Colombia’s government and a group of farmers signed an agreement Thursday to end the 11-day protest against coca fumigation that has been taking place around the northerly town of Taraza.
The protest involving over 2,500 protesters began in response to government plans to begin the aerial fumigation of coca plantations in Taraza, a municipality in the north of the Antioquia department.
The agreement, signed at the House of Justice in Medellin, specified the creation of a committee to review complaints relating to human rights violations, facilitate a compensation process for any legitimate crops damaged by the fumigation process and generate projects for social investment.
The Vice President of the Farmers Association, Andres Henao, said that many of the protesters would begin to return to their homes Saturday in transport provided by local authorities and the national government.
According to Henao, 15 farmers have been injured throughout the protests, five have been arrested and subsequently released, and one man is currently missing.