Indigenous Colombians Begin 10,000-Strong March Against Uribe Government

In Colombia, more than 10,000 indigenous Colombians have begun a protest march against President Alvaro Uribe. The march comes one week after three people were killed and dozens were injured at the outset of a national mobilization for indigenous rights. The activists are protesting the militarization of their territories, the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and the failure of President Álvaro Uribe’s administration to fulfill various accords with the indigenous communities. Uribe has responded by calling for the investigation of indigenous leaders, including Daniel Piñacue.

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.

The Colombian government has accused indigenous groups of being infiltrated by FARC rebels. Daniel Piñacue denied the allegations.

Daniel Piñacue.

We are joined in Washington by Rafael Coicué. He is an indigenous leader in Colombia from Northern Cauca. His brother was killed in the 1991 Nilo massacre. In July he lost sight in his left eye when he was assaulted by masked gunmen in his home. Rafael Coicué is in Washington to testify before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.

We are also joined in Colombia by Mario A. Murillo. He is Professor of communications at Hofstra University and producer at Pacifica radio station WBAI here in New York. He is author of “Colombia and the United States: War, Terrorism and Destabilization” and is completing a book on the indigenous movement in Colombia and its use of popular media in community organizing. He is currently living in Colombia and “blogging at mamaradio.blogspot.com.”=www.mama radio.blogspot.com

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