Government and native Colombians resume negotiations despite deadly police attack

(Image: ONIC)

Despite an alleged police attack in which one indigenous protester was shot dead and multiple were injured, indigenous organizations resumed negotiations with the government in southwest Colombia.

The police, allegedly accompanied by the military and armed civilians, attacked a protest camp in Cajibio, Cauca, miles south of Santander de Quilichao where the meeting was supposed to be held.


At least one killed in police attack on indigenous protesters in southwest Colombia


The attack ended around 11AM after which talks between Peace Commissioner Miguel Ceballos and the ONIC resumed in Dagua, Valle del Cauca, while talks between Interior Minister Nancy Patricia Gutierrez and the CRIC resumed in Santander de Quilichao.

The meetings were accompanied by representatives of the United Nations and the Organization of American States and reportedly tense because of the outbreak of violence.

National Indigenous Organization of Colombia

The indigenous were forced to delay their original demands in regards to access to land, healthcare and education. Instead, the ONIC’s representatives demanded that the national government end the killing of protesters, and stop the stigmatization and criminalization of the “minga,” the indigenous mobilization.


Why Colombia’s indigenous communities are protesting


According to the ONIC, its call for action has received the support of more than 326 social organizations and 30 congressmen.

Indigenous peoples from the provinces of NariñoTolimaChocoAntioquiaHuila, Meta, Caqueta, PutumayoNorte de Santander and Boyaca have joined the protests initially only held in Cauca.

Afrocolombian and peasant organizations have also expressed their support for the protests and rejected Thursday’s violence against the indigenous.

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