An August 28 press release issued by the Assembly of the Toba Nam Qom Community reports serious abuses committed by the police against the indigenous Nam Qom group of Formosa. The Nam Qom live on a communal property of 87 hectares owned by the Tobas, just 10 km from thecapital of Argentina. They number around 600 families -, roughly 2500 individuals. On August 16 more than 100 armed policemen violently entered the community without a judicial order. The officers claimed they were seeking a group of Indians accused of participating in a confrontation 20 km from Formosa, in which a policeman was killed and another was injured. They allegedly abused children, women and men in the community: “It was a massive attack,” said an indigenous representative. According to the press release, a large number of Toba Nam Qom were taken to a police station, tortured and forced to sign false confessions.
