En Camino

The international Freedom of Expression Exchange has a good article on the press aspects of the indigenous march in Colombia.

Below is a declaration of European Parliamentarians.

Parliamentary declaration
About the repression of the indigenous and trade unionist movements in Colombia

We have been sending a great deal over our list but not posting it here - apologies.

Please see Mario Murillo's reports on the situation in Cauca.

See also this key statement of demands, which was accompanied by the text below:

An Historic Day for Indigenous Peoples

Bolivia’s elites seek a media coup

Justin Podur
September 15/08

On my choice for civil resistance
Hector Mondragon
September 7, 2008

by Justin Podur

I would have preferred to do some kind of letter to the editor, but it won't work. The need to react precisely precludes writing in Spanish, the need to write quickly precludes finding a translator, and the need to explain a great deal precludes the writing of a short letter. This article concerns the recent articles in el Tiempo, Colombia's national newspaper, on the FARC in Canada.

Sandra C followed up on the story about the Peruvian military moving in to try to end indigenous protests in the Amazon. Please read - the protest ended in a victory for the indigenous. For hyperlinked version go to the Dominion or Sandra's blog. We reproduce it below...

* * *

Peru: Indigenous occupations end with victory in Congress

by Justin Podur, Dawn Paley, and Manuel Rozental

A New York Times article by Simon Romero on August 15 suggested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo was going to investigate the FARC in Colombia, and its connections to other countries. In the 12-paragraph article, one paragraph (the 10th) noted that the ICC would also look at paramilitarism:

A note from the peruanista blog. Peru's government (along with Colombia, one of the few completely reliable allies the US and multinationals have left in the region) has sent its military against indigenous people in the Amazon and declared a state of emergency, banning public gatherings for 30 days. To quote one of the indigenous leaders:

WE REJOICE, WITH THOSE LIBERATED, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND CALL
THEM TO USE THEIR FREEDOM TO ACHIEVE THAT OF ALL COLOMBIANS

Colombia's Minister of Defense has just announced that former
Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancur, together with three American
Soldiers
and 11 members of the Colombian Armed Forces held by FARC have been
rescued unharmed in a successful operation carried out by Colombian
intelligence disguised as representatives of a "fake" NGO who were to
transfer them under the orders of FARC's Secretariat. As this note is written,

This commmuniqué from CRIC was translated by Elena Renderos.

05/22/2008
Author: ELDER COUNCIL – CRIC [Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca]