Colombia demonstrations decry killings of human rights activists
- 5 years ago
Thousands of people took to the streets of Bogota on Friday to protest against killings of community leaders and human rights activists.
The protest was just one of dozens across Colombia demanding the government take action over the deaths of hundreds of people killed since the country's 2016 peace deal between the government and FARC rebels.
Some of those killed were helping with 'crop substitution', whereby farmers would move from illegal crops like coca -- from which cocaine is made -- to legal alternatives.
Many of the killings have been blamed on criminal gangs and holdout rebel groups who profit from the illegal crops.
The protest was just one of dozens across Colombia demanding the government take action over the deaths of hundreds of people killed since the country's 2016 peace deal between the government and FARC rebels.
Some of those killed were helping with 'crop substitution', whereby farmers would move from illegal crops like coca -- from which cocaine is made -- to legal alternatives.
Many of the killings have been blamed on criminal gangs and holdout rebel groups who profit from the illegal crops.