Colombian Native People Evict Soldiers in Cauca

Colombian indigenous people have driven the military out of a section of the South American state. Colombia has been heavily dominated by the United States., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Colombian Indians evict soldiers

Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:40AM GMT
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Scores of Paez Indians have kicked Colombian soldiers out of an outpost as part of a push to expel both security forces and leftist rebels from indigenous reserves in the southwestern province of Cauca.

General Jorge Humberto Jerez, the top military officer in Cauca, said the indigenous people attacked the soldiers, punching and kicking them, Fox News Latino reported on Tuesday.

Indigenous leaders in the Cauca capital Toribio have called for a gathering to reiterate their call for the military and guerrillas to leave the area in the hope of bringing peace to the restive region.

The Association of Indigenous Governments of North Cauca, or ACIN, had set a deadline of midnight Monday for all "armed actors" to vacate the 14 Indian reserves in the region.

More than 2,800 indigenous and mestizo people have been forced out of their homes over the past few weeks due to intense fighting in Cauca between government forces and leftist FARC guerrillas.

The Colombian Constitution recognizes the autonomy of the indigenous peoples and their right to exercise control over their designated territories.

The Paez are one of several indigenous groups that have declared neutrality in the internal armed conflict and are demanding that both sides leave them alone.