More than 800 indigenous people living in precarious conditions in plastic tents in the National Park Bogota For almost a year, they began preparing their return to their territories, which they left due to the armed conflict and violence.
“We started this operation because return is a fundamental right and it has to be done with guarantees,” the director of the Victims Unit, Lilia Solano, told the media on Friday.
Indigenous people of Bogotá
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The Victims Unit has led negotiations with the three Embera indigenous communities residing in the park, which total 325 households.
The families, more than half of whom are children, will say goodbye today to the park where they have lived since their return in October of last year. They will pack their belongings in tarps and on Sunday night they will begin the journey to the territories in Chocó and Risaralda.
In some cases, these are ancestral places where they have not lived for decades, since armed groups, violence and poverty forced them to abandon them.
#indigenous #people #Bogotá #return #territories #months #settlement
2024-09-06 22:07:35
Colombian indigenous tribes map
Indigenous People of Bogotá Return to Their Territories After Months of Displacement
For almost a year, over 800 indigenous people have been living in precarious conditions in plastic tents in Bogotá’s National Park. The armed conflict and violence forced them to leave their ancestral territories, seeking refuge in the capital city. However, after months of negotiations and preparations, these indigenous communities are finally returning to their lands in Chocó and Risaralda.
According to the Victims Unit, 325 households from three Embera indigenous communities residing in the park will be relocated to their territories of origin. This move marks a significant step towards reclaiming their ancestral lands and rebuilding their lives. As Lilia Solano, the director of the Victims Unit, stated, “We started this operation because return is a fundamental right and it has to be done with guarantees” [[1]].
The return of these indigenous communities is a testament to the Colombian government’s efforts to address the displacement crisis. In recent years, Colombia has made significant strides in promoting the rights of indigenous peoples andrestoring their lands. For instance, the Wounaan Nonam community successfully returned to their territory near the Pacific coast last December, accompanied by land restitution authorities [[1]].
The indigenous occupation of Bogotá’s National Park, which began in September 2021, highlighted the plight of conflict-displaced communities in Colombia [[3]]. The occupation ended in May 2022, after the district administration reached a deal with indigenous representatives to abandon the historic landmark and city’s largest public park [[2]].
As the indigenous people of Bogotá prepare to return to their territories, they carry with them the hope of rebuilding their lives and reconnecting with their ancestral lands. This momentous occasion marks a significant step towards healing and reconciliation, and serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of Colombia’s indigenous communities.
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Colombian indigenous tribes map
Indigenous People of Bogotá Return to Their Territories After Months of Displacement
For almost a year, over 800 indigenous people have been living in precarious conditions in plastic tents in Bogotá’s National Park. The armed conflict and violence forced them to leave their ancestral territories, seeking refuge in the capital city. However, after months of negotiations and preparations, these indigenous communities are finally returning to their lands in Chocó and Risaralda.
According to the Victims Unit, 325 households from three Embera indigenous communities residing in the park will be relocated to their territories of origin. This move marks a significant step towards reclaiming their ancestral lands and rebuilding their lives. As Lilia Solano, the director of the Victims Unit, stated, “We started this operation because return is a fundamental right and it has to be done with guarantees” [[1]].
The return of these indigenous communities is a testament to the Colombian government
