Violence in Colombia's elections

By most measurements, Colombia has gotten safer over the past few years. However, being a candidate or a journalist during an election is still very dangerous. Both the FARC and the gangs formed from demobilized AUC combatants (including the Black Eagles) have targeted candidates, journalists and their families.

From FT:

As many as 23 candidates have been killed across Colombia ahead of municipal elections this Sunday, sparking fresh fears over candidates’ safety and the influence of the country’s illegal armed groups during the campaign season.......Adil Meléndez, one of five mayoral candidates for the town of San Onofre near Colombia’s Caribbean coast, says that while more than 31,000 fighters and their commanders have disarmed, their influence on political life remains.

He highlights the presence of the Black Eagles, an emerging criminal gang made up of demobilised ­paramilitary fighters and common criminals who target San Onofre because of its strategic location along an important drug route.

“The Black Eagles are operating here and they’re intimidating candidates. The paramilitary massacres have stopped but their political structures and control are still intact,” says Mr Meléndez.

From the AP:

That's not easy in places like El Doncello, where half the 24,000 residents live in isolated hamlets where guerrillas roam freely. On July 10, four teams of leftist rebels in civilian dress tracked down the town's 11 councilmen, killing two. A quick police reaction and sheer luck — three of the councilmen were traveling and several others were at a church event — prevented a higher death toll.

The surprise hit — along with a January car-bombing that flattened a dairy plant, forcing Swiss food giant Nestle S.A. from town — disrupted what the rebels called a sham democratic process.

Today, town business is done by phone and the Internet. Most councilmen fear the FARC will pursue their family members. Only one is risking re-election. The rest have fled the state of Caqueta, vowing never to return.

A typewritten threat shoved under Diaz' door described their predicament well: "There's no corner of Caqueta left where you won't be hunted down."

And from RSF:

Reporters Without Borders today voiced its concern about a series of attacks against the press in the run-up to regional elections in Colombia on 28 October.

A crew from privately-owned television Caracol was yesterday the target of a vicious attack with machetes and stones while reporting on a scam in connection with land sales. A few days previously, a journalist on the privately-owned daily La Nación was forced to wipe photos taken during a meeting of election candidates.

“Repeated press freedom violations have been committed by candidates or by former political leaders these last weeks. The electoral campaign has revived threats against journalists in a politically charged climate because of the influence of armed groups and corruption,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said.