Son of community leader killed in attack

An attack on a community leader left him injured and his son dead. Ricardo Silva and his son Richard were attacked at around 11.30pm on 22 August in Mapiripán, department of Meta.

Ricardo Silva was president of the Community Action Board in the village of San Antonio. He also coordinated voluntary crop substitution programmes in the area. According to police, eight people opened fire indiscriminately against the family home.

While family members, including Ricardo, were evacuated, police inspecting the house found the body of Richard the following morning.

At least 40 people participating in crop substitution progammes have been murdered since last year.