Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’
How to end the war in western Colombia?
Colombia’s government talks peace with ELN in Cuba
Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties
How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?
Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance...
Peace talks with Colombia’s ELN guerrillas ‘about to...
Colombia’s largest paramilitary group announces unilateral ceasefire
The men and women who will govern Colombia...
Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia’s new president
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
(Image credit: El Tiempo)
News

‘Venezuelan troops attacked indigenous border people in Colombia’

by Adriaan Alsema August 28, 2017

Four members of the Wayuu people in northern Colombia have blamed Venezuelan soldiers of attacking them with tear gas on Colombian soil, further aggravating bilateral tensions.

The alleged incident took place in La Guajira, a Wayuu territory that is part Colombian and part Venezuelan, newspaper El Tiempo reported Monday.

According to the newspaper, the members of Venezuela’s National Guard entered Colombian territory on Saturday in Paraguachon, a rural area of the municipality of Maicao.

The alleged incursion came amid ongoing tensions between the two neighbors over the Venezuelan government’s decision to sideline the country’s National Assembly and Colombia’s rejection of it.

Earlier this year, a group of Venezuelan soldiers went as far as to set up camp on the Colombian side of the border, claiming the site to be Venezuelan national territory.


‘Venezuela army troops set up camp in Colombia’


According to witnesses, the National Guard officials crossed the border, shot tear gas at locals and robbed them of their cell phones, money and identity papers.

Four men were taken to hospital in Maico to be treated for the injuries caused by the impact of the tear gas grenades.

According to El Tiempo, the incident took place near an informal border crossing used by binational indigenous from both countries.

La Guajira Governor Weildler Guerra told media that “three were injured on the Venezuelan side and one in Paraguachon.”

The governor said some 20 Venezuelan guardsmen spent as much as as 10 minutes patrolling the Colombian hamlet.

La Guajira Police commander Colonel Jose Wilmer Garcia told press that the incident began on Venezuelan territory where the guardsmen tried to rob the indigenous of their belongings “under the pretext of combating contraband.”

Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino denied the incident, claiming it was a “false positive” on behalf of Colombian authorities.

border issuesLa Guajiratensions with VenezuelaVenezuela

Trending

  • Colombia to seek decriminalization of drugs despite US objections

  • Medellin’s secret history of violence against women and girls

  • How serious is Colombia’s president-elect about fighting corruption?

Related articles

  • Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties

  • How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?

  • Colombia and Venezuela to mend ruptured ties

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top