GENEVA (August 9, 2012) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, urges the Government of Colombia to advance in the process of dialogue recently initiated with indigenous authorities in the north of the Department of Cauca to address the issue of the military presence in Nasa territory and other related issues.
“I encourage the parties to make all their efforts with a view to making progress in this dialogue process. It must be ensured that the process advances in a spirit of good faith and the search for solutions that comply with applicable human rights standards,” said the Special Rapporteur.
Mr. Anaya emphasizes the property rights and autonomy that indigenous peoples have over their traditional territories, and the need, according to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to respect these rights and consult with the authorities. indigenous people before establishing any military presence within their territories.
The dialogue process began after the Nasa authorities and their Indigenous Guard took steps to expel the military troops and an armed group of the FARC that were in the territory. In the previous days, according to the information received, there were clashes between the military and the FARC group, causing several injuries and damage to indigenous properties.
The Special Rapporteur also urges that "the security forces and indigenous authorities act at all times with speed to ensure the right to life and personal security and the right to freedom of association and expression of the inhabitants of indigenous areas."
Sr. Anaya reconoce la complejidad de esta situación, en particular teniendo en cuenta los intereses y la responsabilidad del Estado colombiano en mantener el orden público, así como las demandas legítimas de los pueblos indígenas sobre su seguridad física y respeto a sus propias autoridades e instituciones. Considera, sin embargo, “que es imprescindible tomar las medidas necesarias para revertir los patrones de violencia que afectan a los pueblos indígenas y asegurar que la presencia del ejército no contribuya a generar situaciones que les pongan en peligro”.
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Lea la declaración completa del Relator Especial aquí: http://www.ohchr.org/SP/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12420&…
On March 26, 2008, the UN Human Rights Council appointed James Anaya Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, for an initial period of three years. The Council renewed his term for an additional three years in 2011. Mr. Anaya is the Regents' Professor and the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights at the University of Arizona School of Law (USA). ).
Visit the Special Rapporteur's website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/SRIndigenousPeoples/Pages/SRIPe…
See the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/Declaration.aspx
OHCHR Country Page – Colombia: http://www.ohchr .org/SP/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/COIndex.aspx
For more information or press requests , please contact:
Maia Sophia Campbell (+41 22 917 9314 / mcampbell@ohchr.org ) or write to indigenous@ohchr.org
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