Colombia gripped by fear due to a wave of youth killings

Critics warn that the latest military operations in Colombia could lead the country back to a tragic era of its past. This situation and the controversial background have drawn more attention, especially through recent incidents involving several young people killed by the military and security forces.

Yuli Mota, 28, and Luis Carlos Guerrero, a couple of small-scale cattle ranchers living in the Guaviare region, claim to have witnessed one such shooting. According to them, an unknown group of people came to their house to spend the night, and the next morning, when Yuli Mota went into the forest, she was apprehended and questioned by military personnel. Guerrero states that a few hours later, a man named Mohica came to their house and was shot and killed by the military while unarmed. They also stated that their small house was severely damaged by the gunfire. After the killing, the military took photos with the body and then transported it away by helicopter.

An official commenting on the incident states that Mohica was armed and was a close associate of a targeted rebel leader. Officials also presented photos of an assault rifle allegedly found near his body and belongings supposedly left behind by rebels. The local community council identifies him as an ordinary farmer. A forensic report indicates that his sister, Mayra Mildred, stated he was involved with rebels, but his 19-year-old widow, Camila Cutinico, denies the accusation, saying he raised pigs and farm animals.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old named Martinez was also killed in a police and military operation on the Caribbean coast. The government states it was an operation targeting a criminal gang leader. The president released photos online of bags containing the bodies of seven people, including the criminal gang leader. However, Martinez's mother, Marelbis Rodriguez, says her 18-year-old son was hired to vaccinate cattle on the property and was unjustly shot and killed. Officials state he was armed with a rifle.

Earlier last month, an incident was reported in the Nariño region where a 19-year-old named Kainer Banguera died from military gunfire. Ali Bantu Ashanti, a leftist activist and lawyer, states that witnesses claim military soldiers shot and then beat Banguera while he was driving a boat on the Tapaje River. However, De la Espriella states that the military retaliated against a drug trafficker who shot at them, and money and ammunition were found. Officials confirm this statement, saying Banguera fired first.

In light of this situation, Rodrigo Uprimny, a leading legal scholar in Colombia, states that there is a risk that the success of security policies will once again be measured by the number of people killed. The country's Ombudsman, Iris Marin, also emphasizes that strict military operations should not replace due process of law. She further stated that it is not her expectation to see the government return to a dark chapter of the past, and that winning at any cost should not be the objective.