present Government wastowards theNational Programme fortheDevelopment ofthe Indigen~us Populations (PRODEIN); whatmajorprogress hadbeenmadeinPRODEIN sl.nco\9CO;howthepresent development planaffected theindigenous populations; andwhatchanges hadbeenmadeinPRODEIN. Further information wassoughtonthe scopeandcontent ofthePlanfortheElimination ofAbsolute Poverty andthe Comprehensive RuralDevelopment Plan,showing howfarbothplansenvisaged specific measures fortheindigenous population andtheimportant blackminority. Itwas alsoaskedwhatchanges hadbeenintroduced inthenewlegislation onagrarian reformandspecifically whataspects ofthatlegislation weremorefavourable to theindigenous inhabitants, especially withregardtoreservations andother possi~le formsofruralproperty. Members alsowishedtoknowhowthelackof adequate resourCAS affected theindigenous policyofgovernment, andwhatthe difference wasbetween then'Jtions of"indigenous reservations" and"protected zones". Withreference totheincidents thathadtakenplaceon24March, 14April and15May1987intheChocoregion, inwhichpoliceforces andIndians were involverl, information ontheworkofthegovernmental commission wasrequested. It wasalsoaskedwhatresources wouldbamadeavailable bytheGovernment toenable theindigenous population topreserve thenatural resources ofthetropical forests. 254.Withregardtoarticle 3oftheConvention, members notedwithsatisfaction thatColombia hadno~iplomatic relations withSouthAfrica, butaskedwhetherit maintained consular andtraderelations withthatcountry. 255.Withreference toarticle 4oftheConvention, itwasnotedthatColombia had notadopted themeasures referred tounderarticle 4(a),anditwassuggested that Colombia shouldconsider modifying itsPenalCodeanditsCodeofCriminal Procedure soastoimplement fullyprovisions contained inarticle 4, paragraphs (a)and(b),oftheConvention. 256.Asfortheimplementation ofarticle 5oftheConvention, further information wasrequired ontheextenttowhichallcitizens hadthepossibility ofenjoying therightsspelled outtherein inpra~tice; moreinformation wassought onthe enjoyment ofpolitical andcultural rightsbytheindigenous peoples andother minority ethnicgroups, withcomparative figures fordifferent groupsregarding education, percapita income, housing, availability ofthemedical carefacilities andrepresentation. Thequestion wasalsoraisedofwhether indigenous Colombians, whospokeonlydialects, couldalsovotewithout havingtositalanguage testin Spanish. Clarifications wererequested concerning theprojects beingcarried out bytheGovernment toprovide theindigenous population withprofessional skills, whattheGovernment haddonetoassistindigenous children togainaccessto secondary education andwhether ascholarship programme forindigenous Colombians existed. 257.Withreference toarticle 6oftheConvention, members askedwhether the OfficeofthsAttorney-General couldbringthecasesinvolving racial discrimination tocourt; howmanyoffices ofthePublic Defence Service hadbeen created sincetheestablishment ofthatService; andwhatthefunctions wereofthe Presidential Adviser ontheDefence, Protdction andPromotion ofHumanRights. Additional information wasalsorequested onthefunctioning ofthespecial office (Ul-indigenous affairs. -52- r~ ...oI!_"'-_~_~ .._wastotransform thereservations stepbystepinto"protected areas"overwhich theindigenous populations enjoyed agenuinetitleofcollective ownership thatwas moreinkeeping withtheirtraditions. Concerning theprotection ofdisadvantaged populations andmeansofensuring suchprotection, whenachoicehadtobemade between paternalism andautonomy, therepresentative saidthattheproblem was commontoallcountries withindigenous populations, Colombia beingnoexception. Afterproviding ahistorical outline oftheproblem, therepre.lentative saidthat atthemomentitwasnecessary toreachacompromise inpractice guaranteeing both theadvancement oftheindigenous communities andthepreservation oftheir cultural identity. Concerning theincidents thathadtakenplaceintheChoco region, theinformation requested wouldbeprovided inColombi; snextperiodic report. 263.Turning totheapplication ofarticle 3oftheConvention, therepresentative
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the issues and policies related to indigenous populations, cultural identity, and human rights in Colombia. It discusses the government's initiatives, legislation, and commissions aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous communities, as well as the challenges they face. The text also touches on topics such as education, healthcare, and economic development.

**Category**
Economic development, Culture, Humanitarian aid and relief