Agustín Imbachí Gómez

Agustín Imbachí Gómez was a peasant leader in the community of Cañadas in El Tambo, Cauca.

On 27 June, Agustín was at home with his wife and 5 year old daughter when armed men, dissident members of the FARC, arrived at the house and took him away.

The next day his body was found in a remote area. He had been shot multiple times.

Agustín was the third human rights defender killed in El Tambo in a 5 day period.

According to Indepaz eighteen community leaders had been shot in Cauca in the first 6 months of 2020.

El Tambo is a strategically important focus for paramilitary groups who are competing to control coca production in the surrounding areas. El Tambo is also a key route for shipping drugs to the Pacific coast. The level of violence has been so extreme that a number of community leaders, especially those linked to the Congreso de los Pueblos (Congress of the Nations), have had to be evacuated because of threats to their lives.

Many leaders have been targeted because of their involvement in the Programme for the Substitution of Illicit Crops, land reclamation or promoting the peace process.


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Cauca

Sex1:Male

Age:60

Date of Killing:27/06/2020

Previous Threats:No

Type of Work:Farmer

Organisation:Comunidad vereda Cañadas, corregimiento de Huisito.

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:ESC Rights

Sector Detail:Land Rights

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).