Living in Peaceful Resistance Amidst the Conflict in Colombia
AFSC's Concern for the Safety of Indigenous Communiites
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has had a long standing partnership with Indigenous communities in Colombia. We are extremely concerned about the increasing assassination of indigenous peoples and their political and spiritual leaders carried out by all of the armed actors -paramilitaries, the military and the guerrillas. U.S. financial support of the military (often complicit with illegal paramilitary groups) under the guise of the war on drugs and the war on terror has only aggravated the violence these communities face. In light of the situation --and as part of its Flames of Hope campaign-- the AFSC has committed itself to publicizing the critical situation Indigenous leaders and their communities are experiencing.
The indigenous population makes up only 2% of the 40 million living in Colombia but they are, along with Afro-Colombian and peasant communities, almost half of the displaced. According to the Colombian National Organization of Indigenous Peoples (ONIC), in the last three years 20,000 indigenous people have been displaced, 353 have been assassinated, 80 of them since the beginning of 2004. The Indigenous communities have categorized the situation they face as ethnocide.
One of the most critical situations is that of the Kankuamos Peoples of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. Fifty-five Kankuamos were assassinated by the paramilitaries last year alone. In late July of 2004 another one of their leaders, Fredy Arias, was assassinated.
Many Indigenous communities have been isolated by the armed groups and cannot get medicines or food to their populations. Others cannot move freely within their communities because of the presence of armed groups in their territories.
Most recently 5 leaders from the Paez/Nasa Peoples were kidnapped by the guerrillas. The Nasa/Paez Peoples are renowned for their peaceful strategies through the Indigenous Guard. Always remaining neutral in the conflict and not participating with the army, paramilitaries, or guerrillas.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, Michael Frulig, has called on the Colombian government to pay more attention to the situation that the Indigenous peoples face, to prevent the disappearance of these peoples, and the assassination of their leaders.
AFSC invites all persons of conscience to join us in support of these communities and their peaceful struggle. Continue to visit our website, where we will post and update urgent actions and will give you an opportunity to stand in solidarity with these communities. For more information about "Flames of Hope" and its activities or to receive a copy of our materials please contact us at:
Latin America & Caribbean Program
Peacebuilding Unit
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA, 19102
E-mail: colombia@afsc.org
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