Colombia: Indigenous march for their rights

Indigenous protestors continued their march to Colombia’s capital as tensions remain between them and the federal government.

Thousands of marchers are expected to make the 300-mile trek from Cali to Bogotá as a sign of protest against President Alvaro Uribe's policies. One of the main issues being advocated by the protests is that the government lives up to their promise of returning land to indigenous tribes. The group is expected to reach Bogotá on the 28th, the same day as an expected “freedom march” led by several former hostages.

The journey to Bogotá has been marred by the recent deaths of two soldiers via a bombing. Agriculture minister Andres Arias claimed that the attack was due to “infiltration by the FARC” and he has reneged on land restitution demands. March leaders denied Arias claims and said that they reject the involvement of the same armed groups that have terrorized indigenous communities.

The precarious situation between Colombia’s indigenous and the Uribe administration came to a head last month over allegations that soldiers fired unjustly at protestors. Unfortunately, negotiations that were supposed to have taken place between both parties fell through.

Image- RCN
Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Colombia Reports, coha.org
Sources (Spanish)- El Tiempo, El Espectador, RCN