Indigenous Colombians rally in Bogotá over killings

20 October 2020

Indigenous protesters raise their batons during a symbolic "impeachment" of President Iván Duque in Bogotá. Photo: 19 October 2020 — Image caption,
Protesters raised their batons during a symbolic "impeachment" of President Iván Duque

Thousands of indigenous people have rallied in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, at the end of a long protest march against an increase in violence in their territories.

Outside the presidential palace, they demanded talks with President Iván Duque. He has refused to meet them.

The protesters accuse the government of ignoring a rise in murders of indigenous leaders.

They also demand to be consulted on major development projects.

Indigenous people chant in Bogotá, Colombia. Photo: 19 October 2020 — Image caption,
More than 6,000 indigenous Colombians were protesting in the capital

An indigenous man prepares before leaving in a caravan from Fusagasuga to Bogota, Colombia, 18 October 2020. — Image caption,
Many of them carried their traditional batons, a symbol of authority

Colombian indigenous people arrive to ask for a meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque, in Bogota, Colombia October 18, 2020. — Image caption,
The march is a protest over an increase in violence in the indigenous territories

More than 6,000 indigenous Colombians arrived in Bogotá on Sunday after travelling more than 600km (375 miles) first from the Cauca region that is their home to Cali, where they had hoped to meet President Duque last week.

Indigenous people from Cauca region arrive in a buses caravan with the intention of speaking with Colombian President, Ivan Duque, in Soacha, Colombia, 18 October 2020. — Image caption,
From Cali, they travelled in a caravan of open-sided buses to Bogotá

When that meeting did not materialise on 12 October, they carried on to Bogotá.

During their trek they have been joined by social activists and Afro-Colombians who say they face similar challenges to those of the indigenous community, such as being caught in the middle of confrontations between the security forces and armed groups.

Colombian indigenous people travel on a bus to participate in a protest to ask the Colombian government for security in their territories and to stop massacres and murders of social leaders, during an indigenous meeting called "Minga" in Cundinamarca, Colombia October 18, 2020 — Image caption,
Many of the protesters were dressed in traditional clothes

The mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, organised for the city's main sports centre to be used as an overnight base for the protesters.

Colombian indigenous people take a bath as they prepare to participate in a protest in Fusagasuga, Colombia October 18, 2020. — Image caption,
They have been camping along the way but, in Bogotá, the mayor opened the sports centre for them

Aparicio Ríos, the leader of an indigenous territory in Paniquitá, in Colombia's south-western Cauca province, said that they wanted to denounce the systematic killings of indigenous leaders as well as the lack of engagement by the government with indigenous communities.

Colombian indigenous people travel on a bus to participate in a protest, Colombia October 18, 2020. — Image caption,
The demonstrators say the government has ignored a rise in murders of indigenous leaders

The indigenous groups in Cauca province have been caught in the middle of Colombia's decades-long armed conflict.

Even after the signing of a peace agreement between Colombia's left-wing Farc rebels and the government in 2016, indigenous groups continue to be targeted by right-wing paramilitaries and dissident rebels who oppose the peace agreement.

Indigenous people prepare before leaving in a caravan from Fusagasuga to Bogota, Colombia, 18 October 2020. — Image caption,
In total there are about 7,500 protesters

In light of the attacks, indigenous groups have organised protest marches and in some cases have demanded that security forces leave their land as they argue that their presence attracts rebel attacks.