Colombia peace talks rattled by indigenous leader's death
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Colombia's largest remaining rebel group has acknowledged its role in the death of an indigenous leader in violation of a month-old cease-fire, raising tensions in peace talks with the government that are already mired in doubt.
President Juan Manuel Santos' government on Monday condemned the killing of Aulio Isarama and demanded the National Liberation Army provide information to lead to the arrest of those responsible. It also called on the group known as the ELN to take concrete steps to guarantee such incidents aren't repeated.
Isarama, a member of the Embera people, was killed last week on the reservation in the western state of Choco, where he was governor. He was the 11th indigenous leader slain this year in Colombia, according to human rights groups.
The ELN's western front said in a statement that it had detained Isarama for allegedly being an informant for military intelligence. It said his death occurred after he physically assaulted one of the ELN rebels who had been escorting him to where he was to be interrogated.
