that these crimes are deeply troubling for several reasons. These individuals had laid down their arms and committed to pursuing peace, including through non-violence and reintegration. As agents of peace, their deaths have the effect of undermining the accords and efforts for lasting peace. Their participation demonstrated trust in the agreements and a willingness to embrace a new future. The killings represent lives lost and setbacks in building trust and confidence. They erode the security promised to those abandoning armed struggle. The acts of violence discourage other ex-combatants from embracing reintegration, perpetuating mistrust. Many ex-combatants have served as positive agents of change, promoting reconciliation. Their protection upholds the accords and moral imperative for peace. Ensuring their safety demonstrates Colombia’s commitment to a peaceful future.

The ongoing violence against ex-combatants like Jaime Diaz exposes a troubling lack of empathy and commitment from Colombian society towards the difficult process of reintegrating former fighters into civilian life. While apprehensions are understandable, demonizing all ex-combatants and denying them a legitimate path to rejoin society only perpetuates cycles of violence and mistrust. For sustainable peace, the public must recognize that many have renounced violence in good faith, deserving a genuine chance to rebuild their lives and contribute positively. Embracing this requires confronting painful histories and overcoming resentments, but the consequences of failure – renewed conflict, more bloodshed, wasted human potential – are too grave. All Colombians must leave animosities behind, uphold the peace accords’ tenets through personal attitudes and actions, and reintegrate ex-combatants through reconciliation into the national fabric. The entire nation has a stake in this reintegration succeeding or reverting to entrenched divisions. Opening hearts and minds to ex-combatants’ persevering humanity, honoring their choice of peace, and providing security and opportunities can unlock vast potential, whereas regressing to violence spurs only more suffering (Ramirez, 2016). The legacy of slain ex-combatants such as Jaime Diaz should steel our resolve to realize the promise of reconciliation.

References

Caracol Radio. (2024). La corporación Pacto Social por la Mojana advierte sobre posible paro por Caregato. Caracol Radio; Caracol Radio. https://caracol.com.co/2024/04/26/la-corporacion-pacto-social-por-la-mojana-advierte-sobre-posible-paro-por-caregato/

De-Arteaga, M., & Boecking, B. (2019). Killings of social leaders in the Colombian post-conflict: Data analysis for investigative journalism. ResearchGate; ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333891954_Killings_of_social_leaders_in_the_Colombian_post-conflict_Data_analysis_for_investigative_journalism

Dudley, S. S. (2004). Walking ghosts: murder and guerrilla politics in Colombia. https://primo-tc-na01.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1nls3ib/uninorte_aleph000152966

El Heraldo. (2023). Asesinan a balazos a un aspirante al concejo de Chalán, Sucre. ELHERALDO.CO; EL HERALDO. https://www.elheraldo.co/sucre/sucre-asesinan-balazos-un-aspirante-al-concejo-de-chalan-1044365?utm_source=ELHERALDO&utm_medium=articulo&utm_campaign=recirculacion&utm_term=relacionadobody

El Heraldo . (2023). ONU condena crimen de firmante de paz y aspirante al Concejo de Chalán, Sucre. ELHERALDO.CO; EL HERALDO. https://www.elheraldo.co/sucre/onu-condena-crimen-de-firmante-de-paz-y-aspirante-al-concejo-de-chalan-sucre-1044409

El Universal. (2023). Mataron a líder social en los Montes de María: ya son 138 en 2023, en el país. Www.eluniversal.com.co; Periodico El Universal. https://www.eluniversal.com.co/sucesos/mataron-a-lider-social-en-los-montes-de-maria-ya-son-138-en-2023-en-el-pais-XA9345374

INDEPAZ. (2023). Balance de seguridad del primer año del gobierno de Gustavo Petro.

