Italian environmentalists have thrown their support behind Colombia's U'wa Indians in their fight against oil giant Occidental Petroleum in ''defense of their territory and their culture.'' ''The cause of the U'was is an example of dignity, which deserves the support of the international community. We will pressure the European Parliament,'' affirmed the activists, led by Grazia Francescote, president of the Italian Federation of the Greens, as they concluded a visit to Colombia in late January.

The U'wa oppose the oil exploitation at the Gibraltar well that began last November in the northeastern Samoré Bloc, an area the indigenous peoples claim as their territory.