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JUNE 18, 2001

More than 1,000 Indians throughout Colombia have traveled to Tierralta to search for Kimy Pernia Domico, an indigenous rights activist who was abducted earlier this month.

Kimy Pernia Domico is a leader from the Embera Katio Tribe in southwestern Columbia. He was abducted June 2, presumably by the right-wing paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).

Columbia's indigenous are caught in the middle of the nation's civil war. Guerilla groups covet their 50 million acres of land, much of which contain vast natural resources.

A guerilla group in March 1999 killed three Indian activists from the United States. No one has been brought to justice for the deaths of Terence Freitas, Lahe'ena'e Gay, and Ingrid Washinawatok.

Get the Story:
Colombian Indians Resist an Encroaching War (The Washington Post 6/18)
Indians turn search for missing leader into plea against Colombia's violent (AP 6/18)

Relevant Links:
In Memory, Ingrid Washinawatok - http://numa.niti.org/news
Friends & Relatives of the People, Ingrid Washinawatok, Terence Freitas and Lahe'ena'e Gay - http://www.ienearth.org/colombia.html

Related Stories:
Indian rights activist abducted (6/4)
Tribes threatened in Colombia (5/14)
US won't observe human rights fight (2/28)
US criticizes indigenous rights worldwide (2/27)