“2022 Pre-Election Period, Most Violent in Last 12 Years”: MOE

The Election Observation Mission (EOM) presented the country’s report on violence against political, social and community leaders during the 2022 legislative calendar, which began on March 13, 2021 and lasted until March 13, 2022.

The study’s findings show that, with a balance of 581 acts of violence against political, social and community leaders, the pre-election period of the 2021-2022 parliamentary elections was consolidated as the most violent of the last 12 years in Colombia. †

“This increase in violence against leaders and leaders has also been framed in a context of conflict reconfiguration, characterized by a consolidation of multiple illegal armed groups (GAI), which have taken advantage of the vacuum left by the extinct FARC guerrillas and the inability of the state to occupy the territories,” said Alejandra Barrios, director of the MOE.

It should be noted that, compared to the 2018 pre-election period, for the 2022 parliamentary elections, attacks on the various leaders have increased by 109%. In addition, the report would show that a trend of increasing violence started from the 2019 elections, the same that continued for the 2022 national elections.

“Compared to the 2020-2021 period, the GAI’s actions for the 2022 pre-election period have increased by 19%, mainly in the months of May, September and February. Last month, the ELN’s armed attack took place in 12 departments of the country, resulting in a balance of at least 59 violent acts, including: 8 terrorist acts, the blockade of 11 roads, the burning of 10 vehicles, the closure of 23 transport terminals, the murder of a social leader and intimidation,” the report states.

For Barrios, it is essential to strengthen the inclusive presence of the institutions in these areas, so that, in addition to the deployment of police and armed forces, public goods and services are provided that improve the living conditions and access to justice of the communities. , leaving the illegal armed groups with no scope to exercise violent control over these areas”

The report also notes that less than a month before the presidential election, the Clan del Golfo “started another armed attack that hit at least 98 municipalities in 11 departments of the country. Between May 5 and 9 alone, 121 actions were presented, including intimidation, distribution of threatening pamphlets, roadblocks, burning of vehicles, intimidation of public power and killings of leaders and civilians in general.