Colombia: Whether Freddy Fernando Salas was mayor of Buenaventura from January 1998 to March 2000; whether he occupied a public position in 2001; whether he was murdered in February 2002 and by whom

Municipal elections were held throughout Colombia in October 1997 and again on 29 October 2000 for terms beginning the following year (LAWR 31 Oct. 2000; The Houston Chronicle 10 Sept. 2000; IPS 9 Apr. 1998; The Economist 7 Mar. 1998). Various sources mention Freddy Fernando Salas Guaitoto as mayor of Buenaventura for the period 1998-2000 (DNP 29 Apr. 1999; Presidency of Colombia 24 May 2000). However, only one report on the murder of Freddy Fernando Salas Guaitoto was found among the sources consulted (El Pais 12 Feb. 2002). That report provides the information that follows:

A dark-skinned hired gunman (sicario) reportedly shot the former mayor of Buenaventura at 12:20 p.m. as he started his car; gravely injured, he was assisted by several people and was taken to the Tequendama clinic, where he died. Moments before the murder, the former mayor had visited a barber shop located at the intersection of 5th Street and 44th Avenue (Calle 5 and Carrera 44) of the Tequendama neighbourhood of southern Cali. Some friends of his stated that he had arrived at the barber shop to visit the owner, but left the place immediately after finding that the owner was not there. According to one friend, this was his regular barber shop, and he had stopped to greet the owner before going for a medical treatment in that area.

At the time of the murder, two patrol cars of the Sectional Judicial Police (Seccional de Policía Judicial, SIJIN) that were passing near the area engaged in a shootout. After several minutes, the police officers detained 42-year old Luis Marino Moreno, seizing from him a 9 mm Rugger pistol which, according to the police, was used for the murder. Authorities reported that the man detained was from Buenaventura, single, and with a criminal record for illegal possession of weapons. Police reported that the man claimed to be a tanner of shoe leather, and would not say why he committed the crime. Police also reported to be on the lookout for a white pick-up or light truck (camioneta) that was seen roaming the area where the crime was committed.

Police raided three places in different neighbourhoods of Cali, looking for evidence and trying to capture other persons who may have been involved in the crime, but could not find either. By the end of the day, the police had not established the motive ofor the crime.

Freddy Fernando Salas Guaitoto was the second mayor of Buenaventura to be murdered. At the time of his murder, he was 40 years old; he was born in Buenaventura, was married to lawyer Carmen Alexis Marquez and had three children. He had graduated as a lawyer at the University of Santiago de Cali; he was mayor of Buenaventura from 1998 until 2001, and was a militant of the Social Democrat liberal movement. His term as mayor was one of the most criticized, due to the municipal workers' strikes and other actions that partially paralyzed his administration.

He was also a deputy for the Departmental Assembly of Valle from 1992 to 1994, presiding over it for one year. He also held public office as a municipal councillor, headed the Cortuvalle corporation and the Public Port Municipal Corporation (Empresas Públicas Municipales del Puerto), and was a member of the board of directors of the Port Society (Sociedad Portuaria).

He had recently become involved in teaching at the University of Santiago de Cali, and people close to him reportedly said that he intended to return to politics.

The current mayor of Buenaventura, Jaime Mosquera, publicly condemned the assassination of Freddy Fernando Salas Guaitoto, calling him a good friend and pointing out that they had talked over the telephone the previous morning.

The governor of Valle, German Villegas, and the Departmental Assembly of Valle also condemned the assassination.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP), Bogota. 29 April 1999. Directorio Asociaciones de Municipios. [Accessed 23 Aug. 2002]

The Economist [London]. 7 March 1998. U.S. Edition. "Colombia. Guerrillas Drugs, Votes and Clinton." (NEXIS)

The Houston Chronicle. 10 September 2000. 4 Star Edition. John Otis. "Colombia Election in Turmoil; Rebels Use Intimidation to Influence Mayoral Races." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 9 April 1998. Yadira Ferrer. "Conflict – Colombia: Rebels to Negotiate With Local Authorities." (NEXIS)

Latin American Weekly Report (LAWR) [London]. 31 October 2000. "Ruling Conservatives Take a Drubbing; Turnout Was High, Despite Violent Intimidation Efforts." (NEXIS)

El País [Cali]. 12 February 2002. "Matan a ex alcalde de Buenaventura." [Accessed 23 Aug. 2002]

Presidency of Colombia, Bogota. 24 May 2000. "Atentado Contra Anchicaya, Graves Consecuencias Para el Valle." [Accessed 23 Aug. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Peace Brigades International (PBI)--Proyecto Colombia, London. Fortnightly bulletins, 4 Feb.-3 Mar. 2002.

Radio Caracol, Bogota. Searchable archives.

Internet sites and search engines, including:

Ejército de Colombia, Bogota.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), New York.

Observatorio de Derechos Humanos (ODH), Bogota.

Proceso de Paz [Bogota].

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not included.