Colombia - indigenous defender murdered in gold mining frenzy

Colombia - indigenous defender murdered in gold mining frenzy
The Ecologist
10th April 2015


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A typical informal gold-mining operation in Colombia's gold
belt. Photo: Josh Rushing via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA).
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An indigenous leader in Colombia's 'gold belt' has been killed by unknown gunmen as tensions grow between indigenous communities and outside gold mining interests, many of them linked to illegal armed groups and the drug trade. At 8pm on Tuesday 7 April, prominent indigenous human rights defender Fernando Salazar Calvo was gunned down brutally outside his home.

A community member of the Resguardo Indígena Cañamomo Lomaprieta (Caldas) in Colombia, 52-year-old Salazar was a long time member of the Resguardo's Ancestral Miners' Association (ASOMICARS). He was also a key spokesperson for implementing the Traditional Authorities' rules and regulations for ancestral mining taking place within the Resguardo Territory.

Community leaders believe that the murder was committed by one of the illegal armed groups operating in the area in connection with gold mining. The Resguardo Territory encompasses rich gold resources which the indigenous communities are trying to secure for their own use, however it is frequently invaded by gold miners seeking to establish claims on their own behalf or for other outside interests.

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This is not the first time that community leaders from the Resguardo have been killed. Previous incidents include the 2003 La Herradura massacre, when the then governor and three other leaders were killed.

More:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2825965/colombia_indigenous_defender_murdered_in_gold_mining_frenzy.html