A November 4 World Bank and International Finance Corporation report, Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs, ranked Colombia as the 39th most “business friendly environment” in the world.

Colombia’s “Doing Business” score, which measures how much the country has improved for business, showed Colombia as the best improving economy in the region.

Missing from the report were the more than 500 unionists killed in Colombia over the past eight years, making up 60% of all unionists killed globally.

Also missing were the 38,255 people that have “disappeared” in the last three years, many of them union and community leaders.

The report doesn’t mention the 7500 political prisoners in Colombian jails or the more than 4.5 million internally displaced people within its borders — the largest number for any country in the world.

These are just some of the results of the policies of state terrorism carried out by successive Colombian governments, backed by Washington, that unionists confront every day.

One such unionist is Parmenio Poveda from the National Unified Agricultural Trade Union Federation, Fensuagro, who visited several unions in Sydney recently.

With 80,000 members, Fensuagro is the largest peasant and farm workers’ union federation in Colombia.

Fensuagro has organised plantation workers, small landowners, landless peasants, internally displaced people and small coca growers since 1976.

Fensuagro has been hard-hit by Colombian state repression. More than 1500 of its members have been assassinated since it was set up.

Many unionists and solidarity activists in Australia know Poveda’s union because of past visits by Fensuagro leader Liliany Obando. Obando is in prison two years after being arrested, despite military authorities admitting evidence used to convict her was fraudulent.

Poveda spoke to Green Left Weekly about the political situation today in Colombia.

“We have to understand that the Colombian oligarchy, historically, is the most repressive and reactionary oligarchy in the region”, Poveda said. He said this was why Colombia was bucking the continental trend towards electing left-wing and progressive governments.

He recalled the massacre of more than 5000 leaders and members of the Patriotic Union (UP), a left-wing party created in the wake of peace negotiations between the Belisario Betancur government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in 1985.

Seeing the growing sympathy for the UP, which won five senators and 14 deputies in the 1986 elections, the Colombian government adopted a scorched-earth policy, which was carried out by the armed forces and paramilitaries in areas with strong UP support.

“I believe that if this massacre had not occurred, Colombia would have been the first country, of course after Cuba, to join this wave of progressive governments that have come to power through elections.”

Instead, unionists continue to face the wrath of state terrorist policies and paramilitaries. Each day new atrocities are committed.

Every day of his Australian tour, Poveda read his email to tell people about the latest crimes carried out against unionists and their families.

One example was the assassination of a leader of the mining and energy union who was negotiating a new contract with US mining company Drummond. After leaving his home early on October 26, William Tafur’s body was found two days later in an open grave with bullet holes in his head.

On November 4, former Colombian president, Alvaro Uribe was subpoenaed to testify in a civil case against Drummond for the company’s ties to paramilitary death squads.

A former paramilitary testified on November 10 that Drummond had congratulated members of a paramilitary organisation for killing two labour rights activists, who worked for the Colombian branch of the company.

Poveda told Australian union leaders that several children in the department of Arauco (youngest aged six) were kidnapped, tortured, raped and then killed in early October by members of the Colombian armed forces.

Such stories were common, Poveda said. The difference this time was that this story was covered by a corporate media that generally ignored the countless more such cases.

“Despite all the media hype, this is continuing to happen under the Santos government”, Proveda said. “The only thing that has changed is the tactic: [President Juan Manuel] Santos is attempting to present himself as someone open to dialogue and negotiation.

“Meanwhile, the assassinations continue.”

Santos has tried to present himself as something new by selecting a former Communist Party member and leader of the United Workers Central (CUT) as his vice president.

Moreover, the General Confederation of Workers (CGT) has said it was willing to work hand-in-hand with the new government.

“Clearly, this is a case of Santos finding people who have sold out or are willing to be bought out in order to present his government as something new.

“The problem is that this creates confusion among the less political sections who look and see former union leaders in the government and say ‘maybe change is possible with workers in the government.’

“However, beyond the words, the actions speak for themselves. A recent report showed that 22 unionists had been assassinated in the first 75 days of the Santos government.

