Begin forwarded message:

> From: MAMARadio <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: October 14, 2008 11:01:38 AM EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MAMA Radio] 10/14/2008 08:00:00 AM
>
> Colombian Military and Police Confronting Indigenous Protesters in  
> Cauca;
>
> Organizers call for solidarity from the international community
>
> The Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca, ACIN,  
> reports that today, on the third day of the national mobilization  
> dubbed “Commotion of the Peoples,” all the communities gathered in  
> the locality of La Maria, in the department of Cauca, are  
> completely surrounded by the Colombian Army. Apparently, the  
> security forces are preparing to carry out an armed assault against  
> the civilians involved in the protest, which began on Sunday,  
> October 12th. Organizers estimate that there are over 10,000 people  
> currently at La Maria and surrounding areas.
>
> The communities have blocked a portion of the Pan American Highway  
> that connects the cities of Popayán and Santander de Quilichao in  
> the department of Cauca, in an acto f civil disobedience. They are  
> demanding a face to face meeting with the President to discuss the  
> main points on their agenda.
>
> ACIN reports that in the confrontations today, there were at least  
> two indigenous activists severely wounded, with one possibly  
> fatally. Two other indigenous activists from Tierradentro were  
> detained.
>
> Simultaneously, 4 cadavers were transfered from Corinto to the  
> morgue in the town of Caloto. According to ACIN, up to now, local  
> officials have not allowed indigenous authorities in to identify  
> the victims and examine the corpses.
>
> Prior to the mobilization, which was called to protest against the  
> militarization of indigenous territories, the US-Colombia Free  
> Trade Agreement, and the government of Alvaro Uribe, indigenous  
> leaders warned about the potential for this kind of backlash  
> against the movement. That the government declared a state of  
> internal commotion just two days before the start of the protest  
> gave them more reason to be alarmed.
>
> In an urgent communique put out by ACIN a few moments ago, the  
> organization states: “Everything indicates that this criminal  
> government has initiated a massacre as a response to our indigenous  
> resistance!”
>
> Spokespersons for ACIN are calling on “the world not to serve as  
> accomplices with silence in the face of this criminal regime.”
>
> For more information, contact: http://www.nasaacin.org
>
> --
> Posted By MAMARadio to MAMA Radio at 10/14/2008 08:00:00 AM





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