COLOMBIA: Nomads killed, others flee as fighting rages

'We are few now; hardly any Nukak remain. The outsiders are many, and have big houses. They don't care that the Nukak are being wiped out.' Chorebe, Nukak man, Colombia.

Two Indians have been killed and many others forced to flee their homes as one of the Amazon's most reclusive tribes is dragged into Colombia's drugs war. The Nukak- MakË™ have already suffered the devastation of their population by malaria and flu; now their lands have been occupied by coca growers, left-wing paramilitaries and the Colombian army, with the Indians caught in the middle.

Around 50 Nukak have fled their lands in recent months; 35 have taken refuge in the nearest town, and at least another 15 have dispersed to other areas. Some have taken shelter in the lands of a neighbouring tribe, the Guayabero. The Nukak refugees report that two of their number were shot dead after being caught in crossfire during a gun battle.

The Nukak have lived for generations in the deep forest between the InÃŒrida and Guaviare rivers in Colombia's eastern Amazon. Since the 1960s a steady flow of non-Indians have settled inside their territory. In recent years this has become a flood, as the region's climate and remoteness make it ideal for growing coca, the raw material for cocaine.

The presence of so many colonists cultivating coca has attracted the army to the region, who spray the coca plantations with herbicide from the air. Both Colombia's main left-wing guerilla army, the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), and the right-wing paramilitary army, the AUC, now have large numbers of forces in the Nukak' territory. Both groups seek to control the lucrative coca crop, and sometimes force the Indians to work in the coca fields. The Indians have therefore become embroiled in Colombia's quasi-civil war.

The Nukak have suffered occasional massacres at the hands of outsiders before. Two such incidents in 1988 caused a group of Nukak to leave the forest, and come into sustained contact for the first time with non-Indians, in the colonist town of Calamar.

The Indians quickly experienced the epidemics of disease so common to newly-contacted groups. Over 100 of the then 1,000-strong population died. After an international campaign led by Survival, most of the Nukaks' lands was protected in the form of a resguardo - an area of land titled to the Indians.

But subsequent epidemics of malaria and flu have decimated the Nukak population, and there are believed to be only 400 left. Hampered by the chronic violence of this once-quiet part of the Amazon, there is little government medical care available.

The Maku traditionally live in smally family groups, prefer the deep forest to the rivers, and are constantly on the move. In fact, they never stay in one place for more than a few days. As they are so mobile it means that they can have very few possessions, and what they have must be easily portable. At a minute's notice, therefore, they can wrap up their fibre-string hammocks (which are their only real furniture), put their pots and few remaining items in home-made rucksacks, and move on.

The influx of coca-growing colonists and competing armies into the Nukak territory is now having a massively disruptive effect on the Nukaks' lives. Unless all sides agree to suspend their operations in this area and allow medical teams to work there, the effects on the Nukak could be catastrophic.

Survival's action bulletins are issued when a tribe is under threat - and when you can help. Many times since 1969, Survival has shown how focused public support can help to save vulnerable peoples from destruction. By spending a few minutes writing to the addresses below you really can help the Nukak Indians. Every letter makes a difference.

Survival accepts no national government funds and depends on individuals supporters to fund its work. You can, however, receive these bulletins free of charge by post or email.

This action bulletin is also available in French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish - please write for details or extra copies.

Please write a brief and polite letter (in English, or your own language). It is best to send your letter by post as there is no doubt this makes the biggest impact. Alternatively, you can use the fax numbers provided, but please be aware that numbers are often changed, or machines unplugged. Email addresses are given only where there is a realistic chance emails will be read. Please feel free to use the following letter as a guide or write one of your own.

The Nukak Indians are innocent victims of Colombia's drugs war. I urge the authorities to  enter into negotiations with all the parties to the conflict with the objective of excluding the Nukak territory (and that of the neighbouring Guayabero Indians) from any armed operations. The aerial spraying of coca inside the Indians' territory should be suspended, and a proper policy implemented to re-settle the colonists on lands where they can grow legal crops. The Nukak who have been displaced must be helped to return, and offered proper medical care.

Please send your letters to:

His Excellency Alvaro Uribe Velez
President of the Republic
Carrera 8 n. 7-26
Palacio de NariÃ’o,
Santa Fe de Bogot·
Colombia
Fax: +57 1 284 2186 / 286 7434/ 337 5890/  342 0592
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

And if possible, please send a copy to:

Mr Michael Fr¸hling
Office in Colombia of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Calle 114 No. 9-45 Torre B Oficina 1101
Edificio Teleport Business Park
Bogot·, D.C.
Colombia
Fax: +57 1 658 3301/ 629 3637
Email: oacnudh@hchr.org.co