“We are seeing not only the continuation but also the internationalisation of the previous Uribe government policy of criminalisation of social dissent by attempting to smear anyone who opposes the government as linked to the FARC.

“Since the 2008 bombing of the FARC camp in Ecuador, [which killed] FARC leader Raul Reyes, the Colombian government has used the laptops it supposedly found to spit out documents linking any union leaders it dislikes to the FARC.

“These magical laptops, which I have said several times are incredible given they can survive the bombardment of the camp, have been so useful to the Colombian government that, more recently, when they killed another FARC leader, Mono Jojoy, they said they found over 20 laptops and a similar number of hard drives!”

Poveda said the government is using this to target any social activist it wants. But the Santos government has taken this one step further by calling for Chilean Communist Party member Manuel Olate to be extradited to Colombia on the basis of supposed documents from Reyes’ laptops.

“What we have here is an attempt to internationalise the criminalisation of those willing to speak out against the Colombian state and campaign for peace.”

For this reason, he called for solidarity with the campaign to free Olate.

Poveda was sceptical about possibilities in the short to medium term for real political change in Colombia, saying there was no real alternative political force.

“Many of us had high hopes for the Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA), which brought together different left and progressive parties and individuals and came second in the 2006 elections with 2.6 million votes”, Proveda said.

“It seems as though the right wing and imperialism have been working from within to undermine the Pole.” He pointed to the preselection campaign for PDA presidential candidate earlier this year, where Gustavo Petro defeated Carlos Gaviria, the 2006 candidate.

“In a country where the left has never had money to run campaigns, Petro received funding from somewhere to produce a newspaper for his preselection campaign and pay people to go door-knocking.”

After winning preselection, Petro immediately stated his willingness to continue to implement Uribe’s policy of “Democratic Security” — code for crushing guerrillas and repressing dissenting voices by linking them to the FARC.

This time around, the PDA dropped to less than half its 2006 vote because many felt it was not a real alternative.

Instead, the Greens got the votes of those disenchanted with the status quo.

“The Greens are made up of old politicians from the right, from the centre and from the left, who have been recycled and represented in the new guise of the Greens.

“Therefore they also represent no alternative.”

Fensuagro has continued to organise in the countryside, putting on workshops about human rights and community, and union organising for members and non-members.

They have also placed emphasis on agroecology and food sovereignty to small farmers.

“This is to break our dependency on multinationals such as Monsanto who are always trying to force peasants to use genetically modified seeds and agro toxins.”

Fensuagro promotes an agroecological alternative “because it is better for the soil, it is cheaper for farmers to produce and it produces healthier food for everyone.”

Fensuagro has produced an agroecology handbook, which is available at www.fensuagro.org.

“But these projects, and our ability to organise, depend on international solidarity.”

Fensuagro receives financial support from some NGOs and solidarity organisations. But more important is the work of condemning the Colombian government at an international level.

“Each time the Colombian government is condemned on the international stage, a bit more breathing space is opened up for us as union and social movements.

“The government is very conscious of trying to defend its image on the international scale.

“Due to the condemnation of human rights abuses, the US government felt pressured to not sign a free trade agreement with Colombia.” The union and peasant movement rejected the agreement because of the devastating impact it would have on the poor majority in Colombia.

Poveda also extended an invitation to the Australian union movement to send a delegation to Colombia to see the human rights abuses for themselves.

Poveda is back in Colombia now and, like many other union leaders, will be high on the interest list of the Colombian government.

We must ensure Poveda, and others like him, don’t join the more than 27,000 unionists assassinated in Colombia since 1986 by doing all we can to fight for peace and justice in Colombia.

Interview with FENSUAGRO union leader from Colombia, Parmenio Poveda.

http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_11.html
http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post_2061.html
http://latinamericasocialforum.blogspot.com/2010/11/colombia-hoy-3.html

The visit of Parmenio has been very valuable in raising the serious situation faced by unionists, indigenous, human rights defenders and the people in general in Colombia today. He informed all those he met that the assassination and oppression of trade unionists and human rights activists continues today, in contrast to the views of the mass media and the apologists for the regime that kills more trade unionists than any other country.

