Indigenous communities under fire in Colombia
Police in Colombia have violently suppressed protests from indigenous groups by firing bullets and throwing tear gas.
At the beginning of October, thousands of Colombia's indigenous people began a popular uprising around the country to protest about the cultural and physical genocide they are suffering at the hands of the state and to defend their territory, autonomy and culture.
Police forces have repressed protests in Cuaca and Valle del Cauca with bullets and tear gas. So far three people have been killed, including a child, and more than one hundred have been injured.
The indigenous communities in Colombia are becoming increasingly marginalized. By way of protest they have issued the government with five demands, the first one being that the free trade agreements the government have negotiated are not accepted because the communities have not been consulted about them and the current terms favour large transnational companies rather than themselves.
A call for solidarity
The letter demands that the government and others responsible take action to ensure the immediate end to the violence against the peoples of Cuaca and Valle del Cauca, to establish a dialogue as requested by the indigenous communities, and guarantee respect to human rights as enshrined in the Colombian Constitution and the International Human Rights Treaties that have been signed and ratified by Colombia. We also request a public statement rejecting the violence in Cuaca and Valle del Cauca.
For maximum effect please send the Spanish version of the letter. There is also a version in English so you know what you are signing.
- Download the letter here, sign it and post, fax or email it to your nearest Colombian embassy.
- Read the letter in English here
- Download the contact details for Colombia's embassies in Europe
- Read more about the demands of the Indigenous communities in Colombia
- Watch a video of the protests here
solidarity fund
Censat Agua Viva/Friends of the Earth Colombia urgently need financial support to attend to the dozens of wounded people and the families of murdered indigenous peoples during the mobilization.
If you are able to contribute to the solidarity fund please contact the International Secretariat and we will process your donation.
email: web@foei.org
tel: 00 31 20 622 1369
