30th killing of left-wing political party member since 2013

(Photo: Semana)

Patriotic March (Marcha Patriotica) founder and former Senator Piedad Cordoba took to Colombian media outlets Monday to denounce the latest in a series of political assassinations targeting members of her party.

Shot by unknown gunmen in the town of Sardinata, in the northeastern state of Norte de Santander, 33-year-old Duvis Galvis was the leader of a local peasant activist body, reported the La Semana newspaper.

The killing represents the 30th of a Patriotic March member since 2013. The party has been a target for violence since its inception in 2012, and has recently began considering the possibility of disbanding if Colombian authorities are unable to guarantee the safety of its members.

MORE: Leftist political party contemplates dissolving with near 30 members assassinated in 2013

The systematic targeting that the Patriotic March are experiencing resembles the cull of left-wing activists during the late 1980s and early 1990s, orchestrated by a combination of paramilitary forces, government forces and drug cartels.

Some worry that the recent outburst of political violence will have an impact on ongoing peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC rebel group, the country’s oldest.

FARC officials have said the attacks pose a threat to the overall peace process, but so far, there has been no visible effect on the talks, being held in Havana.

MORE: FARC sees assasination of 29 left-wing political party members as threat to peace process 

Sources

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