William Ramiro Montoya was Vice Chairman of the Junta de Accion Comunal – JAC, (Board of Community Action) in the district of Tarazá, Puerto Antioquia. He was also a member of the Asociación de Pescadores y Agricultores Puerto Antioquia –APAP, (Association of Fishermen and Farmers of Antioquia).
He earned his living as an artisanal miner, was fifty-seven years old and the father of 7 children.
On 1 March 2020, William was reported missing. Two days later his lifeless body, with his arms tied behind his back and showing signs of torture, was found by fishermen on the Cauca River.
His family said they were unaware of him having received any threats.
In the days prior to his disappearance there had been an armed confrontation between the army and the Clan del Golfo in which 3 members of the Clan were killed.
Miners who work along the river bank say they will no longer work there because of the presence of so many armed groups including, the Clan del Golfo, the Caparros and breakaway groups of the FARC and the ELN.
William felt that he would be ok because of his age, and the fact that he was no well known in the community. However, in recent times the violence has escalated to such an extent that no one is safe.
