1 12 1 https://www.abyayalanews.org/files/original/5f5525910f2eb385b13866e6e886a5cf.pdf 69a2eed7c6187abfbf60bb3c81e4427e PDF Text Text HUMAN RIGHTS Wave of Violence in Colombia takes Heavy Toll on Indian Leaders he Indigenous communities of Colombia have not escaped the alamling levels or violence registered in this country in the last few years. Man)' Indigenous communities have suffered the aftemlath of a lingering and irrelevant war between the army and guerrilla groups: 01hers. have been victims or the unrelenting struggle for land rights. The securit)' forces generally see Indigenous people as poten· tial guerrilla collaborator and have directed arbitral)' deten· ·s, tions. tortures. dis.."l.ppcar3ncesal'ld murders against them. In addition to preexisting ~~nd struggles. Indigenous efforts to exerclse rights under the new constitUlion, especially admin istnuion of government funds, have drawn violem opposillon from traditional power groups. This )'ear se''eral cases have been added to the already long list of crimes against the Indigenous population of Colombia. Assassination in Southern Colombia Amnesty International re· pons that, the body or well· known Indigenous leader Laureano lnampue was found in 1he San juan River on May 6. near his home in the G«achucallndigenous reserve in the department of Narino. According to wimc;sses. he was vio· lemly removed from his home b)' heavily armed men in military uniform. His captors claimed the)' were detaining him for interrogation by the local battalion's commander. Family members were unable to obtain any infonnation regarding his whereabouts from local amhorities. He was found dead a day later. h)ampue had been threatened previously because or his work to recover Indigenous lands. Senu Activists Killed in Land Struggle Three Senu Indigenous activists, Clemente Mendoza, Hernando Solano and Fernando Alvarez Conde. were mur· de red during the momhs of February and March in Northern Colornbia in the community of Ascrradero. Municipality of Purisima. Department of Cordoba. According to local reports. they were engaged in attempts 10 recover lands of the Gran Resguardo de San Andres de Sotavento through a land title given by the Spanish crown three cemuries ago. ''Tireless" Activist Killed in Tolima On May 15. ON!Cdenounced that Yesid Bocanegra Mnninez was shot to death by gunmen in the town of Colaima, department of Tolima. Omar Mendoza vice-president of Tolima's Indigenous council also received three gunshot wounds in the auack, and remains hospitalized. Bocanegra was described by ONIC as a ' tireless fighter for our cause•. Indigenous communities throughout the country are llO\ V on alen rearing thal a second major wave of violence will follow attempts by Indigenous communities to exercise their T 4 new constitmional rights. (See •Arter the Constitution" in this ONIC Leaders Assassinated for Demanding issue) ~ Compliance with the Constitution On March 26, four Senu Indigenous leaders were murdered on the outskirts of the municip:llity of San Andres de l>iformation supplied by National Indigenous Organization of Sotavento. The four were intercepted at 12 o'clock in the Colombia (ONIC). night, by unknown assailants while riding in a van belonging Please send letters urging the Colombian government 10 to the community. Theempt)' bumcd van was discovered with provide adequate protect,on to Indigenous leaders exer<:ismg bloodstains inside. The next day, the lifeless bodiesofl'orfirio Ayala Mendoza. Alternate Secretary of the ONIC, nominated the~r eonstltutionru rights, that these kiUings be immediately for 1993-1997 during last September's National Indigenous investigated and that those responsible be held accountable to: Congress: Hector Aquiles Malo, Chief of the Gran Resguardo $thor l'rtsident< Ctsm·Gaviria T> "Ujillo, Pl~sfdentc de Ia Republica. de San Andres de Sotavemo; Luis Arthur Lucas, Senu leader. Palaclo de Nari~o. Santaft <I<; Bogot<l, Colombia. and ex-General Secretary of the ON IC from 1968 to 1990; and Fax: 011 57 I 286 7-134/287 7939. Cesar Mendoza Cruz the vehicle's driver. Indian groups see these murders as manifestations of traditional power groups With copies 10: opposition to Indigenous communities' ane1npts to exercise Ambas<adorGabnd Silva, EmbassyofColombia,21181;;roy PI.l'.IV, ' new constitutional rights to manage t.. o:tx revenue and invest- \Vashingwn, DC. 20008. and: ONIC, M 32395. 8og()!d, Colombia. ment for their regions. 36 Abya Yala News � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 8, nos. 1 &amp; 2 (Summer 1994) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wave of Violence in Colombia takes Heavy Toll on Indian Leaders Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource SAIIC Board of Directors National Indigenous Organization of Colombia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Summer 1994 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Wave of Violence in Colombia takes Heavy Toll on Indian Leaders Item Type Journal Article Author SAIIC Board of Directors National Indigenous Organization of Colombia Volume 8 Issue 1,2 Pages 36 Publication Title Abya Yala News Date Summer 1994 Language English Abstract Note Indigenous leaders in Colombia have been under attack and subject to disappearances, torture, arbitrary detention, and even murder due to their struggle for rights granted to them in the Constitution. Attachment Title abya yala p36.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Colombia Indigenous assassination ONIC San Andres de Sotaveno Senu Tolima