Colombia: Indigenous governor killed in south

[Judi Lynn]

Indigenous governor killed in south
Source: Missionary International Service News Agency (MISNA)

Date: 19 May 2009


Rober Guachetá, governor of the settlement of the Paez population of Honduras, in the south-western department of Cauca, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen while on his way to a meeting with some community members. According to indigenous authorities of the region, his body was found by police with several gunshot wounds. Guachetá had recently received death threats and, at least on paper, was under special protection under recommendation of also of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights; already in 2007 he was attacked by unidentified gunmen. Just a week ago, another indigenous governor, Luis Manuel Martínez of the Embera Katio population, was killed in the north-west; in December, always in Cauca, the indigenous leader Edwin Legarda was shot dead by government soldiers, for which seven soldiers are under investigation.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SNAA-7S8464?OpenDocument

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Google translation of Univision article:
An indigenous leader assassinated in Colombia

May 18 2009, 09:58 pm ET
BOGOTA, May 18, 2009 (AFP) --

A Colombian indigenous leader who was assassinated by unknown persons intercepted him on his way to a reunion with members of their community, Aboriginal authorities reported Monday.

Rober Guachetá Governor of Honduras Paez indigenous reservation in the municipality of Morales (Cauca department, southwestern) was found by police with multiple impacts of firearm.

The victim had received threats, "said Aida Quilcué, leader of the Cauca Indigenous Regional Council, who announced the death of Guachetá.

Indigenous authorities had already reported in 2007 that Guachetá being threatened by unidentified armed men who broke into a house in their search and the other members of the community.

Last December's husband Quilcué, Edwin Legarda, was killed by soldiers who claimed that the Indian had not made the case for orders to stop at a roadblock near the town of Totoro (Cauca).

Two officers and five soldiers were arrested by the prosecution, as causing the death of Legarda.

http://www.univision.com/contentroot/wirefeeds/world/7953993.html