Segundo Benjamin Morales, a town councilor in southwestern Colombia was killed Saturday by a stranger who broke into his house.
Two shots were fired in the town of San Jose de Alban, Caracol Radio reported on Sunday night. Four other councilors San Jose de Albán were also threatened with death and forced to leave the town with their families within 24 hours, said the National Federation of Councils (Fedecon), in a statement.
They did not rule out that the act was perpetrated by “suspected members of an armed group.”
Nothing to give them but a phone and a vest
Morales had been reporting threats and extortion since last year, so Fedecon president, Carmen Lucia Agredo requested the National Protection Unit (UNP) to provide support , relocation, transportation and escort.
“But there was nothing else to give them but a phone and a vest,” said Agredo.
This is not an isolated incident. Last Friday a total of 13 councilors and a community leader had to leave the town of El Tambo because of threats. On 29 December 2013, in the neighboring department of Cauca a councilor of the Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA) party was killed.
Source
Asesinan a un concejal del partido oficialista en el suroeste de Colombia (Caracol Radio)