Nasa tribe applies indigenous justice on FARC guerrilla members

Americas Now

One of Colombia’s largest indigenous groups, the Nasa, have had to struggle for decades against interference from both guerrilla and military forces for years.

Located atop the Andes Mountains in the southern part of the country, their territory has been a strategic battlefield in Colombia’s long-running civil war.

Despite the autonomy granted to indigenous tribes and territories by the Colombian constitution, the Nasa people often face marginalization.

As a nonviolent society, the only arms the culture uses are sticks that their “indigenous guards” carry as mere symbols of power.

“We only have our traditional stick, our hearts, and our words”, Jorgelise Ucue, a Nasa leader said.

Americas Now Correspondent Toby Muse traveled to Toribio, Colombia, in the heart of the Nasa territory, where he witnessed an extraordinary moment, as the community gathered to pass justice to a group of leftist FARC guerrilla members who were apprehended by the indigenous guard and killed two members of their community.

Columbian tribe applies indigenous justice on FARC guerrilla members

One of Colombia’s largest indigenous groups, the Nasa, have had to struggle for decades against interference from both guerrilla and military forces for years.