Two Afro-Colombian community leaders in Cauca were killed by unknown assassins on January 21 and 22, human rights group CODHES announced on Friday.
Jose Felix Orejuela, a teacher, and Milton Grueso Torres, the treasurer for a community councill, were killed in the village of Noanamito. Orejuela’s death has forced the local school to suspend classes, affecting about 900 students, according to a statement by CODHES.
Cauca has been severely affected by crop fumigation, as well as by FARC and paramilitary violence. According to CODHES, fumigation spray has destroyed the corn and beans crops of many families in the area, and caused the displacement of an estimated 300 people since January 21.
Cauca has seen increased confrontations between the Colombian military and the FARC in recent months.