In the town of La Hormiga, located in Colombia’s Putumayo region, a deadly incident claimed the lives of three men. The attack occurred at a billiard hall, where armed assailants converged on those present, according to a statement issued on the NGO Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz) X account (formerly known as Twitter). One of the deceased individuals has been identified as Deimer Rosario. The organization noted that the incident involved actors linked to the Carolina Ramírez front of the Central General Staff, once the largest opponent to FARC, along with Second Marquetalia, other dissident groups, and local criminal networks in the area [Indepaz].
Indepaz has consistently highlighted the complex and volatile security landscape in Colombia, where various armed groups operate alongside displaced communities and human rights advocates. In a report released late last December, the NGO underscored that violence against human rights defenders and peace accord signatories remained a pressing concern, with periodic spikes and persistent displacement affecting communities across the country. The organization emphasized that, throughout the prior year, a notable number of leaders and defenders were killed in the line of duty as part of the broader conflict dynamics [Indepaz].
Looking back at the numbers for 2023, Indepaz recorded a total of 94 massacres, a figure that mirrors the count from 2022. While the total number of massacres did not rise, the total number of victims did shift slightly, with 2023 recording 335 fatalities compared with 343 in 2022. The report noted that the average monthly pace of massacres remained steady, roughly eight per month, and highlighted that January and November 2023 had the highest concentrations of incidents, registering 12 and 11 cases respectively. These patterns illustrate the ongoing volatility in parts of Colombia and the continuing challenge of protecting communities in regions affected by multiple armed actors [Indepaz].
Analysts and human rights observers stress that incidents like the La Hormiga event are part of a larger, often tangled security matrix that involves dissident factions, criminal groups, and shifting alliances in rural areas. The role of fronts and blocs within the broader exile and conflict matrix shapes both local risk and the capacity of authorities to respond promptly to violence. Stakeholders emphasize the importance of sustained monitoring, protection for community leaders, and transparent reporting to ensure that the full scope of such violence is understood and addressed by national and international audiences [Indepaz].