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Indigenous leader Alcibiades Escue has been Released

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) rejoices in the news that the Indigenous leader ALCIBIADES ESCUE, has been released after 19 days of being detained by the anti-terrorism unit of the General District Attorney's Office of Colombia.

The government had arrested Escué on September 2, 2004, accusing him of financing the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) in the department of Guajira by misappropriating funds intended for health services for the population, charges that indigenous leaders dismissed as “absurd.” The District Attorney declared that Mr. Escué was released because they “did not find any proof of the allegations brought against him.”

His release showed once again the effectiveness of the nonviolent strategies used by the Nasa indigenous people to confront abuses of power and violence. Escué was released after 44 indigenous governors and 400 members of the Indigenous Guard marched peacefully from their headquarters in Bogota to the Police station at which Mr. Escué was held. They lined two blocks of the city, symbolically holding their staffs of peace in what they called a row of honor, as they waited for their friend and leader to be freed. Some minutes after their arrival,l Mr. Escué was released. He looked weary and drained, but despite his condition he summoned the strength to call on the government to stop its persecution of Indigenous communities and leaders and to hug each and every one of the guards. Many were moved to tears as they embraced their brother.

But the work of the Indigenous Gards was not over. Shirley Albor Cardenas, a women indigenous leader, was still being held in jail under the same charges as Mr. Escué. The Indigenous Guard repeated their peaceful march with their staffs and stood guard outside the police station in Bogota --the same station where Mr. Escué had been held-- and waited until Ms. Albor emerged. Family, friends, and the same indigenous governors who were present at Mr. Escué’s release greeted Ms. Cardenas with the same love and affection.

While AFSC rejoices in this news we continue to be concerned about the safety of indigenous leaders and their communities in Colombia. We are thankful so many of you responded to our urgent actions and voiced your opinions to consulate officials and US department officials. Mr. Escué has been in touch with us to thank us for our support and our work during his time in jail. He attributed his release to the work of his community leaders and the indigenous guard as well as the international attention that was drawn by ordinary citizens who took extra time to send a letter. The actions taken in solidarity with Mr. Escué were immediate and opportune, and without this assistance/ indigenous leaders could not have freed him.

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