Bogotá, May 31 – In the latest harrowing incident, the municipality of Jamundí in the Valle del Cauca department witnessed its 40th massacre of the year, with three individuals losing their lives after being kidnapped on Sunday. The bodies of two victims were discovered lifeless in the same rural area where the abduction occurred, as reported by the Mayor’s Office of Jamundí in a statement released over the weekend. The third victim’s body was found on Wednesday in the Timba district, approximately 40 kilometers from Jamundí, in the Buenos Aires municipality of the Cauca department.
Mayor Andrés Felipe Ramírez expressed his solidarity with the families affected by the tragedy, emphasizing the sanctity of every life. The early warnings from the Ombudsman’s Office indicated the presence of the Jaime Martínez Front, a faction of FARC dissidents, operating in the municipality. This faction has been engaged in territorial and social control disputes, leading to a series of atrocities, including massacres, forced displacements, confinements, threats, and the recruitment of minors.
Mayor Ramírez addressed a letter to Colombian President Gustavo Petro this week, urging the government to take more forceful measures in committing to a ceasefire. “Jamundí can’t take any more blood. We need you,” pleaded Ramírez. He highlighted the increasing difficulty in accessing the affected areas during the search for the third kidnapping victim, indicating a growing challenge for local authorities.
“The municipalities feel alone. Local capacities are insufficient to address a problem that is national and requires a sustained state policy,” reiterated Mayor Ramírez in his letter. As the community mourns the victims of the 40th massacre, there is a pressing call for more robust and coordinated efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in the region.
