Indigenous block the Pan -American Way between Risaralda and Chocó

Since Tuesday, the Pan -American route that connects to the departments of Risaralda and Chocó remains completely blocked by indigenous communities settled in strategic sectors such as Gold and Guide Playa, in the department of Chocó.

The action, which has paralyzed one of the most relevant road corridors of the Colombian West, It was taken as a pressure measure to what the protesters denounce as repeated breaches by the Government of Chocó to previously established commitments.

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Néstor Cardona, spokesman for the Official Body of Pueblo Rico (Risaralda), confirmed that The transporter guild was the first to alert about the displacement of communities Towards these key road points.

According to Cardona, “indigenous communities are being displaced and there is already settlement in the sectors of Gold and Guide Playa, belonging to the department of Chocó. The communiqués say that it is for the issues of claiming some agreements not complied with by the Government of the Department of Chocó. Therefore, they decided to take the ways in fact and blocked this road section. ”

The blocked via is fundamental, not only for vehicular traffic between the departmental capitals of Pereira and Quibdó, but also for the transport of goods, medical supplies and access to essential services for rural communities of difficult access.

The closure of this road section represents a strong impact for the regional economyas well as a serious affectation in the mobility of people who depend on this reel for their daily subsistence.

So far, Neither the Government of the Chocó nor entities of the National Government have issued an official pronouncement against the protest or to the advancement of dialogues with indigenous leaders. The absence of responses has generated concern among transporters, inhabitants of the area and productive sectors that use this route as the only connection alternative between the Andean region and the Pacific coast.

Meanwhile, It is expected that dialogue tables will be installed in the next few hours that allow progress in a concerted solution that unlocks the road and meets the legitimate demands of indigenous communities, many of which have historically denounced state abandonment and the lack of compliance with commitments agreed in previous concertación tables.

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The development of this protest occurs in a broader context of indigenous mobilizations in different regions of the country, where claims for territorial guarantees, access to basic services and respect for cultural autonomy remain without clear responses by the authorities.