Indigenous group takes over building in Colombia’s capital

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) – A group of indigenous people from the Embera Katio community took over one of the most emblematic buildings in Colombia’s capital. They blocked the entrances and exits of the Avianca Building in downtown Bogota, leaving more than 200 people held inside against their will for hours.

The protesters took the building after the Unit for the Attention and Reparation of Victims — a government body in charge of leading efforts to help the victims of the Colombian armed conflict between the government, guerrilla groups and paramilitary forces — did not meet their demands.

“The protesters started to force their way into the building and we were all very scared they would do something to us,“ said Pedro Olarte, who was trapped inside for about six hours along with hundreds of other people.

“We hid in the building’s basement and people started to faint,” he said.

When the indigenous group refused to let the people out, riot police intervened and clashes erupted, leaving 27 people injured.

“We are protesting against the non-compliance with the May agreements and other agreements. But unfortunately, the order of the mayor’s office was an intervention, violating the rights of the population, of the children, of pregnant women who were there,” said Jairo Montaña, one of the indigenous spokesmen.

Mayor Claudia Lopez repudiated the attack, saying, “Bogota is the only city that has given refuge and humanitarian aid to the Emberas for more than 2 years!”

Lopez said the events were not about social protest but about “unacceptable violence.”