The Nasa of Northern Cauca: A Photo Essay
Justin Podur, May 2004
In February of 2004, I visited Northern Cauca in Colombia. Northern Cauca, as you will see, is the site of a remarkable social movement of indigenous people who are struggling not only against the displacement and violence directed against them by the state, but also for their own vision of autonomy and their own project for constructing their future.
Alcibiades Escue, a member of the indigenous councils of Northern Cauca, answers Colombian television questions at the trial staged by the Nasa of the Colombian military on February 19, 2004. The reporter asked Escue: "Why do you oppose Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's Democratic Security policy?" Escue replied: "Because it is not democratic and it doesn't bring security..."
In April 2004 I published a version of the text for this photo essay in the Indian magazine, Frontline. This version includes my own photos, additional text that Frontline had to remove because of space considerations, and some interviews that were unpublished until now. Together I believe it is a good introduction to this remarkable struggle, one made invisible by a whole variety of forces, but one which has a lot to offer and inspire.
Contents:
Northern Cauca, Occupied Territory (1)
Northern Cauca, Occupied Territory (2)
Northern Cauca, Liberated Territory (1)