Venezuela: Colombian farmers request asylum
Venezuela: Colombian farmers request asylum
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 By Tamara Pearson, Merida
Fearing state repression, farmers in the Cataumbo region of Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, have formally requested asylum in Venezuela.
Farmers in the Rural Workers’ Association of Catatumbo (Ascamcat) erleased a public letter on June 21 asking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for refuge. They have been protesting and blocking roads since June 10 in response to a campaign to forcefully eradicate coca cultivation in their area. They say they fear military reprisals.
Ascamcat said more than 6000 farmers would continue the road blocks, and would only end them only end the road blocks and protests “on the condition that the (Colombian) government commits to ... declaring a Farmers’ Reserve Zone in Catatumbo and provides an allowance to the victims of the violent eradication of coca crops”. A reserve zone is a protected area under Colombian law.
Ascamcat requested Maduro provide them with “international humanitarian refuge” in Venezuelan territory over fears the Colombian police will evict the farmers. So far four farmers have been killed and over 100 injured in the Catatumbo protests.
More:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54635#sthash.ZIvcM3gU.dpuf