Colombia’s Prosecution General requested an arrest warrant for
indigenous leaders involved in the anti-government marches of 2008, Cauca indigenous organization CRIC says.
According to a statement by the CRIC, “the Prosecution requested an arrest warrant against Aida Marina Quilcue and Feliciano Valencia, spokespersons of the Minga of Social and Community Resistance and two civilians, apparently indigenous guards (…) accusing them of ‘crimes of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault.'”
The leaders and guards allegedly are wanted for questioning, because indigenous protesters had held an undercover soldier in custody, who had infiltrated the march and “illegally entered indigenous territory.”
According to the CRIC, the soldier was detained and tried according to indigenous law that is protected by the Colombian constitution.
The indigenous accuse Colombian authorities of persecuting those fighting for social justice.
Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has not confirmed the alleged request for an arrest warrant.