Colombia police confirmed the murder of the president of Sucre City Council Gilberto Diaz this Sunday.
The city council member for the left-wing Polo Democratico Alternativo (PDA) party was mortally wounded after being shot by hit men in his family home.
The commander specified that two masked me entered his house during the night, while his family was also present, shooting him three times in the head as he watched television. He died of his injuries in a Popayan hospital not long after.
Perez furthermore offered a $5,000 reward to anyone with information regarding those responsible for the crime.
Daza, who had been working as a city council member for more than a decade, will be remembered for defending water rights in the area — opposing the Departmental Water Plan, the privatization of the municipal aqueduct as well as mining exploitation by multinational companies.
Critics on the left have accused the authorities of taking inadequate measures to protect the local politician’s life.
In a Twitter post, the ex-candidate for Bogota mayor, Aurelio Suarez, claimed that the authorities were already aware of the threats to Daza’s life.
According to a report released by National Federation of Council Members (Fenacon), 4,700 city council members in Colombia are under threat and more than half of them lack effective protection.
MORE: 4700 of Colombia’s city councilors face threats: Report
Sources
- Colombia: Asesinado Gilberto Daza, concejal de Sucre (Cauca) (Kaos En La Red)
- Repudio general ante asesinato de concejal del Polo Democrático en Sucre (Cauca) (Agenda Propia)
- Asesinado un concejal del Polo Democrático Alternativo (Europa Press)
- Asesinan a concejal del Polo Democrático en Cauca (El Colombiano)
- Asesinan a concejal del Polo Democrático en Cauca (El Espectador)
