Jorge Adolfo Freytter Romero

On August 28, 2001, Jorge Adolfo Freytter Romero was on his way to visit his in-laws at their home.  As he was entering their house, he was kidnapped.  The men who took him then submitted him to multiple types of physical torture before murdering him – as was evidenced by the marks on his body, which was found the next day in a rural part of Barranquilla, Colombia.

Nine years later, and justice has been partially served.  The judge found proof of the existence of criminal organization between the members of the Gaula-Barranquilla and the North Block Paramilitary.  Together these groups carried out joint persecutions and exterminations against leaders of labor unions and social leaders.  Their crimes claimed Jorge as one of their victims.

On June 18, 2010, Carlos Arturo Romero Cuartas, alias Monteria, was sentenced in connection to Jorge’s assassination.  Carlos’ testimony further implicated Albeiro De Jesus Garcia Rendon and Rafael Enrique Mariano Silvera, both of whom were sentenced to 35 years in prison.  The men were paramilitaries associated with civil servants of the DAS.

Although the physical killers of professor and labor union leader, Jorge Adolfo Freytter Romero have been sentenced, the intellectual offenders who orchestrated Jorge’s assassination continue to evade justice.