Parmenio was able to meet with many unions, politicians and other organisations in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in what was a very successful visit.

Once again we wish to thank everyone for make this possible and we call to show your solidarity with the Colombian people in their struggle for peace with social justice.

Peace and Justice from Colombia

Related articles:

Union solidarity with besieged Colombian workers

Union solidarity with besieged Colombian workers
http://www.mua.org.au/news/union-solidarity-with-colombian-workers-under-seig/

Colombian unionist calls for solidarity
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45987

PARMENIO POVEDA SALAZAR, representative of FENSUAGRO (the National Unitarian Federation of Agrarian Unions), affiliated to the United Workers’ Central (CUT) of Colombia and the World Trade Union Congress.

Plus reportback from Peace & Justice for Colombia (Sydney) coordinator, Elizabeth Rivera, on her recent trip to Colombia where she met with political prisoner Liliany Obando.

Thursday 4 November, 6.30 pm
Resistance Centre
23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale
Organised by Peace and Justice for Colombia (Sydney)
& Latin America Social Forum
For more info email: lasfsydney@gmail.com
Telephones: 0402 608 265 or 0425 324 621

FENSUAGRO is the largest peasant and farm workers’ union federation in Colombia. It organises plantation workers, small landowners, landless peasants, internally displaced people and small coca growers.

For organising Colombia’s workers and peasants and for voicing their demands, FENSUAGRO has been targeted by the Colombian state. Members have been imprisoned, murdered, threatened by paramilitaries, and its leaders displaced in the national territory. More than 1,500 FENSUAGRO members have been assassinated in its 32 years of existence.

FENSUAGRO campaigns around several demands on the Colombian government, including an inclusive agricultural policy, base on a new economic and development model for the rural centres; for a democratic, comprehensive and radical land reform capable of destroying the landowner project; for an organic and sustainable agriculture; an end to political persecution of political and social movements;  a negotiated political settlement to the social, economic and armed conflict and to the end to US intervention in the Colombian conflict.

Come and hear from visiting Colombian trade unionist, Parmenio Poveda from the Colombian National Unitarian Federation of Agriculture Unions- FENSUAGRO who is currently touring Australia speak about the situation of unionists in Colombia and their fight for  peace and justice.

On Liliany Obando

On August 8^th 2010 Liliany Obando will have been imprisoned by the Colombian Government for two years. Liliany has been brought to court several times, but in most cases the authorities have applied successfully to postpone the hearing, while they seek further “evidence”.

On Wednesday 4^th August Ronald Coy Ortiz, the police captain, who oversaw the initial investigation against Liliany, admitted in court that he tampered the information contained in computers allegedly belonging to Commandant Raúl Reyes, before he turned it over to the international police agency, INTERPOL. With this confession the evidence against Liliany has been discredited and she cannot be charged based on the illegally obtained and tempered evidence.

Liliany Obando is well known to Australians. She has visited Australia twice as part of her work for the Federation of United National Agricultural workers unions (FENSUAGRO), and while here she met many politicians, unions and social organisations. Liliany spoke of  the continuing oppression of workers and their organisations in her country, and the need for international solidarity.

Peace and Justice for Colombia is asking all supporters to write letters of protest to the Colombian authorities, demanding her release and the end to this gross miscarriage of justice. Two years without a proper trial is unacceptable in any country that claims to be democratic. The obvious conclusion is that there is no real evidence, and that the Colombian authorities continue their repressive actions to silence any critics of the regime. Over 80% of the unionists killed worldwide in 2009 were killed in Colombia.

Public Forum

Thursday 28 October at 6.30 pm

New International Bookshop

Victorian Trades Hall

Lygon cnr Victoria Streets, Melbourne

FENSUAGRO is the largest peasant and farm workers’ union federation in Colombia. It organises plantation workers, small landowners, landless peasants, internally displaced people and small coca growers.

