Bogota, December 26 (RHC)-- The National Association of Farmers (ANUC) activist Reinaldo Carrillo was killed at dawn on Wednesday by hitmen who entered his house and shot him in front of his family in Pitalito town, Department of Huila, Colombia.

“We reject the murder of Reinaldo Carrillo.  He was a member of a group of people which expected the government to grant them the ownership title of a vacant land called La Conaca,” said the ANUC, an organization legally recognized as “victim of the armed conflict” and “subject of reparation.”

"Reinaldo is the fifth ANUC leader killed in Huila over the last year.  We demand that the authorities' actions bring about results so that these cases are not added to the long list of impunities."  

A few minutes after the event, local Caracol Radio reported that the attack was perpetrated by three subjects aboard a motorcycle.

Although the 34-year-old social leader was immediately taken to the Pitalito hospital, he died due to the seriousness of his injuries.

Tatiana Roa, an environmental activist, said: "Infinite sadness.  My solidarity with Reinaldo's family, friends and colleagues.  Land ownership remains at the center of the armed conflict," environmental activist Tatiana Roa said and added that the 'Lords of The Land" continue to dispose of the life of Colombian farmers at will.

Less than 24 hours before, the folk artist and social activist Lucy Villareal was also killed after participating in a workshop with children in the department of Nariño.

Between 2018 and 2019, the number of human rights defenders and social leaders killed increased by 13 percent in Colombia, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).