Running for office is still risky despite historic peace accord Colombia

Wilson Florez, a candidate for governor of one of Colombia’s largest provinces, had been used to cycling freely around town, driving with the windows down, and drinking tiny cups of the dark coffee known as ‘‘tinto’’ with voters late into the night. Then came the menacing pamphlets declaring him a ‘‘military target’’.

‘‘We’re not going to allow allies of the corrupt oligarchy to take power of this region,’’ said the letter purporting to be from dissident rebels of what was once the country’s largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). ‘‘We’ve retaken arms to defend the revolution.’’

Florez’s wife urged him to end his campaign for tomorrow’s local elections, Colombia’s first such vote for mayors and governors since a peace accord ending Latin America’s longrunning conflict. But in the end, the university professor decided he’d soldier on, surrendering his fate to God and a bulletproof vest.

Despite the historic accord, running for office in Colombia is still a risky proposition.

In recent months, two candidates were shot and burned to death in a campaign vehicle.

Others have dodged gunfire by mystery assailants. Seven candidates have been killed, and dozens more threatened.

The non-profit Electoral Observation Mission has counted 108 violent incidents against candidates so far, ranging from ominous pamphlets to deadly sniper attacks. That’s up from 74 in 2015, when FARC rebels were in talks with the government and had declared a ceasefire.

While authorities largely blame dissident rebels and drug cartels, analysts believe those groups are not responsible for most of the violence. Several candidates have been threatened or killed in areas where illegal armed groups do not have a presence. The new violence also targets candidates across the political spectrum.

President Ivan Duque’s government has ramped up security, setting up channels for candidates to report threats, devoting millions to protect some 2050 candidates, and employing an estimated 8000 bodyguards.

‘‘We’ve retaken arms to defend the revolution.’’ FARC pamphlet