Video in memory of Hernán Bedoya, Colombian community leader
T&E strongly condemn the assassination of Hernán Bedoya, Colombian community leader and human rights activist, reportedly by neo-paramilitary group Autodefensas Gaitanisas de Colombia. He was shot dead last Friday, 8 December, in the collective territory of Pedeguita and Mancilla, Municipality of Riosucio (Chocó) where he created the Humanitarian and Biodiversity Zone 'Mi Tierra'.
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Hernán returned to his land with his family (and a group of families) in 2012 after being displaced by paramilitary groups in 1996. Since 2012 he had fought to claim back his land, denouncing palm oil, banana and rancher companies in Pedeguita and Mancilla for illegal landgrabbing and deforestation. Since 2015 Hernán had received numerous threats on his life, which were reported to the State authorities as documented by NGO Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz. Hernán generously gave testimony for Transport & Environment’s award-winning documentary Frontera Invisible about palm oil expansion for biodiesel production in Colombia.
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