For organising Colombia’s workers and peasants and for voicing their demands, FENSUAGRO has been targeted by the Colombian state. Members have been imprisoned, murdered, threatened by paramilitaries, and its leaders displaced in the national territory. More than 1,500 FENSUAGRO members have been assassinated in its 32 years of existence.

Organised by Peace and Justice for Colombia

For more info, email: pjfcolombia@gmail.com

Telephones:

0407 500 839 or 04302 422 586

The denunciation of the CUT (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores) stated that the killing of German Restrepo adds to a long list of fallen union spokespeople in the horrible violent tragedy that exists in Colombia. A total of 547 Colombian unionists have been assassinated in this country in the last 8 years, 32 of them in 2010.

The President of the union organisation Tarsicio Mora said that the majority of these crimes continue without being investigated, and they sought to accelerate the judicial process.

The CUT attributes the majority of the killings to a campaign of extermination against the Colombian union leadership, and in their judgement promotes ultra right paramilitaries in various zones of this Andean country.

Medellin is a city noted for the collapse of the politics of democratic security, the high incidence of urban violence, the continuing presence of of criminal bands, and the actions of paramilitaries in the service of narcotraffickers.

Santiago de Cali, 8th April 2010

Eight miners were murdered by armed men travelling in two vehicles and a motor bike. The killings occurred in a place known as “Alto de Ovejas”, a rural zone in the municipality of Suárez, department of Cauca, southern Colombia. The place where the massacre occurred is the upper part of the Ovejas river. It can be reached by a one and a half hour journey on foot.

We, the undersigned organizations, have warned of the serious situation caused by the social and armed conflict which the municipalities in the Northwest of Cauca are experiencing, especially in the Municipalities of Suarez, Morales and Buenos Aires. We urgently demand an explanation from the National Government as to why, despite numerous demands for protection for communities in the zone and despite the large numbers of military and police contingents deployed in the areas, the perpetrators of this massacre were completely free to enter the territory, commit the crime and leave again with impunity.

A fact finding mission, composed of the Process of Black Communities, the Association of Indigenous Cabildos from the North of Cauca and the Association for Research and Social Action, NOMADESC, is in the zone in order to make more information available. Unfortunately, no international organization was able to accompany this commission. Because of this, we call upon you to briefly write to the Colombian state, demanding that it takes immediate preventative action and pays attention to the entire population in northwest Cauca. At the same time, we call on the United Nations system to carry out a fact finding visit to the zone as fast as possible. For our part, we will make the information widely available as soon as the work of the fact finding mission has completed its work in the territory.

Background

All of you remember the numerous denunciations which the afrodescendant, peasant farmer and indigenous communities, together with human rights organizations, have made to the national and international community concerning the barbarity which is being imposed on the zone and the dispossession which the ancestral communities living in the territory have been subjected to. Legal proceedings are currently underway against those responsible, in deed and through neglect, for the crimes committed. There is also an investigation underway concerning the responsibility of the multinationals Unión Fenosa, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Smurfit Kappa Cartón de Colombia and Cosigo Resources.  However, despite the enormous efforts which communities have made to ensure preventative and protective measures are implemented, the inhabitants of the zone are still in imminent danger, and the level of impunity is 100%.

ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE TERRITORY

1.- 5th November 2009 Hearing about the Situation of the Afrocolombian, Indigenous and Peasant Communities in the North of Cauca before the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States in Washington: During the hearing evidence of the serious situation, vulnerability and threats against the communities, miners, peasants and indigenous people was presented. As such, the ongoing violation of the free and informed Consulta Previa (Prior Consultation) was denounced, as was the violation of the application of environmental management plans; Law 70, indigenous legislation and the non-fulfilment of the Constitutional Court’s directives 004 and 005. During the hearing, demands were made that representatives of the Colombian government must undertake immediate preventative and protective actions for the communities in the zone. Result: the government has still not granted the protective mechanisms announced in front of the Commissioners of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the Organization of American States.^[1]

