Marco Rivadeneira, 57, was a peasant leader, recognised for his dedication to defending the human rights of peasant and agrarian communities at the local and national level.

He opposed the forcible eradication of coca production and had led processes to support the voluntary substitution of crops for illicit use.

As part of this process he had supported plans for the alternative economic development of several Juntas de Accion Comunal – JAC (Community Action Boards) ° in villages in the Puerto Vega-Teteyé corridor in the Putumayo department.

Marco had recently taken part in meetings with the state authorities to agree a programme of action and he was travelling around the area to explain these proposals to the farmers.

At 2pm, on 19 March 2020, Marco was in a meeting with local farmers in the village of Nueva Granada in Puerto Asís, when three men arrived and took him away at gunpoint. Minutes later shots were heard and his lifeless body was later found just a few meters away.

The farmers who were taking part in the meeting couldn’t leave for several hours because the gunmen were still in the area.

Marco had given dedicated service to many local and national organisations.

He was:

president of the Asociación Campesina de Puerto Asís –SOPUERTOASÍS, (Puerto Asís Peasant Association),

a member of the Junta Nacional del Coordinador Nacional Agrario -CNA, (National Board of the National Agrarian Coordinating Body),

a member of the Congreso de los Pueblos, (People’s Congress),

spokesman for the Comité Operativo Nacional de la Coordinación Colombia Europa Estados Unidos –CCEEU, (National Operational Committee of the Colombia Europe United States Coordination),

and regional spokesperson for the Proceso Nacional de Garantías, (National Guarantee Process).