Killing of Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo (MOVICE)
On 21 January 2015, the body of human rights defender Mr Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was discovered by members of the judicial police in an uninhabited area of San Bartolomé, Gachancipá Municipality, in the department of Cudinamarca. Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo had allegedly been shot in the head.
Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was a member of the Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes) and the Proyecto Colombia Nunca Más (Never Again Project of Colombia). In particular, he investigated crimes against humanity allegedly committed by state agents throughout Colombia, in addition to accompanying victims of such violations, and was involved in the 'Campaña permanente contra la brutalidad policial, por la garantía de los derechos humanos y el desmonte del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD)' (Permanent campaign against police brutality, for the guarantee of human rights and the disbandment of the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron). He was also a member of the Congreso de los Pueblos (Peoples' Congress), a social and political movement that opposes the effects of economic policies, such as extractive policies with military backing that lead to displacement, confiscation of land, environmental degradation and destruction of communities in Colombia. The Peoples' Congress is a member organisation of the National Agrarian, Peasant, Ethnic, and Peoples’ Summit.
On 21 January 2015, the body of human rights defender Mr Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was discovered by members of the judicial police in an uninhabited area of San Bartolomé, Gachancipá Municipality, in the department of Cudinamarca. Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo had allegedly been shot in the head.
Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was a member of the Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes) and the Proyecto Colombia Nunca Más (Never Again Project of Colombia). In particular, he investigated crimes against humanity allegedly committed by state agents throughout Colombia, in addition to accompanying victims of such violations, and was involved in the 'Campaña permanente contra la brutalidad policial, por la garantía de los derechos humanos y el desmonte del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD)' (Permanent campaign against police brutality, for the guarantee of human rights and the disbandment of the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron). He was also a member of the Congreso de los Pueblos (Peoples' Congress), a social and political movement that opposes the effects of economic policies, such as extractive policies with military backing that lead to displacement, confiscation of land, environmental degradation and destruction of communities in Colombia. The Peoples' Congress is a member organisation of the National Agrarian, Peasant, Ethnic, and Peoples’ Summit.
The body of the human rights defender was found in a district of San Bartolomé known as 'las marraneras' at approximately 9:00am. Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo had last been seen at approximately 3:00pm on 19 January 2015 in Bogotá, where he lived when he left his residence to attend a meeting in the city as Regional Coordinator of the Movimiento Político de Masas Social y Popular del Centro Oriente de Colombia (Central-Eastern Regional Association of the Political Movement of Social and Popular Masses of Colombia). Reportedly, the human rights defender had no links to the municipality in which his body was found, which is about 60km from Bogotá. According to sources, he was not carrying any valuables, only his mobile phone and personal agenda. Neither item was found on his body.
Front Line Defenders condemns the killing of Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo, which appears to directly result from his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities, in particular combating impunity for human rights violations committed by state agents. The assassination comes in the context of long-term targeting of members of MOVICE throughout Colombia, which has been highlighted on numerous occasions by Front Line Defenders. Failure to adequately and publicly investigate this case and hold perpetrators to account could further ingrain impunity in the country, and have a alarming effect on other human rights defenders.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Colombia to:
1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of members of MOVICE, including by reinforcing existing protection measures;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Colombia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
