Targeting teachers in Colombia slideshow

Next: On the Colombian campaign trail

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Teachers' coordinator Alvaro Anaya sits at his office in the town of Sahagun, Colombia, January 19, 2012. Anaya's life was threatened by criminal gangs in the region and now he has a bodyguard assigned by the government to protect him.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Mrs. Carmen Penata cries the death of her brother, teacher Alejandro Penata, at her home, San Pelayo, Colombia, January 19, 2012.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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The death of Alejandro is unclear but authorities believe he was murdered by criminal gangs operating in the area.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Mr. Miguel Angel Penata, 78, Alejandro's father, cries the death of his son in San Pelayo, Colombia, January 19, 2012.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Teacher and psychologist Indira Parra says she was threatened by a criminal gang named "Aguilas Negras" in the town of La Dorada a year ago. The teacher was moved to another school to protect her life because the gang did not like the fact that she was advising students to stay out of the criminal life.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Another teachers' coordinator, Alex Fernandez, was displaced from the town of Las Delicias by criminal gangs when he refused to pay extortion money. He is now in Monteria, Colombia, shown on January 18, 2012.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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"Colegio del Carmen" school benches a week before classes begin in the town of Cotorra, Colombia, the town where Alejandro Penata was killed, on January 19, 2012.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Education secretary Julieth Guzman poses for the camera at "Escuela Las Delicias" school, in Tierra Adentro, Colombia, January 20, 2012. Fourty two teachers in the region were threatened and extorted by criminal gangs last year. Sixteen of them were repositioned to other regions in the state. Today the school remains closed.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]
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Monument to the fallen teacher at the teachers union, ADEMACOR, Monteria, Colombia, January 20, 2012. The state of Cordoba has witnessed the murders of one hundred teachers since 1986.
- [Carlos Villalon/GlobalPost]