Tragic Fate of Colombian Church Leaders: A Community in Mourning
In a disturbing revelation, a video has surfaced showing the grim fate of eight Christian leaders in Colombia. This footage, discovered on a phone belonging to an alleged member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), depicts the leaders being forcibly taken along the Itilla River before their tragic execution.
The video, which was made public by the U.K.-based organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide, shows Isaid Gómez, Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Jesús Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa, and Oscar García being transported to La Ojona farm. This location is not far from where their bodies were later uncovered.
According to reports, the victims, who resided in Agua Bonita, Calamar, Guaviare, were called individually by an illegal armed group on April 4-5, never to return. After initial searches, their families were warned to cease inquiries, being told to consider the matter closed.
These individuals were part of the Evangelical councils Alianza de Colombia and Cuadrangular and had previously fled persecution in Arauca. On July 1, after three months of disappearance, their bodies were found in a rural area of Calamar. This discovery followed the capture of a guerrilla fighter in May who possessed incriminating evidence on his phone.
The Colombian Attorney General’s Office disclosed that the leaders were mistakenly identified as members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) by FARC dissidents led by alias Iván Mordisco. Authorities later clarified that the victims had no connections to the ELN.
Prosecutors revealed that the captives were restrained with chains and ropes, executed at close range, and buried to hide the crime. Charges have been filed against Excehomo Pabón Amaya, known as “Morocho,” for multiple offenses including aggravated conspiracy and homicide.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the killings as a grave human rights violation and called for enhanced security in conflict-ridden areas. A resident, speaking to SEMANA, highlighted the lack of protection, stating, “There is no protection from the State. Here we are really alone in a war between two armed groups.”
Anna Lee Stangl from CSW praised the arrest but urged further investigation to ensure all involved parties are held accountable. She expressed doubt that the leaders were mistaken for ELN members, noting their displacement from Arauca due to ELN threats.
The FARC has faced accusations of restricting religious freedom, with both pre- and post-peace deal factions implicated in numerous killings of church leaders in rural Colombia. Human rights activists warn of continued violence by dissident factions rejecting the peace accord.
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the murders, emphasizing the silencing of vital community voices and the worsening humanitarian crisis. In response to the situation, Calamar’s Mayor, Eiver Gutiérrez, appealed for national attention to security issues over public festivities.
To address the harm suffered by religious communities, Colombia’s Ombudsman Office facilitated a meeting with 21 churches and religious groups on Nov. 28. The gathering aimed to develop a joint work plan, human rights training, and monitoring tools, with a follow-up meeting slated for 2026.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
