Carlos Mario Cañaveral, 37, was a member of the Junta de Acción Comunal (Joint Action Board) in the village of Tacuyarca, municipality of Cáceres, in Antioquia and was working to become vice president of the Board.
On 27 April, 2020, Carlos was shot and seriously injured. He died later in hospital from his injuries. The killer, a seventeen year old juvenile identified as Gavarra has since been arrested. He had organised to meet Carlos at a farm and as they were chatting shot him dead. Another man who was with Carlos was injured in the attack.
Human rights defenders are in constant danger because of the presence of paramilitary groups and many community leaders have had to leave the area. Responsibility for Carlos’s murder has been attributed to armed group Los Caparros who recruited Gavarra to carry out the killing.
There is an ongoing struggle in the area between the Clan del Golfo, the ELN and dissident elements of the FARC for control of the drug trade in the region. They consistently attack anyone who challenges them or who speaks out about what is going on.