898 indigenous people who fled after the murder of a social leader in Bahía Solano ask for government help

The Institute of Studies for the Development of Peace of Colombia (Indepaz) reported on December 3 that the recognized indigenous leader of the El Brazo and Bacuru Purru communities, Miguel Tapí Rito, was assassinated in the municipality of Bahía Solano, in the department of Chocó., to the west of the country.

According to Indepaz sources, Miguel Tapí Rito was approached and taken by force by armed men in the Río Valle area, who later cut his throat and left his body in a neighboring sector.

Tapí was recognized in his community as one of the most important spokesmen in the area where he also served as governor of the reservations of the Bacuru Purru and El Brazo communities.

The Ombudsman’s Office warned about the presence of armed groups in the region on December 4 and also noted that it had already been warned about the risk that the community was running:

“Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, alerts the authorities that yesterday at approximately 8 am the incursion of an illegal armed actor, apparently the AGC, in the indigenous community of Bacurú Purrú, Río Valle and Boroboro reservation in the municipality of Bahía Solano ”was the statement issued by the Twitter account of the Ombudsman’s Office.

Later, The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office reported on December 5 on the displacement of 195 families and a total of 906 people, who headed towards the township of Valley. According to the Mayor’s Office, of these people, more than 200 would be minors,

“The indigenous communities of El Brazo, Posamanza, Boro Boro and Bacurú Purrú have been displaced. We are making a call to all national organizations to be linked with humanitarian aid to care for children, who in large numbers are in this district “, explained the mayor of the municipality, Úlmer Mosquera Gutiérrez, in statements collected by the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.

The mayor pointed out that it is important that this population return to their places of origin, since the municipality does not have the resources to care for these people.

“We need food. Initially, the administration will contribute with the feeding initially, but our resources are not enough to guarantee the right to food that these people have“he explained.

The situation of displaced families

In El Valle, 906 indigenous people who demand institutional care that allows them to solve the humanitarian emergency they are going through.

“Humanitarian aid is required for these communities as well as social investment in productive projects. Food is required for more than 900 indigenous people “, assured on Blu Radio, Carlos Mario Cardona, representative of the municipality.

For his part, the mayor of Bahía Solano announced in the newspaper El Colombiano that by Monday they would not have the resources to attend to displaced families, so the attention is urgent.

“The municipal administration is supplying him with food from Friday to Sunday, but after Monday there is no possibility of feeding them, we do not have the resources to attend an emergency of that magnitude. They also lack mats, they are practically sleeping on the floor ”, Mosquera pointed out.

The village of El Valle is located 30 minutes from the urban area of ​​Bahía Solano, where on December 6 the affected community is being served by the Ombudsman’s Office, the municipality’s legal authority and the Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor’s Office of Bahía Solano reported that after a virtual meeting of the Government, the Ministry of the Interior, the Victims Unit and the Fupad Foundation, “It was possible to commit contributions for the feeding of these families in the coming days, while they are able to transport items such as mats, blankets and toilet”.

In turn, he assured that, “Representatives of indigenous communities stated that they need a security guarantee to return”Meanwhile, “it was determined that there will be an accompaniment by different civil and military authorities of the municipality.”

The entity also announced that a commission led by the mayor, the Navy and the Public Ministry will be present in the area to verify the necessary conditions that allow the return of these families.

On the other hand, The National Navy reported that troops from the 23rd Marine Infantry Battalion carry out offensive operations in conjunction with units of the Aeronaval Group, who perform overflights in the area.

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