Amnesty International called on Colombia’s armed groups to respect human rights after a human rights worker was seriously injured in an attack by FARC rebels.
According to the human rights organization, FARC rebels attacked the boat in which Islena Rey, a Meta human rights worker, was travelling with a farmers’ representative and a human rights lawyer.
“The attempt on the life of Islena Rey is a tragic and all too common demonstration of the precarious situation still facing human rights defenders in Colombia,” said Marcelo Pollack, Amnesty International’s researcher on Colombia.
“Hundreds of activists are still the target of threats and killings at the hands of all the parties to the conflict; be they the security forces, paramilitaries or guerrilla groups. No one us providing them with effective protection,” Pollack added.
In reaction, Amnesty International demands the FARC and other armed groups to respect the rights of the civilian population and asked the Colombian government to prosecute the perpetrators of the attack.
