Two presidential campaign staffers killed in Colombia as elections near

"The citizens' rights ombudsman for Colombia identified the slain men as Rogers Mauricio Devia Escoba, a former mayor for the city of Cubarral, and his adviser Eder Fabian Cardona Lopez. The office said another attack took place against a former mayoral candidate in the area, without providing further details. While the attacks remain under investigation, the ombudsman warned that they could affect the exercise of political rights and democratic participation in the upcoming election on May 31."

"Violence, threats, and any form of intimidation undermine public debate, deepen risks for political and social leaderships, and weaken democratic coexistence, the office said in a statement. Meta has long been a stronghold for both rebel fighters and cocaine trafficking in the country. Violence and surging crime have featured prominently in the presidential race to replace the country's first leftist leader, Gustavo Petro."

"In a post on the social media platform X, de la Esperiella said the two staffers walked the streets defending democracy, freedom, and the hope of millions of Colombians. Their only crime was believing in the Fatherland and not kneeling before the violent, the candidate added. The killings were announced by right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, who said gunmen on motorbikes shot the victims in the central department of Meta on Friday night."

"The frontrunner in the presidential race, left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, has promised to continue the course charted by Petro, who has championed a negotiated solution to Colombia's armed conflict. De la Espriella, by contrast, has moulded himself in the likeness of populist right-wing leaders like"

Two presidential campaign staffers were killed in Colombia’s Meta department shortly before the May 31 election to replace Gustavo Petro. Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella announced the killings, saying gunmen on motorbikes shot the victims. The citizens’ rights ombudsman identified the men as Rogers Mauricio Devia Escoba, a former mayor of Cubarral, and his adviser Eder Fabian Cardona Lopez, and reported another attack against a former mayoral candidate. The ombudsman warned that violence, threats, and intimidation could hinder political rights and democratic participation in the upcoming vote. Meta is described as a stronghold for rebel fighters and cocaine trafficking, with violence and crime prominent in the presidential campaign.

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