2.- 10^th December 2009, Public Hearing in Defence of Territory, Culture and Dignity of the Indigenous, Afrodescendant, and Peasant Communities of the Northwest of Cauca: In the Hearing Convened by the Human Rights Commission of the Senate of the Republic, at the petition of the communities and the Association NOMADESC, a mapping of the conflict was carried out. Specific cases of human rights violations were detailed, and the findings of the investigations into who may be responsible for the crimes committed were presented. The communities and human rights organizations warned of the presence of armed actors in the zone, namely the self named Águilas Negras [Black Eagles] who seem to be responsible for a wave of threats which was unleashed in the month of October 2009. Additionally, demands were made to revise the legislation which benefits multinationals present in the zone at the expense of the rights of the communities. Result: proceedings are currently underway to request information about the multinationals which have concessions in the zone [and] armed actors, information about the results of the investigations for crimes which have occurred in the zone, and about high level meetings with the state institutions^[2].

3.- 17th January  2010 Fact Finding Mission of Acción Permanente por la Paz [Permanent Action for Peace]^[3]: A mission with 10 delegates from the United States travelled to the zone and visited the communities of Suarez, including the afrodescendant communities which are dedicated to artisanal mining in the area of La Toma as well as the Indigenous communities of Cerro Tijeras. This mission heard from the affected population. Result: An intervention in front of the national government demanding protection for the communities and territories affected by serious crimes against humanity.

4.- 27^th January  2010 Delegation from the Spanish State, Fact Finding Mission of the human rights situation in Colombia: This mission did not travel to the territory but held meetings with relevant social sectors in the City of Santiago de Cali. In these meetings participants in the mission had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of the social and armed conflict which people in the territory are experiencing, and the vulnerability which the indigenous, afrodescendant and peasant communities who live in the zone are suffering. Result: The delegation from the Spanish State made a public declaration in which they presented their conclusions and proposals concerning the situation. ^[4]

5.- [1^st – 12^th February 2010] Visit of an independent expert from the United Nations on the Question of Minorities, Commissioned by the United Nations Minorities section, GAY McDOUGALL: visited the district of la Toma in the Municipality of Suarez, covering the whole of the territory, and visited the mines where she heard first hand the denunciations of the afrodescendant communities which live in the zone, through the testimonies of leaders of the community, the representatives of the Communitarian Councils and the Process of Black Communities (PCN). Ms McDOUGALL committed to undertake follow up actions about the serious human rights violations and to demand that the Colombian government complies with national and international human rights law. The independent expert carried out this visit in the company of Mr. DANIEL ATCHEBRO, Coordinator in Cali of the Colombian Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, together with other delegates the organization. Result: At the end of her visit, the independent expert issued a declaration and warned that the authorities needed to put a lot of work into regaining the confidence of these people and ordered the Ministry of Defence to protect these communities.^[5]

These latest killings confirm, yet again, that the national government and the protective bodies completely lack the POLITICAL WILL to comply with national and international human rights law. It is extremely worrying that despite these pronouncements from the international community, the judicial processes, the denunciations, Hearings, demands and requests, etc, that the Colombian state still does not guarantee the lives of the inhabitants of the communities.

Because of this, we demand once again that the National Government gives an immediate response to the communities in the vicinity of where human rights are repeatedly violated, especially in relation to the sad deeds which resulted in the murder of 8 miners.

ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA INVESTIGACIÓN Y ACCIÓN SOCIAL NOMADESC [Association for Investigation and Social Action NOMADESC)

PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS PCN [Process of Black Communities, PCN]

ASOCIACION DE CABILDOS  INDIGENAS DEL NORTE DEL CAUCA ACIN [Association of Indigenous Cabildos from North Cauca, ACIN]

CONCEJO COMUNITARIO  LA TOMA [Comunitarian Council of La Toma]

COORPORACION SERVICIOS PROFESIONALES COMUNITARIOS SEMBRAR [Corporation of Professional Comunitarian Services SEMBRAR]

ASOCIACION DE MUJERES MUNICIPALES DE LA BALSA [Association of Women from the Municipality of La Balsa]

