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LATIN AMERICA |
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Colombia Indians Say Talks with Rebels Must
Be Public
BOGOTA – Colombian Indians told FARC leftist
guerrillas that any potential dialogue
between the two sides must be held “in the
view of the country and the international
community” and called on the rebels to cease
all criminal actions against indigenous
communities.
That message was expressed in a letter from
the National Indigenous Organization of
Colombia, or ONIC, to the top leader of the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
guerrilla group, Alfonso Cano.
The missive was sent in response to FARC
communiques that mention “possible scenarios
of dialogue” with the Indians.
The ONIC said possible discussions with the
FARC must be conducted “with the knowledge
of the Colombian government and its
institutions, civil society and human rights
organizations, as well as individuals who
have taken up the cause of peace and the
search for a political solution to the
Colombian conflict.”
They added that the rebels must comply with
past commitments that include respect for
indigenous communities’ rights and autonomy.
ONIC said the first step the guerrillas must
take to facilitate talks is to “refrain from
continuing their criminal actions agaisnt
the indigenous peoples of Colombia.”
They also demanded that the rebels stop
recruiting Indians into their ranks and
called for “the drawing up of an agenda,
approved by consensus” that sets the stage
for a meeting in Colombia or abroad.
At the beginning of February, the FARC
killed eight Awa Indians in the southern
border province of Nariño.
Days after the massacre, the FARC expressed
regret over the killings and invited Awa
leaders to take part in talks to prevent
similar slaying from occuring.
In a statement following the killings of 12
Awa Indians in late August, New York-based
Human Rights Watch said “there is a heavy
presence of various armed groups and
Colombian military forces in Nariño,
creating one of the worst human rights and
humanitarian situations in Colombia.”
“Civilians from the most vulnerable sectors
of society, including Afro-Colombians and
indigenous groups, are among the most
adversely affected by the violence there.”
EFE
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