UN meets with leftist presidential candidate to discuss assassination attempt

Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, Todd Howland, with presidential candidate Aida Avella (Photo: Twitter ONU)

Left-wing Colombian presidential candidate Aida Avella met with the United Nations on Wednesday to discuss a recent failed attempt to kill her, reported RCN radio. 

MORE: Leftist Colombian presidential candidate unharmed after assassination attempt

The candidate for the leftist Union Patriotica  (UP) reportedly met with UN representative Todd Howland, who reportedly expressed a great deal of concern over the recent adversity.

The international organization contacted Avella to be informed on her current security situation, said RCN.

The presidential candidate was shot at by two unidentified males on a motorcycle on Sunday while campaigning in the northeastern state of Arauca.

Avella was sitting in the backseat of the armored SUV and was not injured in the shooting.

Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon accused the ELN, Colombia’s second-largest rebel group is responsible for the attack, however, the ELN denied the allegations blaming “powerful right-wing forces” of carrying out the attack.

MORE: ELN condemns assassination attempt on Colombia presidential candidate

Following the assassination attempt, President Juan Manuel Santos ordered additional protective measures and requested a full investigation into the episode.

This is not the first time the candidate has been a victim of an assassination attempt; Avella spent nearly two decades in exile following a failed attempt in 1996,  to return to the country only in the run up to May’s presidential elections.

The presidential election will take place on May 25.

Sources

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