Source Tercera Informacion

On Friday, November 25, one of the darkest episodes of the crimes against social leaders occurred in Colombia after the murder of a well-known family linked to active social work in their community in San Lorenzo, Riosucio.

It is about the family of César Díaz Tapasco, teacher and coordinator of the Educational Institution of the corregimiento of San Lorenzo, of 33 years, and his parents: Serafín Díaz Guevara, musician and social leader of 60 years, and María Gabriela Tapasco Bueno , 52 years old.

The triple homicide occurred at 10:30 pm (local time) in the house of the Díaz-Tapasco, who were killed with firearms by four hooded men, according to the victims’ neighbours. Only the daughter of the elderly couple, whose identity is being protected, survived by escaping from the scene. The community assures that it is a new aggression against social leaders; 492 people have been killed since 2016.

«Violence attacks once again this territory that has done its best to overcome grief and heal the wounds that the armed conflict and violence has left on these lands» says a statement published on Saturday morning by the traditional authorities of the Shelter of Indigenous people of San Lorenzo.

The text, which describes the victims as «one of the most beloved families in the center of San Lorenzo», dedicates heartfelt words to those who composed it, affirming that the legacy of the son of the family, Professor César Díaz «motivates us to continue go forward in this tireless struggle to achieve peace, we will not give in to our community processes «.

Likewise, the community remembers Serafín Díaz, father of the family, as a «recognized and talented musician, great community leader», and his wife Gabriela Tapasco as a woman «of enormous qualities».

«Now more than ever we will demand our rights, we will advance in forceful actions for the defense of life and the physical integration of our communities, as it is protected by the precautionary measure of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, we demand that the violence in against our people, «announces the statement, while calling for an urgent investigation and trial of the guilty.

The Indigenous Regional Council of Caldas (CRIDEC) also manifested itself for the crime, demanding the authorities of the Government of Colombia the urgency in the judicial investigations, as well as measures of protection and guarantee to the life of the indigenous and social leaders of the community.