Riot police clashed with members of Colombia’s indigenous U’wa tribe Friday, as the U’wa protested plans by Occidental Petroleum to drill for oil on traditional U’wa lands in northeastern Colombia. As many as five children may have fallen into a fast-flowing river and drowned in the aftermath of the clash, according to unconfirmed reports. About 150 riot police flew to the area by helicopter and fired tear gas at the hundreds of protestors, who were blocking a road, and six Indians and two police officers suffered minor injuries in the ensuing melee. Despite the violence, U’wa leaders say they won’t give up the fight to protect land they consider sacred. For weeks, members of the tribe have occupied land where U.S.-based Occidental wants to begin exploratory drilling.
