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UN condemns murder of local politicians in Colombia

UN condemns murder of local politicians in Colombia

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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has strongly deplored the murder of two political leaders and their associates in Colombia as grave crimes constituting a threat to democracy in the South American country.

Candidate Jairo Romero was killed on Tuesday in Valle del Cauca along with two of his aides, Alexánder Escobar Duque and Carlos Mesa Duque. The following day, candidate Eduardo Hernández was also murdered in the area.

According to information obtained by the UN's human rights office, Mr. Romero's killers are apparently connected to paramilitary groups.

“The violent deaths of these citizens are not only serious crimes, but they also undermine the exercise of the political rights recognized and guaranteed by both the Constitution of Colombia and by international treaties,” the UN office, which maintains a presence in the country, said in a statement on Thursday.

“The use of violence to impede or disturb the electoral process constitutes a serious threat to the democratic life of the country and the stability of its institutions.”

The judicial authorities must capture, prosecute and punish the perpetrators, the UN office added.

It also emphasized that the Colombian authorities must exert all efforts to assure that every citizen can exercise their right to participate in the country's political life, to vote and to be elected to public office.