Source El Pais
Police and indigenous authorities confirmed the murder of two community members of the Tacueyó Indigenous Resguardo, in the middle of an armed attack that took place in the rural area of Toribío, municipality of northern Cauca.
Among the victims is the social leader, and president of the JAC in the village La Laguna, Gladis Rivera Champeño, explained the secretary of municipal government, Mauricio Casso.
« Unfortunately the people of Toribío are in mourning after the murder of the president of the Community Action Board of the town of La Laguna, jurisdiction of the Tacueyó township, » the official explained.
In addition, he said: « Last night, the Indigenous Guard reported that the inhabitants of the area heard gun detonations, but it was already this morning (Wednesday) that they found the corpses of the two community members, among them the of the leader. »
He also denounced the constant threats that circulate, through pamphlets, in the municipality and other localities of the department.
According to the community, the other victim would be his sentimental partner, Henry Ulcué.
The two community members had been shot using long-range firearm weapons and were found next to the road that connects the town of Río Negro with Tacueyó.
For Mauricio Casso, the Indigenous Guard is the only authority that provides security to the inhabitants of this area of Cauca, a situation created by the threats of armed groups that dispute the control of this territory, as evidenced last weekend when it circulated a pamphlet, signed by dissidents of the Farc.
In the letter, the native authorities were urged not to collaborate with the Public Force so as not to be declared military objectives.
« The lady was designated by the same community as president of the Community Action Board, in recognition of her leadership in solving the problems of her population, so she was a leader, » said Lasso.
And he affirmed that « this what it shows is that we are living in an environment of violence where we only defend ourselves as an indigenous organization, through the guard, which is only armed with its staff of command ».