Edison León Pérez

Edison León Pérez, 57, was president of the Junta de Acción Comunal (Community Action Board) – JAC in the village of San Juan del Bosco, in the municipality of San Miguel, Putamayo.

Edison had been receiving death threats since October 2019, because he had spoken out about the activities of paramilitary groups in the area, and had been given formal protection by the Unidad Nacional de Protección (National Protection Unit) -UNP.

On the evening of 8 June, 2020, his security guards escorted him home at around three in the afternoon, and left the area. A few hours later Edison left his home, apparently because someone in the area called him out to do some electrical work.

As he drove away Edison was intercepted by armed men who shot him dead.

Edison had recently reported receiving threat from members of dissident paramilitary group, Frente 48 who had been imposing quarantine restrictions in the area.

 


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

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Putumayo

Sex1:Male

Age:57

Date of Killing:08/06/2020

Previous Threats:Yes

Type of Work:Community leader

Organisation:Junta de Acción Comunal de la vereda San Juan del Bosco.

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

Sector Detail:Citizens' 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).