Javier García Guagarabe was a member of the Emberá people, and a member of the indigenous guard on the Bani Chamia Reservation, in the municipality of Argelia, Valle del Cauca.
On the evening of 15 May, 2020 he was on his home from work when he was attacked by gunmen and shot dead. He and the members of the indigenous guard had been working to enforce the restrictions required by the COVID pandemic.
Conflict between armed groups who are struggling for control of the drug trade in the area has resulted in an escalation of violence leading to attacks on community leaders and human rights defenders.
The pandemic and the related restrictions have not resulted in any diminution of the levels of violence in the state.