“Today in the evening, five indigenous guards were killed by alleged members of an organized armed group … in [the municipality of] Tacueyo, Cauca”, the Colombian Army said in a statement on Tuesday.
The army added that it maintained contact with the indigenous community and boosting its presence in the area.
Various indigenous organizations reported about a smaller number of victims, adding that the list of the killed people included a local spiritual leader.
According to the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC), the assailants laid an ambush for a vehicle of the indigenous authorities.
#ATENCIÓN| Se reportan 5 indígenas ASESINADOS en la masacre perpetrada en Tacueyó, Cauca. El gobierno de @IvanDuque es cómplice con su silencio. ¿Hasta cuándo la matanza? #QuePareElGenocidioIndigena. @luiskankui @MinInterior @ONUHumanRights @MAPPOEA @FelicianoValen @Albrunori. pic.twitter.com/acQ8C89YDZ
— Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia - ONIC (@ONIC_Colombia) October 30, 2019
ONIC believes that the attackers may have links to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group, which reached a peace agreement with Bogota in 2016, putting an end to the 52-year-long armed conflict.
