ARMED men shot dead nine people at a Palmira farm in Colombia’s 41st massacre of the year, the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz) reported on Monday.

The victims, eight men and one woman, included the owner of the farm: a former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerilla and signatory to the 2016 peace accord.

“The Palmira farm is well know in the region,” local official Gelvi Cabrera said, explaining that the latest attack was the third there in less than a year.

In July last year a 16-year-old boy was among four killed, while in September 2020 paramilitaries shot dead three people, including a 17-year-old.

According to human rights groups, 158 Colombians have been massacred since the beginning of the year.

Colombia’s house of representatives will vote next week on a motion of no confidence against Defence Minister Diego Molano, who is accused of overseeing the violent repression of protests and strike action.

Colombians have been on the streets for more than a month demanding an end to state violence and for an emergency package to deal with a worsening economic crisis.

At least 59 people are known to have been killed by security services, although many groups say the real figure is much higher.