YOVANNY PILLUMUE ASSASSINATED

[Translated by Elena Renderos, A CSN volunteer translator]

The RURAL ASSOCIATION OF INZA TIERRADENTRO (ACIT) and the ASSOCIATION OF COFFEE GROWERS OF EASTERN CAUCA (ASORCAFE) regretfully announce to the community, Inzaeña, and for national and international public opinion, the abominable murder of our leader, partner, and friend, YOVANNY PILLUMUE CUCHIMBA, on Friday, September 14, 2007 in the city of Popayán. YOVANNY was elected Secretary of the Central Board of the ACIT in its General Assembly on August 21, 2006, for his rural leadership in the city and in the communities of the Quebrada de Topa region. He was an associate of ASORCAFE and led organizational processes and the commercialization of the coffee union in Inzá.

YOVANNY PILLIMUE was born on April 2, 1981.  He lived in San Antonio, located within the municipality of Inzá.  He stood out for his leadership and became involved in different programs linked to the Rural Association, in particular as promoter of the Participative Rural Diagnosis (DRP). As a coffee grower, he also launched the coffee union organization (ASORCAFE).  

It was when he was managing a project of sanitation with the ACIT and endorsing the commercialization of a coffee grower from ASORCAFE that he was shot on Friday, September 14, by an unknown person, as he was leaving Alma Café, located in the Popayán Industrial Park.  
 
We do not know the motives for YOVANNY'S murder and hope to press charges shortly. This new act of violence demonstrates, once again, the ineffectiveness of the democratic security policy by allowing the occurrence of the murder of a community leader in the middle of the street at 4pm.

The ACIT and ASORCAFE join the relatives of our partner, Yovanny, in promising not to disregard this issue and to fight for truth, justice, and reparation.

RURAL AFFILIATION OF INZA TIERRADENTRO (ACIT)
AFFILIATION OF COFFEE GROWERS OF EASTERN CAUCA (ASORCAFE)