Source Kaos en la Red

The National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), denounced through a press release the murder of the indigenous leader Sáliba Arnulfo Catimay Blanca, « by a member of the national police » in the Municipality of Santa Rosalía, Vichada. The events occurred after an altercation between third parties on Tuesday, June 19.

Aida Quilcué Vivas, Counselor for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Peace of the ONIC indicated that Sáliba, was the brother of the governor of Caño Mochuelo and both the Governor and his family have identified the Police as responsible.

For its part, in the press release, the ONIC states that the community has not allowed the leader’s body to be transferred to the local hospital of Santa Rosalía because for the authorities of the guard there is no “guarantee of the chain of custody”.

Finally, the ONIC requests that individual rights and the due process guarantee be respected. For this reason they expect « the National Police to refrain from any action that alters the evidence ».