Numerous Dead After Undetermined Phenomena

RiversEdge · #1 ● 03-23-2019, 10:03 PM

This was listed as an accident, but it almost appears to possibly be storm related. Not sure. Anyone?

Indigenous organizations talk about a "massacre" after an explosion that left eight dead

In a statement they said that "a person allegedly launched an explosive device" in a shelter in Dagua (Valle) against guards who organized the minga that keeps the Pan American highway between Cali and Buenaventura blocked.

A serious denunciation made on Thursday night the "indigenous peoples, social organizations, popular processes of the Colombian southwest" hours after an explosion, whose origin has not been determined, in an indigenous reservation of the municipality of Dagua (Valle del Cauca ) and that left eight people dead, which they called "massacre", and four more serious injuries.

They were indigenous guards, in charge of the logistical adjustment of the delegations that would be added this Thursday to the mobilizations that take 10 days and they are advanced in the Pan-American highway, in the departments of Cauca, Huila and Valle, where the demonstrations block the automotive traffic.

At three in the afternoon, while these organizers rested, the explosion occurred. According to the human rights counselor of the Orivac (Regional Indigenous Organization of Valle del Cauca) "allegedly a person launched an explosive device."

The victims were members of the Waunan, Nasa and Embera people, according to a statement on the website of the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca, Cric.

The events occurred in the sector of the Delfina, on the route to the port of Buenaventura (Valle). This sector would not have been enough space to support 5000 people and that is why they went to another place in the corregimiento of Juntas, indigenous reservation of Papitas, in Dagua.

The Orivac and the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC) and international organizations carry out the verification exercise to identify the bodies and determine the amount of damage caused to materials.

Onic demanded that the national government attend and investigate the events that caused the tragedy in the midst of the mobilization, in addition they ask that the standards be observed in the international framework of human rights, to guarantee the exercise of the fundamental right to protest.

This episode has as antecedent the death of a patrolman of the Esmad of the Police in the sector La Agustina, in the north of Cauca, this Tuesday in confused facts. While the indigenous protesters accuse the uniformed to manipulate explosives, the institution points out to Farc dissidences of an alleged attack

Neither the civilian nor the military authorities have spoken yet about the denunciations. Meanwhile, indigenous and peasants asked that the agreements that have materialized in previous work stoppages be respected.