Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, director for the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America: “The violence in southwestern Colombia has steadily risen since the 2016 peace agreement due to a combination of its geographic importance for illicit economies, the state’s inability to establish an effective presence since 2016 and a total peace negotiation effort that has splintered the dissident FARC, stalled with the ELN and failed to advance with other groups fighting for control of this area. The situation facing civilians forced to live under FARC-EMC control is horrific. This group does not respect international humanitarian law, forcibly recruits minors and extorts locals. Its murders and attacks against Indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders and communities are leading to the physical and cultural extermination of these groups and annihilation of their leaders. Despite social media affirmations by some, no evidence has come out that shows a link between the attack on Senator Uribe and…”