Carlos Escué was an indigenous leader on the Munchique Los Tigres reservation where he coordinated musical activities for young people in Santander de Quilichao, Cauca .
On the evening of 5 December, 2020 two gunmen on motorbikes entered a farm property in the Gualanday zone and opened fire on those inside. Among the victims were FARC former combatant Fernando Trochez Ulcue and his brother David Trochez. Fernando had been based at the reincorporation zone ‘Carlos Perdomo’ and is the 245th FARC member killed since the signing of the peace deal in November 2016.
Community activist and musician Carlos Escue, who organised youth workshops in the Munchique reservation, was also killed. The final victim was identified as Emerli Basto.
The year 2020 was the most violent in Colombia since the peace agreement was signed in November 2016, with widespread attacks on social activists, trade unionists and former guerrillas in the peace process.
There is little to suggest that Colombia’s human rights crisis will ease without drastic action from the Colombian government and international community. So far, sufficient action has not been forthcoming.