HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS KILLING OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS DEFENDERS

HR/99/20
9 March 1999



High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson today condemned the brutal murder of three indigenous human rights activists in Colombia last week.

The victims -- Ingrid Washinawatok, a member of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin, Lahe'ene'e Gay, a native Hawaiian and Director of Pacific Cultural Conservancy International, and Terence Freitas, of the Uw'a Defense Working Group -- were found on 4 March blindfolded, handcuffed and shot several times through the head. The three had been kidnapped on 25 February while visiting Colombia to support the Uw'a, an indigenous people some 5,000 in number living in the Arauco region of Colombia who are opposed to oil exploitation on their lands. To date no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping or the killings.

The High Commissioner paid tribute to the three and recalled that Ms. Washinawatok was well-known to the international community for her active defence of indigenous rights. Ms. Washinawatok attended the first ever international conference on indigenous rights in 1977, participated regularly in the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations and other forums, and worked tirelessly to promote justice for indigenous peoples around the world.

The High Commissioner expressed her concern that, despite the proclamation by the General Assembly of an International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995 - 2004) aimed at bringing about respect for indigenous cultures, and the growing international consensus on indigenous rights, indigenous rights defenders remained targets of human rights
violations. She called on the authorities of Colombia to fully investigate the murders and bring the perpetrators to justice, and asked her office in Bogota to follow the situation closely.

In a message of condolence to the families of the activists, the High Commissioner recognized the courage and commitment of the three and reaffirmed her Office's determination to protect the human rights of the world's indigenous peoples.