ASOCIACIÓN ECATE [Assocation ECATE]

RED DE HERMANDAD Y SOLIDARIDAD CON COLOMBIA REDHER [Fraternal and Solidarity Network with Colombia, REHER ]

CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR [Campaign Never to Forget]

RECOMMENDED ACTION/ ACCIÓN SOLICITADA

Favor dirigir comunicaciones a / Please send letters to:

Send messages demanding that the Colombian state authorities:

a) ensure the well-being of the investigation commission currently visiting the scene of the murders at “Alto de Ovejas” in the municipality of Suárez and

b) take immediate preventative action to protect the entire population in northwest Cauca.

ALVARO URIBE VELEZ
Presidente de la República
Carrera 8 No. 7 -26 Palacio de Nariño Bogotá
Fax. 5662071

FRANCISCO SANTOS
Vicepresidente de la República
Carrera 8 No.7-57 Bogotá D.C.
fsantos@presidencia.gov.co

General FREDY PADILLA
Ministro de la Defensa (E)
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN Bogotá D.C.
siden@mindefensa.gov.co
infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co
mdn@cable.net.co

FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO
Ministro del Interior y de Justicia
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 2221874
ministro@minjusticia.gov.co

GUILLERMO MENDOZA DIAGO
Fiscal General de la Nación
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01 Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 570 20 00
contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co

WOLMAR ANTONIO PEREZ ORTIZ
Defensor del Pueblo
Calle 55 No. 10 – 32 Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 640 04 91
defensoria@defensoria.org.co
secretaria_privada@hotmail.com

ALEJANDRO ORDÓÑEZ
Procurador General de la Nación
Cra. 5 No.15 – 80F Bogotá D.C.

anticorrupción@presidencia.gov.co
reygon@procuraduría.gov.co

Please send copies of your letters to:

ASOCIACION NOMADESC
Accionjuridica.nomadesc@gmail.com
CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR
dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com

PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS
pcnkol.bogota@renacientes.net

Colombia Solidarity Campaign adds:

1. Send messages to your local Colombian Embassy, in the UK email: elondres@cancilleria.gov.co and mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

2. More information:

A short video report showing community opposition to open pit gold extraction at Suarez Las Multinacionales todo lo quieren llevar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC5_htDPJPM&feature=related

And a workers protest in Bogotá Caravana contra las multinacionales y grupos economicos nacionales http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0o-LjkjRik&feature=related

* * * * *

Español:

S.O.S. MASACRE ANUNCIADA EN ZONA MINERA DEL MUNICIPIO DE EN SUAREZ CAUCA

Santiago de Cali, 8 de Abril de 2010

Ocho mineros fueron asesinados por hombres armados que se trasportaban en dos vehículos y una moto,  los hechos ocurrieron en el sitio conocido como “Alto de Ovejas”  zona rural del municipio de Suárez, en el departamento de Cauca, sur de Colombia. El sitio donde ocurrió la masacre es la parte alta del río Ovejas y se llega por carretera en un recorrido de casi una hora y una  hora a pie.

Las Organizaciones abajo firmantes quienes habíamos advertido la grave situación de conflicto social y armado  que se vive en los municipios del Noroccidente del Cauca, en particular en los Municipios de  Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires, demandamos de manera perentoria explicación del Gobierno Nacional porque pese a las innumerables solicitudes de protección a las comunidades de la zona  y del numeroso contingente militar y de policía que se encuentra en el área, los autores de esta masacre tuvieron toda la libertad de ingresar en el territorio cometer el hecho y salir impunemente.

Una misión de verificación, compuesta por el Proceso de Comunidades Negras PCN, la Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas del Norte del Cauca y la Asociación para la Investigación y Acción social NOMADESC  se encuentra en la zona con el objetivo de ampliar la información. Lastimosamente ningún organismo internacional pudo acompañar esta comisión por lo cual solicitamos a ustedes pronunciarse por escrito a la mayor brevedad exigiendo al estado colombiano acciones inmediatas de prevención y atención para toda la población del noroccidente del Cauca. A su vez solicitamos al sistema de Naciones Unidas, realizar una visita de verificación a la zona lo más pronto posible. Por nuestra parte ampliaremos la información tan pronto se terminen las labores de la comisión de verificación en el territorio.