Justice for Colombia. (2022). Constitutional Court rules Colombian state has failed to protect former FARC combatants – justice for colombia. Justice for Colombia. https://justiceforcolombia.org/news/constitutional-court-rules-colombian-state-has-failed-to-protect-former-farc-combatants/

InSight. (2022). Asesinato de líderes sociales en Colombia aumenta a pesar de la “Paz Total.” InSight Crime; InSight Crime. https://insightcrime.org/es/noticias/asesinatos-lideres-sociales-aumenta-colombia-paz-total/

OHCHR. (2024). Colombia: UN expert calls for implementation of Peace Agreement as a State policy. OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/03/colombia-un-expert-calls-implementation-peace-agreement-state-policy

Pecastaing, C. (2016). Ungovernance or Divergence? Assessing the Adaptiveness of Brutality in Marginal Areas. The SAIS Review of International Affairs, 36(1), 29–38.

Seguimiento.co. (2023). Asesinan a Jaime Luis Díaz Ricardo, firmante de paz y candidato al Concejo de Chalán. Seguimiento.co. https://seguimiento.co/la-region-caribe/asesinan-jaime-luis-diaz-ricardo-firmante-de-paz-y-candidato-al-concejo-de-chalan

The New York Times. (2024). Colombia Presidential Election: Colombia Election: Gustavo Petro Makes History in Presidential Victory (Published 2022). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/19/world/colombia-election-results

The Truth Commission. (2022). La Desmovilización de la FARC-EP. La Comisión de Verdad. Retrieved from https://www.comisiondelaverdad.co/la-desmovilizacion-de-las-farc-ep#:~:text=Con%20la%20firma%20del%20Acuerdo,con%20su%20proceso%20de%20reincorporaci%C3%B3n.

Gustavo Pérez: The ex-combatant who worked for victim’s rights

Social leaders are people that fight for human rights and have recognition in the community to operate, coordinate and support projects that are for the collective good, such as, improving living conditions and the construction of a fair and equitable society. Nevertheless these actions are aimed at protecting human rights, their land, and defending their culture, etc.

Here in Colombia there is a mass and systematic killing of social leaders due to criminal groups, elites, economic and political interest and the Colombian government fails to have an impact by not wanting to acknowledge and the issue and denying this problem. According to Indepaz (Institute of Studies for Development and Peace), in 2019, 226 social leaders and Human Rights defenders were killed in approximately 112 different towns of Colombia and in the first few months of 2020, 57 people have been killed (as of time of writing).

In this paper we are going to focus on the specific case of a social leader in Bolivar named Gustavo Pérez Arevalo and how this case can allow us to understand and reflect about social leaders and this difficult situation that is facing our country.

First, it is necessary to learn a little about Gustavo Pérez. According to the HRD (Human Rights Defenders) memorial, a website that is dedicated for those who were killed defending Human Rights, Gustavo Pérez was a social leader that was part of the Santa Rita association and the Sembrando Futuro de Paz association. He was also a delegate of the local Mesa de Víctimas (Victim´s Board) in La Candelaria, Bolivar. Gustavo Pérez had previously requested protection from the Colombian State due to threats from paramilitary groups. However, his request was not answered and eventually he was shot on Friday, September 13 2019 while he was in the Palma Chica village in the area of Los Canelos in Santa Rosa del Sur, Bolívar. He died at the age of 58 and his death has attributed to neo-paramilitary forces in the region.

As a matter of fact, The High Council for the Rights of Victims, Peace and Reconciliation of the Bogotá Mayor’s office said that Perez was a leader of the Victims Participation Board since 2015. As well, Gustavo had contributed to public policy of victims and the concentration of Victim Law in 2011 and he had also been in favor of the victims public policy and also to the establishment of the Victims Law on the same year.

However, some sources rejected the claim he was a social leader, and part of the community is dissatisfied and outraged because they refused to accept the idea that Gustavo was a social leader and reject the comments made by the senator Gustavo Bolivar on his twitter page, where he says that Gustavo Pérez Arévalo was a human right defender. They say that Gustavo was an ex-guerrillero of the ELN and accused him of killing, extortion, kidnapping and displacing many people of his village.

