Colombia - Edwin Legarda Memorial Event‏

In Cauca department, Colombia, more than 1000 people took part in an event to mark the first anniversary of the death of Edwin Legarda, an indigenous community member who was murdered by the Colombian army on December 16th 2008. Edwin was the husband of indigenous leader Aida Quilcue, who was in the UK in September at the invitation of UNISON Northern and the Northern TUC, in conjunction with the Colombia Solidarity Campaign. The event was supported by West Midlands UNISON, UNISON Northern, and the Gateshead Hospital branch.

Edwin was killed when soldiers ambushed the official car of the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC) in which he was travelling. The army claimed that Edwin had failed to stop at a checkpoint, however investigators have since proved that there was no checkpoint.

It is widely believed that the attack was meant for Aida, ex-leader of the CRIC and the Minga of Social and Communitarian Resistance, a broad-based social movement which attracted worldwide attention with its mass demonstrations in October and November 2008.

Investigators also believe that had Edwin not managed to drive another 3 kilometres from the scene of the attack before succumbing to his injuries then the soldiers were planning to dress his corpse up in guerrilla fatigues and thus substantiate the government’s claims that the indigenous movement and the Minga are ‘terrorist’ organisations.

The event started with a symbolic march from the point where Edwin finally stopped his car to the scene where the attack took place. Upon arriving at the scene of the attack, marchers gathered at the monument which stands in the field from where the soldiers shot to hear speeches and view cultural acts including a traditional dance by Edwin and Aida’s daughter, Mayerly, which she dedicated to her father.

Aida made an emotional speech in which she talked about the pain of losing her husband, and how the pain is increased by the impunity which surrounds the case. The lawyer in the case gave an update on what has happened up until now, and reported that the state is employing the familiar mechanisms in order to ensure impunity in the case. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for mid-January.

Aida sent a message of thanks and solidarity which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZmYpqjE8gw