Arauca Department

Arauca is an eastern department of Colombia, with its capital at Arauca. It is in the extreme north of the Orinoco part of Colombia (the Llanos Oriental), bordering Venezuela. It is bordered on the south by the Casanare River and the Meta River, which separate it from the departments of Casanare and Vichada. To the west is the Boyacá Department. The Caño Limón oil fields account for 30% of Colombian oil output.

Indigenous population

The department's indigenous population is at least 3,591 people. Six indigenous peoples are among them with the following populations: U´wa, 1.124 members; Betoyes, 800; Sikuani, 782; Hitnü, 441; Kuiba, 241; Chiricoa, 173 and Piapoco, 30. Twenty six reserves (resguardos) cover an area of 1,281.67 km².

Continued oil exploration and exploitation in the area after the year 2000 resulted in a substantial number of deaths of the local inhabitants at the hands of the military. The indigenous population continues to protest both the seizing of their lands and the deaths.

Municipalities

Map of the Municipalities in Arauca Department

1. Arauca
2. Arauquita
3. Cravo Norte
4. Fortul
5. Puerto Rondón
6. Saravena
7. Tame

References

• Supresión de las Zonas de Rehabilitación by the Association of Campesinos of Arauca, April 30, 2003] in Spanish.
• Indigenous people fleeing paramilitary massacre take over church in Saravena by Regional Consul for the Indigenous People of Arauca, May 14, 2003 in Spanish.
• Continúa la Judicializacion y Muerte a los Dirigentes Sociales de Arauca by Andres Cortes, Jul. 18, 2003 in Spanish.

External links

• Template:Wikitravel
• Mi Pueblo, Arauca

Video

• Documentary 52': Le Sang de la terre
• Mi Pueblo, Antioquia