Nasa spiritual leader shot dead at point blank range

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A 74-year-old Nasa Indian leader has been shot dead following protests against the militarization of his land in Cauca, south-west Colombia.

Lisandro Tenorio, a traditional healer, was at home with his family when two unidentified men arrived, shook his hand, and shot him three times in the head.

The Nasa made international headlines last month when they forcibly expelled soldiers from a military base on their land.

Illegal armed guerrillas of Colombia’s rebel group, the FARC, were also confronted by the Nasa and ordered to leave their territory within days.

Colombia’s army have been battling with the rebels for decades, with the Nasa caught in the violent crossfire.

According to Lisandro’s family, he had been repeatedly threatened by the FARC, who have been blamed for his death.

Survival has been campaigning against violence in Cauca since 1974, and has supported its regional Indigenous organization CRIC.

Yesterday, CRIC released a statement that said, ‘Members of the FARC, stop your war. Our people are tired of so much humiliation and accusation. To kill an Indigenous traditional healer is to put an end to the knowledge, soul, and wisdom of a people’.