Some 170 Embera-Katio Indians from a northeastern Colombia rainforest have been camped out since Dec. 17 on the grounds of the Colombian Environment Ministry in Bogota, protesting a massive hydroelectric project that is destroying their homes and way of life. About 2,400 Emberas live in stilted huts along the banks of the Sinu River and have traditionally depended on a migratory river fish as their main food source. One faction of the Embera community reached a settlement last year with the state-owned company building the dam, but another group claiming to represent a majority of the tribe is demanding more land than the company offered and a percentage of the company’s revenue. Since the tribe started fighting the project, right-wing paramilitary groups have gunned down six Emberas, including their spiritual chief, and threatened many others.
