Colombia: Indigenous Minga Scores Initial Deal with Duque Gov't

The Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC), the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) and the Colombian government reached Saturday an interim agreement to lift the road blockade between Cali and Popayan, a decision which will facilitate President Ivan Duque arrival into Valle del Cauca.

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"We want to deliver tranquility... we hope that the Interior Minister will bring good news and the presence of president can be confirmed," Giovani Yule, a "Minga for Defending Life, Territory, Democracy, Justice and Peace" Indigenous spokesman told to local media RCN.

President Duque indicated that the Colombian government and the Minga had reached an agreement, which he did not call preliminary, to transfer about US$250 million to the Indigenous communities.

"We have arrived to a responsible agreement with the Indigenous Minga, which is in line with our fiscal reality," Duque said and specified that "we agreed to allocate 17.5 percent of the US$1.4 billion requested previously by the Cauca's communities."

"A humane Colombia, a resisting Colombia and a Colombia with real opposition, is fighting to defend social leaders, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) and the Indigenous Minga."

For 27 days, the Indigenous and farmer organizations have carried out demonstrations at the departments of Cauca, Nariño, Valle del Cauca and Huila.

Besides demanding that Duque administration complies with some 1,300 agreements reached with previous governments, the Colombian social organizations are requesting the recognition of their rights to their lands as well as the government's compliance with the Havana peace agreements.

According to this new deal, a special commission made up of government representatives and Indigenous peoples leaders would draw up a plan to invest US$250 million in housing, health, production, rural infrastructure, roads and "orange economy" projects.

It is also expected that these resources will be sufficient to finance a "protection unit" to prevent and control the violence at the Cauca region.