Colombian Ombudsman’s Office denounces death of Valdimir Herrera, signatory of the peace accords

Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office has denounced this Friday the death of Vladimir Herrera, a signatory of the peace agreements reached between the State and the now extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016.

As reported by the agency on its Twitter social network profile, authorities have found Herrera’s body next to that of Jaime León Rodríguez, who had been held in the department of Arauca by an illegal armed group two weeks ago.

“We request the release of nine people being held, who are part of the group in which the two victims were,” said the Ombudsman’s Office, which has also expressed its solidarity with the families.

Among the prisoners are several minors, former combatants and peasants of the area, according to information from the Colombian newspaper ‘El Espectador’.

Finally, the public body has demanded respect for the “life and rights” of the detainees, and has stated that its humanitarian channels are open to achieve their return home.

With the death of Herrera, 28 former FARC combatants have been killed so far this year, bringing to 334 the number of signatories killed since the signing of the peace accords.