Another Activist Killed in Colombia Ahead of National Strike
Another Activist Killed in Colombia Ahead of National Strike
Black Rights activist James Balanta was killed in the Colombian department of Cauca March 15, 2016. | Photo: Archive
Published 17 March 2016
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Colombia has recently seen a wave of violence against human rights activists, with 12 being killed since the beginning of March.
Colombian social movement leader James Balanta was killed Tuesday in front of a military base in the southeastern department of Cauca.
Balanta's death comes just days before a planned National Strike Thursday, where people across the country will protest against the ongoing violence in Colombia, particularly against human rights activists, as well as the government's failed social and economic policies.
Balanta was a human rights activist who fought for the rights of Black communities in the country. He is the latest in a string of attacks against activists in the country, where so far 12 human rights workers have been killed since the beginning of the month. Six of these were in the department of Cauca.
According to Colombian authorities, Balanta was in the vicinity of the military zone when he was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle.
More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Another-Activist-Killed-in-Colombia-Ahead-of-National-Strike-20160317-0030.html
