Indigenous community of Putumayo denounces irregular military incursion within its territory

The Siona indigenous reservation in Buenavista Putumayo denounced the entry of members of the National Army into their territories for the eradication of coca crops. In turn, he said that this situation is a violation of International Humanitarian Law.

In a statement, the indigenous authority stated that, “the National Army has entered and remained unconsulted for the last two months on several occasions to our ancestral territory, through different parts of the protected territory in the area adjacent to the villages of La Rosa, Seville, Montebello and Lisberia, with the in order to carry out efforts to forcibly eradicate coca crops, but prior consultation has not been ensured”.

As part of the facts they denounce, they assured that the Army has carried out patrolling work and have expressed their refusal to withdraw from the territories, stating that they follow orders from the Minister of Defense.

The reservation assured that in this case, self-government and indigenous autonomy are being ignored, as well as the role of the council and the Indigenous Guard as authorities within the ancestral territory.

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In addition, they said that this situation is not new. “So far this year it is the third irregular military incursion without consultation for eradication, camping and patrolling activities, especially in the Buenavista center area and in Puerto Silencio, and this despite the information provided to them on boundaries and maps, generating serious risks to our territory and community members and a clear violation of our rights”, can be read in the document addressed to President Iván Duque.

According to information provided by the community members, on April 15 of this year three National Army platoons entered the Buenavista Reserve through different points, remaining inside the territory until April 17.

In addition, several community members were threatened by members of the security forces, who removed their badges and identifications, except for one uniformed man who presented himself as Lieutenant Martínez.

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For the community of this reservation, “the facts denounced here not only entail infringements of IHL, but also increase the risks to our life, freedom and integrity and affect the autonomy and exercise of self-determination within the framework of traditional, spiritual and political authority within our ancestral territory and sheltered”.

One of the requests made by the indigenous reservation to the Colombian Government in its communication is that “the operations of forced eradication be stopped and ways of dialogue and consultation with the communities be sought, who express their willingness to open spaces for consultation and, in our particular case, that our right to be consulted before any eradication project”.

Finally, the Siona Buenavista reservation sent a strong message: “We note the responsibility of the Colombian State for failures to protect and guarantee our rights as an Indigenous People, as well as actions that violate our fundamental right to prior, free and informed consultation and consent. We demand compliance with the precautionary measures decreed in our favor by both the Mocoa Land Restitution Court and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.”

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