Colombian Opposition Political Activist & Trade Unionist Killed

A leading member of the ‘Democratic Pole’ opposition party in the Colombian region of Arauca has been assassinated in the town of Saravena. Luis Mayusa Prada, 46, a member of the regional Executive of the Pole, was also a trade union activist and brother of Carmen and Nieves Mayusa, two trade union leaders who were recently released from jail after an international campaign to free them.

Mr Mayusa, who worked in local government, was shot at around 8am on August 8th in the ‘Galan’ neighbourhood of Saravena. The town is heavily militarised and it is widely suspected that the security forces carried out the killing. The Mayusa family, originally from the region of Meta, have been the victims of systematic persecution by military intelligence agencies and other state forces.

In Meta Mr Mayusa had led the CUT trade union federation though he fled to Arauca some years ago after several attempts were made on his life. In the mast recent elections he was the Democratic Pole candidate for the Arauca regional assembly. He leaves a wife and four children.

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This post was written by Justice For Colombia