Antonio Cuero

Antonio Cuero  was a farmer and Rosalbina Becoche Yandi was a leader of a community development project called Familias en Acción, (Families in Action) in Morales, Cauca.

On 27 June, 2020 they were checking traffic into the indigenous territory as part of the community’s anti-COVID strategy, when Antonio refused entry to members of an armed group from outside the territory.

The group then got out of their vehicle and opened fire, killing both Antonio and Rosalbina. The incident took place when a complete lockdown was in operation and there was a curfew in force to prevent the virus coming into the community.

There has been a series of similar incidents across the state in recent months when community leaders have been attacked for trying to implement anti COVID measures.

6 people were killed in the area in one twenty-four hour period.


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

Date of Killing:27/06/2020

Type of Work:Farmer

Organisation:Punto de control territorial.

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

Sector Detail:Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Land Rights, Right to Health

More information:Font 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).