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Colombian senator kidnapped, president targeted in election run-up
Colombian senator kidnapped, president targeted in election run-up
Colombian Senator Kidnapped; President Petro Targets Election Violence
COLOMBIA — Amid escalating violence in the run-up to elections, a Colombian senator was rescued from kidnappers on Tuesday, while President Gustavo Petro reported an attempt on his own life.
Senator Aida Quilcue, a prominent Indigenous activist, was taken by unknown individuals in her home department of Cauca, a region plagued by conflict and drug trafficking. The area has been ravaged by the remnants of the FARC guerrilla army, which disbanded in 2016 following a peace agreement.
The Kidnapping
Quilcue's vehicle was found abandoned with two bodyguards, but she was later rescued by a group of Indigenous people, according to her team. I'm okay now, Quilcue said through tears in a video posted by Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, which also showed her being escorted into an armored vehicle by members of Colombia's military anti-kidnapping unit.
In an interview with AFP, Quilcue described being taken by various armed men who forced her to walk to an unknown location. Noticing Indigenous trackers in pursuit, the kidnappers fled, allowing Quilcue and her companions to escape.
The President's Warning
President Gustavo Petro issued a warning to kidnappers to release Quilcue or risk crossing a red line. Earlier, he claimed that he too had been targeted, surviving an assassination attempt after months of warnings about an alleged plot by drug traffickers against him.
On Monday night, his helicopter was unable to land at its destination due to fears that unspecified individuals were planning to attack it. The president reported that he and his team headed out to open sea for four hours before arriving at their intended location, having escaped an attempted assassination.
Risk of Electoral Violence
Colombia has a history of electoral violence, with over 250,000 people killed during six decades of armed conflict between left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug traffickers, and the military. The violence decreased significantly after the FARC agreed to lay down arms in 2016.
However, dissidents opposed to the peace deal continue to fight for control of Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade and carry out attacks on security forces, who frequently retaliate. Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine.
Election Risk
A recent observer group reported that over 300 municipalities – a third of the national territory – are at risk of electoral violence. Under pressure from Washington, Petro has increased action against criminal groups, prompting the country's biggest cartel to suspend peace talks with the government.
The Nasa Indigenous people, to which Quilcue belongs, have long been threatened by armed groups in Colombia, which is considered the world's most dangerous country for human rights defenders. Quilcue was a member of a political grouping that united behind Petro for 2022 elections from which he emerged as the country's first-ever leftist president.
In October 2022, she reported an attack against her while running for the Senate. There has been a surge in violence in Colombia ahead of this year's presidential elections, with bomb and drone attacks in parts of the country and the assassination of a presidential hopeful.
Conclusion
The kidnapping of Senator Quilcue and the attempted assassination of President Petro serve as stark reminders of the risks facing election candidates in Colombia. As the country prepares for legislative and presidential elections on March 8 and May 31, respectively, it is imperative that authorities take concrete steps to ensure the safety of all political actors.
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