An August 6 press release issued by Bogota paper 'El Espectador' announced the start of fumigation of coca crops in the Putumayo zone as part of “Operation Onix IV”. This operation is part of a regional plan to eradicate coca plants supported by the U.S government, in cooperation with the governments ofColombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and Brazil. The coca plant is important to the cultures of many indigenous peoples of the region. Coca leaves have nutritive and medicinal value, in addition to the sacred value that the plant has carried since at least the time of the Incas. Many indigenous communities are concerned about the effects the toxic chemicals will have on humans and other crops.
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