ANTECEDENTES

Todos ustedes recordaran las diversas denuncias que las comunidades afrodescendientes, Campesinas,  indígenas y organizaciones de derechos humanos hemos  efectuado ante la comunidad nacional e internacional  acerca de la barbarie impuesta en la zona y del despojo al que han sometido a las comunidades que ancestralmente habitan el territorio.   En la actualidad se siguen procesos jurídicos en contra de los responsables por acción y por omisión de los crímenes cometidos así mismo se investiga la responsabilidad de las multinacionales Unión Fenosa, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Smurfit kappa Cartón de Colombia y Cosigo Resources.  Sin embargo pese a los ingentes esfuerzos de las  comunidades para generar mecanismos de prevención y protección la situación de riesgo de los pobladores de la zona es inminente y la impunidad del 100%.

ACCIONES PARA PROTEGER EL TERRITORIO

1.- Noviembre 5 de 2010 Audiencia Situación de las Comunidades Afrocolombianas Indígenas y Campesinas del Norte del Cauca en la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la OEA en Washitong: Durante la audiencia se presentaron pruebas de la grave situación, vulnerabilidad y amenaza contra las comunidades mineras, campesinas e indígenas. Así mismo se denuncio la permanente violación a  la Consulta Previa, libre e informada;   la aplicación de los planes de manejo ambiental;   la  ley 70, legislación indígena y los incumplimientos a las directivas 004 y 005 de la Corte Constitucional. En dicha audiencia se solicito a los representantes del  Gobierno Colombiano  emprender acciones inmediatas de prevención y protección a las comunidades de la zona. Resultado: El gobierno a un no ha otorgado los mecanismos de protección anunciados ante los Comisionados de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos humanos de la OEA.  ^[6]

2.- Diciembre 10 de 2010  Audiencia Pública por la Defensa del Territorio, la Cultura y la Dignidad de las Comunidades Indígenas, Afrodescendientes y Campesinas del Noroccidente del Cauca: En la Audiencia Convocada por la Comisión de derechos Humanos del Senado de la República a Petición de las comunidades  y de la Asociación NOMADESC, se efectuó una radiografía del conflicto, se detallaron los casos de violación a los derechos humanos y se presentaron las investigaciones sobre los posibles responsables de los crímenes cometidos. Las comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos advirtieron la presencia de actores armados en la zona un grupo autodenominado Águilas Negras al parecer responsable de la ola de amenazas que se desato desde el mes de Octubre de 2010. Adicionalmente se solicito revisar la legislación que beneficia a las multinacionales que hacen presencia en esta zona,  en contra vía de los derechos de las comunidades.  Resultado: Se encuentra en trámite la solicitud de información sobre las multinacionales que tienen concesiones en la zona actores armados, información sobre los resultados de las investigaciones por los crímenes que han ocurrido en la zona y reuniones de alto nivel con las instituciones del Estado.  ^[7]

3.-  Enero 17 de 2010 Misión de Verificación de  Acción Permanente por la Paz^[8]: Una misión con 10 delegados de los Estados Unidos viajo a la zona y visito a las comunidades de Suarez, entre ellos las comunidades Afrodescendientes que se dedican a la minería artesanal  en el corregimiento de La Toma y comunidades indígenas de Cerro Tijeras. Esta misión escucho a la población afectada. Resultado: Incidencia ante gobierno nacional para que proteja las comunidades y el territorio afectado por graves crímenes de lesa humanidad.

