One person was killed and at least thirty were injured in clashes
between indigenous protesters and Colombian riot police Tuesday, when
police tried to break up an indigenous road block on the Panamerican
highway in Cauca.
Some 20,000 native Colombians blocked the highway, demanding to talk to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.
The native Colombians say the State hasn’t kept their promise about
the return of land stolen by paramilitaries, health care and education.
The
indigenous also demand protection from paramilitary groups that have
murdered several indigenous leaders over the past few months.
Riot police and natives clashed violently. The indigenous reportedly threw stones and used self made grenades.
According to the authorities the FARC infiltrated the protest. “It’s a collaboration with the FARC. Those indigenous have no idea of explosives. We have seen them install explosives ordered by the FARC at a bridge however,” a police commander told newspaper El Espectador.