Incident Summary:

11/24/2001: At least three indigenous people were shot and killed near Rio Sucio, Caldas Department, Colombia. One of the three victims was Luis Angel Charua, the founder of Valbuena's National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (ONIC); he had recently made a plea to the United Nations to play an active role in preventing the extinction of indigenous people caught in the crossfire of the Colombian guerrilla war. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, authorities suspect the involvement of United Self Defense Units of Colombia (AUC).

GTD ID:
200111240007

When:
2001-11-24

Country:
Colombia

Region:
South America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Caldas

City:
Near Rio Sucio

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Indigenous people, including Luis Angel Charua, the founder of Valbuena's National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Colombia (ONIC)
Nationality of Target Colombia
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information One source states that three people were killed at the same location; a second source states that four people were killed at two different locations.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
United Self Defense Units of Colombia (AUC) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 3 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 3
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Rightist gunmen said to kill Colombian India leader," Retuers, November 25, 2001.
"Colombia - violence. Two Indian leaders, two others, murdered in Colombia," EFE News Service, November 25, 2001.