The doors opened in Monte Sion, Kankuamos returned to their territory

After almost a month of conflicts and agreements, finally the leaders of the Kankuamo and Arhuaco indigenous peoples, settled in the Sierra Nevada Heart of the world, managed to restore their brotherhood ties and allowed the return of the families displaced to the community of Minakamena, Los Laureles, Rural area of ​​Valledupar.

As will be remembered, at the end of April, a territorial dispute between the indigenous communities Kankuama and Arhuaca resulted in a serious confrontation in the Monte Sion sector, north of Valledupar, where several injured people and at least one hundred displaced persons were reported.

Both communities claim as theirs the Monte Sion property, located in a strategic area of ​​the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Kankuamos claim to have an ancestral and legal roots on the territory, while the Arhuacos claim that the area is part of an extension of their traditional protection.

Since then, a dialogue table that ended in positive agreements for both communities began. Yesterday there were contacts with the Arhuaca authorities and the return process to the community began.

In the access gate there was a final meeting prior to the entrance, in which agreements were closed and under safety guarantees and the restoration of the rights of the affected families that claimed to return to their site of origin were closed.

Jaime Arias, leader of the Kankuamo people, reiterated that they trust compliance with the established agreements and respect for the human rights of the members of this population. “It was an agreement between indigenous authorities, between brothers and allies of Mother Earth. We hope to achieve coexistence, principles of voluntariness, dignity and security.”

Through a statement, the Kankuamo people said: “We call on the Arhuaco people to fulfill the agreed commitments; also, to state agencies, indigenous organizations, human rights defenders and international observers to accompany this process in conditions of respect, security and dignity for peoples.”

Meanwhile, leaders of the Arhuaco people have expressed the commitment to comply with the agreements achieved with their Kankuamos brothers in the framework of the own justice system without institutional interference, without detriment that the agreements achieved imply specific commitments by an institution.

They insist that the dialogue is the only way of solution between the authorities, the hands of the Arhuaco and Kankuamo people directly or within the framework of the Territorial Council of Cabildos.

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