An End to the FARC – The Cure For the Ills of Colombia 's Indigenous Peoples

International human rights organizations and foreign media outlets constantly opine on Colombia 's problems, focusing in particular on the drug trade, kidnappings, displaced persons, murders, attacks on “peace communities” and the like. While such buzz words catch the attention of the ADD-afflicted developed world and make for so-called “good press”, they do little to assist outsiders in learning about Colombia or in assessing the human cost of FARC terrorism and government attempts at modernization.

The peculiar plight of Colombia 's indigenous population is also often discussed by foreign human rights groups and media, but unfortunately their dilemma is typically used as a partisan tool to flagellate the Colombian government and cast a gratuitously negative light on Colombia . That foreign bias is not only unhelpful, but it is completely inaccurate. Trapped in the midst of the war between FARC narco-terrorists and the government and paramilitaries, their cultures and health at risk from airborne defoliants in the US-funded drug war, and viewed as an obstacle to Colombia 's economic development, indigenous tribes deserve closer examination. While at first glance, these indigenous peoples appear to be doomed to death or assimilation, they are far from the ignorant and pathetic victims portrayed by foreigners.

Colombia's indigenous peoples make up 2% of Colombia's overall population, numbering approximately 700,000 to 1 million people, and residing in 27 of Colombia's 32 departments, primarily in the Amazon, Orinoquia, Pacific coast, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Perija Mountains, Guajira Peninsula, and in the Andean range. Despite being so small in number, indigenous peoples constitute almost 8% of the estimated two million people displaced by FARC terrorism and insurgency. In addition, FARC routinely murders indigenous leaders and other citizens who do not cooperate, pay protection money, or are suspected of collaborating with the Colombian government or paramilitaries. The paramilitaries have been accused of committing similar atrocities to those suspected of collaborating with FARC.

Even in relatively peaceful areas where the Colombian government maintains some level of control, traditional ways of life are still in danger of disappearing. For example, as part of Plan Colombia , the Colombian government has initiated a broad program of aerial defoliation that threatens not only to kill cocoa plants of drug smugglers, but which also imperils the health, subsistence farming, and biodiversity of indigenous peoples. In addition, government attempts to allow construction of oil production facilities in or near the lands of indigenous peoples not only jeopardizes these traditional cultures, but also makes them targets of FARC, who see oil facilities as strategic assets to be bombed.

Government Protection

So, what can be done to protect indigenous peoples, and yet still allow the Colombian government to destroy the operations of terrorists and drug smugglers as well as pursue opportunities to provide economic development for its people? Can they be helped? Should they be helped?

The surprising answer – surprising only to those who rely on foolish buzz words in lieu of conducting non-partisan research about Colombia – is that Colombia has already made great strides in protecting and advancing the interests of its indigenous peoples. Colombia maintains one of the most progressive systems of legal protections for the rights of indigenous peoples of any nation in the world. The 1991 Constitution has provided for a full range of territorial, cultural, linguistic, and political legal protections and rights for Colombia 's indigenous peoples, including, for example, coca cultivation for tribal cultural rites and restitution of confiscated land. In fact, through various legal proceedings and lawsuits, indigenous tribes have gained communal title to 28% of the territory of the entire country.

In addition, Colombia has ratified Convention No. 169 of the International Labor Organization which obligates the government, among other things, to protect indigenous peoples against discrimination; consult indigenous peoples on development projects affecting them and conduct impact studies; and protect land rights and traditional occupations. Using the aforementioned legal rights, indigenous groups have aggressively used the Colombian court system with much success to limit aerial spraying and construction of oil production and drilling facilities that endanger their ways of life. Far from being helpless victims, indigenous peoples, when provided with peace and stability, have proudly, and with much legal savvy, defended their rights and heritage within the Colombian justice system. Clearly, a US-style “Indian reservation system” would be both unnecessary and constitute a major step backwards for Colombia 's indigenous peoples.

Conclusion

The issue then, is not whether Colombia 's indigenous peoples have the legal rights necessary to protect their interests – clearly they do. The core problem is – will FARC and the paramilitaries allow them to live long enough to enjoy those rights? Currently, it is difficult if not impossible for the Colombian government to guarantee the safety of indigenous peoples, who typically live in far flung rural regions overrun with FARC and other criminal elements. As with so much that afflicts Colombia, it is FARC and other murderous bands of armed thugs that prevent all Colombians, including indigenous peoples, from the peaceful and prosperous future they deserve. - Jeff Tibbels

Originally published on Colombianblog.com 04/23/06