According to an article in El Universal, it was suggested that he was part of the insurgent group, the ELN (National Liberation Army) as a commandant, that “Gustavo Torres” was his alias and that in the eighties and nineties he had been a feared guerrillero who was responsible in the past for some deaths, kidnappings and displacement in the region of Simiti, Santa Rosa del Sur, Morales, Rioviejo, San Martín de Loba, Barranco de Loba and Tiquisio. Sources in the area also claimed that he had been responsible for the death of the mayor of San Martín de Loba in 1998 and the kidnapping of teachers Ramón Rodríguez Gahona and José de Dios Botello Ríos. These arguments over whether Gustavo was a social leader or simply an ex-combatant are pertinent given the political polarisation in Colombia. For this reason, it is important to have a clear understanding of what a leader is and most importantly focus on those regions that are being affected by this problem because at first sight we can denote the lack of the Colombian State and the current government due to the fact that after the peace agreement signed with the FARC guerrilla organisation in 2016, there has not been much interest in the recognition of the conflict or in truly guaranteeing people’s lives.

Being a social leader, according to the United Nations, basically covers all those people who work for the defense of Human Rights. This work of “social leader” can be carried out individually or together with other people, and the main objective which they will take into account throughout their journey is the promotion and protection of the rights, whether it be a specific community or territory, or a special topic. Gustavo Perez’s case has not been totally clarified in this regard and this specific case has not been studied by the UN. However, the inhabitants of their community have spoken, demanding coherence from the institutions and demanding clarity regarding everything that happened with the case of this leader, a case in which there are many loose ends. All this also serves to give a general analysis of everything that has happened with respect to the social leaders, and it is that just like Gustavo’s case, there have been hundreds of leaders who have been assassinated and, likewise, they do not take a case study and do not provide due importance nor the interest required to have a thorough investigation of these cases.

There is no reason why an ex-combatant of armed groups cannot subsequently become a social leader, since according to the information presented by the United Nations, any person or group that works firmly in the promotion of Human Rights, whether through intergovernmental organizations, or through projects and work in their communities, can be an advocate. However, the case of Gustavo Pérez was quite particular since, due to the accusations of him being a ex-combatant of the ELN, his death did not have the same reach in society as those leaders whose constant projects and activities were highlighted during their trajectory as social leaders. According to reports, Gustavo Pérez had previously requested protection from the Colombian State due to threats he had received from paramilitary groups, but his request was not met.

Regarding this case, the Prosecutor’s Office refuses to receive complaints for victims of Human Rights in the south of Bolívar and there is an evident lack of presence of the Defensoría del Pueblo (Ombudsman’s Office) and accompaniment during these processes. For this reason, inhabitants are demanding coherence on the part of the State institutions: “we are waiting for coherence in the state discourse and that it provides real guarantees to Human Rights defenders”.

In conclusion, social leaders are being killed and no one is actually doing anything to stop this. Thanks to the work of social leaders, it is possible to establish fairer societies and they are the representation of the people and their voice in the midst of so many injustices that occur daily. Unfortunately, for carrying out their work in everything that has to do in the field of Human Rights, they are the target of threats in societies as unjust as ours, and there is also usually a complete indifference regarding their murders.

Gustavo Pérez was just one of many people that die fighting for a cause. For some people he was simply a guerrillero and for others he was a defender of Human Rights. However, no matter who he was, the important thing is that he was fighting for the community rights and participated in many projects in order to construct peace in the region. It sometimes seems that people cannot raise their voice to denounce the things that are bad or try to make positive changes in order to improve community conditions. All of us, as members of Colombian society, have to change our mind and work together to make progress along the path to peace. Social leaders are important and they work for people to have a better life, protecting and defending people from abuse. Social leaders are fighting against corruption and the interests of armed groups, and they don’t deserve to be punished unfairly and killed for simply raising their voices.

*Article written by Daniela Araujo, Lilian Caro & Gabriela Castañeda

Information sourced from:

https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/el-mapa-de-los-lideres-sociales-asesinados-en-colombia-184408

Paz al Liderazgo Social

https://www.lafm.com.co/colombia/onu-dice-que-ser-lider-social-en-colombia-es-extremadamente-peligroso

https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-51745651

https://colombiacheck.com/investigaciones/explicador-que-es-un-lider-social

Image retrieved from https://hrdmemorial.org/es/hrdrecord/gustavo-perez-arevalo/