At dawn this morning a Colombian army convoy crossed into the
muncipality of Cubara, inside the traditional U’WA territory. The convoy
then requested clearance from the indigenous people (U’wa?) to enter the
neighboring muncipality of Saravena. The indigenous people (U’wa?)
accepted this request without realizing that the armies real purpose was
to deploy small commando units of anti-riot police against the peaceful
demonstration held by the U’wa. Once inside demonstration the riot police
violently attacked the U’wa. This situation began at 04:30am (EDT) and
was temporarily suspended at 06:30am (EDT) and recommenced at 09:00am
(EDT).
The U’wa community communicates that there are people injured with lesions
and concusions, also children have been hospitalized and there is fear of
further fatal consequences. The attack was extremely violent and
undertaken completely by surprise. The anti-riot police used tear gas and
hit (i.e., physically attacked) the peaceful demonstrators.
We request that the national and international community call upon the
government of Colombia and other national and international human rights
organizations for the immediate cessation of aggressions against the U’wa
people and the immediate withdrawl of people from the U’wa ancestral
territories. We remind the national and international community that
these actions are taking place after the national government of Colombia
authorized drilling in U’wa territory by Occidental Petroleum.
These violent events have occurred just two days after the US Congress
approved the Colombia Plan military aid package for which Occidental
Petroleum has lobbied continuously.
