The Colombian army murdered an indigenous leader on Sunday and then
presented him as a guerrilla killed in combat, indigenous
representatives told UN rapporteur on indigenous issues, James Anaya.
Reynal Dagua, leader of the Paez indigenous people in Cauca, “was taken from his home and at 3AM [the community] heard three gunshots which resulted in the death of the [leader],” Luis Fernando Arias, secretary of the national indigenous organization of Colombia ONIC, said according to local media.
“The troops operating in the area presented him [Dagua] as a guerrilla killed in combat. They said there had been a confrontation with an illegal group but things are still unclear,” ONIC secretary told Anaya, who met with the indigenous in Piendamo (Cauca) to hear about alleged human rights violations against the community.
The Paez also denounced the disappearance of two other members of the indigenous tribe.
After hearing the complaints, Anaya said to “give recommendations to the Government and the UN system which I hope will be constructive and helpful for protecting the human rights of the people of Cauca.”
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people is currently visiting Colombia to inspect the situation of the indigenous peoples of the country.
