PBI-Colombia accompanies remembrance at Trujillo Monument Park

On August 17, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project tweeted that it accompanied Sister Maritze Trigos with AFAVIT (the Association of Relatives of Trujillo Victims) and Father Javier Giraldo (who founded the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission) at the Trujillo Monument Park (Parque Monumento de Trujillo).

PBI-Colombia has explained, “The Massacre of Trujillo refers to multiple and successive human rights violations committed between 1988 and 1994 in the municipalities of Trujillo, Bolivar, and Riofrio (Valle del Cauca).”

That massacre included “enforced disappearances, torture and the murders of approximately 340 people at the hands of a coordinated criminal structure which included members of the Army, Police, local politicians and paramilitaries from the North Valle cartel.”

Colombia Reports adds, “Among the victims were unionists, alleged guerrilla supporters and a priest. Some of the victims were tortured and dismembered as a warning to rebels groups FARC and ELN, and their sympathizers.”

This article notes that Father Giraldo arrived at the town after hearing of the murder of the pastor of Trujillo, Tiberio Fernández Mafla.

Father Tiberio Fernández was tortured and murdered on April 17, 1990.

PBI-Colombia also tweeted, “During the pilgrimage in memory of the victims of the massacres suffered by Colombia in Trujillo a tribute was made to the defenders of human rights and leaders who were killed in history.”

The Trujillo Monument Park was inaugurated in June 2002.

A 3-minute video about the park can be seen here.