Miguel Angel Cardona

Miguel Angel Cardona worked with the Community Action Board of the village of La Guaira for the rights of the peasant communities and was passionate about the rural countryside.

On October 8 2017, Miguel ,65, died from multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest in his Villa Rubiela in Risaralda, Colombia. His wife Ofelia Esponiza ,72, and Gustavo de Jesús Lopez, 56, a worker on the farm were also killed in the attack.

It is believed that they died because of a robbery as sources say that the house was found in a disordered state. Miguel and Ofelia, who was the treasurer of the JAC, owned a small shop together that might have been the target of the robbery. No arrests were ever made and it still remains unknown who killed Miguel, Ofelia and Gustavo as no known threats were ever made against any of them.

Miguel leaves behind three children from his previous marriage.

 


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

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Risaralda

Sex1:Male

Age:65

Date of Killing:08/10/2017

Previous Threats:No

Type of Work:Community leader

Organisation: Community Action Board of the village of La Guaira

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

Sector Detail:Peasant Communities

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).