Inter-American Commission on Human Rights meets with Colombia's Indigenous amid national strike

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - JUNE 10: Members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) met with people from the Misak indigenous group on Thursday (June 10) to know their positions towards protests and social turmoil in Bogota, Colombia. Since April 28, Colombia holds a massive national strike to protest against a tax reform proposed by the government. Before the meeting, Misak indigenous group chanted slogans on the streets. A member of Humanitarian Space 'Al calor de la Olla accused the country’s riot squad (ESMAD) of torturing people and illegally detained them. Since April, massive anti-government protests have resulted in the deaths of 58 people the country's human rights ombudsman said on Monday (June 7). During the ongoing protests, the city of Cali has become the epicenter of police brutality and repression. Indigenous peoples have also been the target of racist violence in the city that has the second-largest urban Afro-descendant population in Latin America. A coalition of Indigenous groups “Minga Indígena” in Colombia marched into the city, armed civilians blocked their entrance and shot at them. Twelve Indigenous people were injured, including Daniela Soto, a well-known Indigenous leader. Instead of condemning the attack, President Ivan Duque requested that the Indigenous Minga leave the city and return to their territory to avoid “unnecessary confrontations.”(Footage by Juan David Moreno Gallego/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)