Protests against coca fumigations in central Colombia have left one person dead, two police and two protesters injured and 40 people arrested.
Over 2000 farmers have blocked roads and clashed with police near the town of Taraza in Antioquia for more than a week, while demanding the authorities to put a stop to ariel fumigations of coca plantations and find an alternative that does not affect agriculture, Colombian Media reported.
On Tuesday, Vice President Angelino Garzon intervened, communicating with local authorities and protest leaders and promising to send a team of government representatives to the area to try and bring the crisis to an end.
Leonardo Pinto, Commander of the Army’s 11th Brigade, blamed the protests on the FARC, alleging the guerrillas forced the farmers into the protests because the eradication program is attacking their principle source of income.