lo-de-alla.org

At least 41 candidates have been assassinated by guerrillas or by paramilitaries during the campaign

[Translation of an article from Nueva Tribuna of Madrid, Spain, for October 28. See original here.]

By Javier M. González

This Sunday, October 30, Colombians will choose local and regional officials in the first elections under the presidency of Juan Manuel Santos. Between February 2 and October 20, 41 candidates were assassinated by diverse violent groups, according to a study by the independent NGO Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE – Electoral Observation Mission). This figure is practically double the number of deaths recorded in the last regional elections, in 2007.

The guerrillas, especially the FARC, rightist paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and other criminal groups are also competing in these elections, through the buying of candidates or the assassination of possible adversaries. For the different violent organizations, of the right or the left, tied or not to drug trafficking or other illegal activities, the control of mayors, city councilors and even governors is an objective that assures them impunity for their activities. And, in many cases, access to security information vital to their survival. (more…)

[Translations of articles from Revistazo.com of Tegucigalpa for November 23 and Diario Tiempo of San Pedro Sula for November 24. See original articles here and here and related article here.]

Military and police raid National Agrarian Institute in Aguán

by Germán Reyes

The facilities of the Instituto Nacional Agrario (INA – National Agrarian Institute) in the community of Sinaloa, in the Tocoa jurisdiction of Colón, were the scene in the early morning of a raid by a contingent of more than a hundred members of the police and national army. The military raid resulted from a claim that firearms intended for the destabilization of the government were being stored in the offices. (more…)