Javier Francisco Parra, environmental coordinator of La Macarena, Meta is murdered

Parra worked in the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the La Macarena Special Management Area (Cormacarena), an environmental authority in Meta. The Ministry of Defense announced that it offers up to $ 300 million in reward for information that allows the capture of those responsible for the crime.

Hit men who were mobilizing on a motorcycle murdered Javier Francisco Parra Cubillos, coordinator of the La Macarena Regional Sustainable Development Corporation (Cormacarena). “We are going to persecute these criminals wherever they are (…) Because the State exists to defend life, and to fight those who live off death, violence and crime,” said the Minister of Defense, Carlos Holmes Trujillo .

Parra was shot several times and although he was taken to the local hospital to receive first aid and later transferred in an Air Force helicopter to Villavicencio to receive specialized care; He passed away while being treated.

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“Cormacarena categorically rejects any violent action against its officials and calls on the authorities to carry out the pertinent investigation work, allowing the prompt capture of those responsible for this cowardly, mean and criminal act,” they said. In addition, the corporation said that “nothing will stop the work we do to combat deforestation in Meta.”

“We insist on illegal armed groups to stop attacks against civilians and we urge the authorities to investigate the facts. No more violence, ”said the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP / OEA), rejecting what happened.

The Association of Regional Autonomous Corporations and Sustainable Development (ASOCARS) and the Ministry of the Environment spoke out on the issue, requesting the authorities to take the relevant actions to find those responsible.

Defense Minister Carlos Homes Trujillo announced after an extraordinary security council that they will increase the reward up to $ 300 million for information that leads to the capture of those responsible for the murder of the environmentalist. “The government’s priority continues to be the fight against drug trafficking and control of deforestation. Drug trafficking is the main enemy of Colombians and the country, drug trafficking feeds criminal organizations, which end up committing massacres and murdering social leaders, ”said the minister.

The Meta sectional Prosecutor’s Office had specialized prosecutors from the Specialized Unit Against Homicide to assist in the investigation of the incident. Similarly, a criminal investigation team was formed together with the Technical Investigation Corps and the Sijín of the National Police. In addition, the deputy director of the Carabineros Police will be in charge of a situational intelligence and judicial police command, which aims to capture deforesters in the Colombian Amazon.

Minister Trujillo also assured that the security of the Caño Cristales Natural Park will be reinforced with two Army platoons that will control the urban perimeter in the municipality of La Macarena.

According to the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (Indepaz), Javier Francisco Parra is the 277th leader who has been assassinated this year. In total, 278 leaders and human rights defenders have been assassinated in Colombia so far in 2020. Hours after the death of Javier Francisco Parra, Miguel Tapí Rito, a recognized indigenous leader from the Valle River area in Bahia, was assassinated. Solano.