In recent days, indigenous communities from across Colombia have been staging one of the largest protests seen in recent years. Demonstrations began on October 12, the anniversary of Columbus's "discovery" of the Americas, a date which the country's indigenous groups associate with the dispossession of their ancestral lands. Indigenous communities in Colombia also want to denounce the unlawful deaths of 22 members of the indigenous population this year. Three of these deaths have taken place in the last few days. One protestor was killed and 75 were injured on October 15 when police attempted to put an end to a road blockade in the Cauca region.

These casualties sparked further protests across the country. On October 21, a "march of resistance for the dignity of peoples" set off from the Cauca department heading for the city of Cali. Participants are protesting against the current Colombian administration and are demanding a meeting with President Álvaro Uribe on arrival in Cali.

Following a week of rioting, despite the peaceful nature of the march, and following the deaths of two further members of the indigenous community, Uribe appeared before the press and publicly admitted that state forces had shot at protestors. He claimed the deaths were not related to the shots fired by police, however.

After repeated calls for dialogue from indigenous leaders, Uribe said he would meet with the leader of the march, Daniel Piñacué, on October 26, when protestors are due to arrive in Cali. Piñacué has said he plans to present the president with a five-point agenda. The issues on Piñacué's agenda include government recognition of indigenous rights and reparation for damages suffered; demilitarization of indigenous territories; adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; revision of all state laws violating indigenous and agricultural rights, especially those related to land ownership; and immediate compliance with all previous agreements between government and indigenous organizations.

The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) claims that 1,200 of the indigenous population have been killed in Colombia since Uribe took office in 2002.

Further information:

• Europa Press: Colombia.- Álvaro Uribe y el líder de la marcha indígena se reunirán el domingo para buscar solución al conflicto
• IPS: COLOMBIA: Represión letal a movimiento indígena
• Gáldu.org: COLOMBIA: More Than 30 Hurt in Clashes between Indians and Police
• ONIC: Los cinco puntos de la agenda con Uribe!!