Rubilio Papelito Limón

Rubilio Papelito Limón was an indigenous rights activist and teacher on the indigenous Emberá reserve of Río Purricha in Bajo Baudó, Chocó. He was a teacher in the Santa María Birrancho school.

Early on the morning of Saturday, 4 July, 2020, Rubilio was at home when 4 heavily armed men arrived and shot him multiple times, killing him instantly.

According to reports he had not previously received any threats.

However, just the week before Rubilio was killed, the indigenous governor of the municipality of Agua Clara was shot dead.

There is a strong presence in the area of both the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia – AGC, and the  Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN.


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

Region:Americas

Country:Colombia

Department/Province/State:Choco

Sex1:Male

Age:48

Date of Killing:04/07/2020

Type of Work:Teacher

Organisation:Comunidad Resguardo Rio Purricha, SEDCHOCO

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

Sector Detail:Citizens' rights, Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Right to Eduction/Student 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).