4.- Enero 27 de 2010 Delegación del Estado Español Misión de Verificación de la situación de derechos humanos en Colombia: Esta misión no viajo hasta el territorio pero en sus reuniones con los sectores sociales en la Ciudad de Santiago de Cali tuvo la oportunidad de conocer los testimonios del conflicto social y armado que se vive en el territorio, la vulnerabilidad en la que se encuentran las comunidades indígenas, afrodescendientes y campesinas que habitan la zona. Resultado: La delegación del Estado Español efectuó un pronunciamiento público en donde presentan sus conclusiones y propuestas frente a la situación. ^[9]

5.- Visita de la Experta Independiente de Naciones Unidas Sobre Cuestiones de Minorías  comisionada para Minorías de Naciones Unidas GAY MACDOUGALL: Visto el Corregimiento la Toma del Municipio de Suarez, recorrió todo el territorio visito las minas y escucho las denuncias directas de las comunidades afro descendientes que habitan la zona de los líderes de la comunidad,  los representantes de los  Concejos Comunitarios y del Proceso de Comunidades Negras PCN y  se comprometió a efectuar acciones de seguimiento sobre la grave situación de Violación de derechos Humanos  y demandar del gobierno colombiano cumplimiento a las normas nacionales e internacionales de respeto de los derechos humanos. La Experta independiente efectuó la visita  en Compañía del Sr. DANIEL ATCHEBRO, Coordinador en Cali de la Oficina en Colombia del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos y otros delegados de la Organización. Resultado: Al término de su visita la experta independiente emitió una declaración y  advirtió que las autoridades tienen mucho por hacer para recuperar la confianza de estas personas e instó al Ministro de Defensa para que proteja a estas comunidades.^[10]

Queda una vez más comprobado que no existe VOLUNTAD POLITICA  del Gobierno nacional y de los organismos de protección para cumplir con las normas nacionales e internacionales de respeto a los derechos humanos. Es absolutamente preocupante que pese a los pronunciamientos de la comunidad internacional, las judicializaciones, denuncias, Audiencias, demandas, solicitudes etc.,   el Estado colombiano no haya brindado garantías para la vida de las comunidades.

Por lo anterior demandamos una vez más del Gobierno Nacional  respuestas inmediatas  a las comunidades acerca de  la reiterada violación a los derechos humanos en particular sobre los lamentables hechos en los que perdieron la vida 8 mineros.

^[2] Further information can be found at: http://www.prensarural.org/spip/spip.php?article3544, ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhdh_-Lxzs

^[3] For more information see: http://www.nuestraamerica.info/leer.hlvs/1283

^[4] The full report can be found here: http://www.pazcondignidad.org/spip.php?article346

^[5] The report can be found here: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9821&LangID=e

^[6] Escuchar audiencia http://www.oas.org/es/

^[7] Amplíe información en:   http://www.prensarural.org/spip/spip.php?article3544,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhdh_-Lxzs

^[8] Más información   http://www.nuestraamerica.info/leer.hlvs/1283

^[9] Ver informe completo  http://www.pazcondignidad.org/spip.php?article346

^[10] Ver informe www2.ohchr.org/english/…/expert/…/Colombia_Statement_12022010_sp.doc

ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE ANNOUNCES:

Eyewitness Investigation–Is the US Funding a War on Colombian Farmers?

August 1 through 11, 2010

Our Hosts:

• FENSUAGRO, Colombia’s largest labor federation of farmers and farm workers
• Traspaso los Muros, an organization of persons both inside and outside Colombian jails advocating for the rights of political prisoners.

Cost:

$1,400, not including international air fare. Some scholarships may be available. Costs include…

• Several in-country trips to collect testimonies in rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian communities;
• All food and lodging;
• Translation services and in-country guides;
• Educational material and other delegation related expenses.

Featuring:

• Visits to rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian communities (sleeping bags will be required for some overnight visits);
• Meetings with leaders and members of FENSUAGRO, as well as miners’ and oil workers’ unions;
• Testimonies and analysis of how foreign companies are threatening sustainable agriculture;
• Interviews with journalists and elected officials from the political opposition;
• Presentations from student activists;
• Visits with political prisoners and their families.

This will be a working delegation, producing a comprehensive report on conditions faced by Colombian farmers and how these are affected by US policies. We will collect testimonies and investigate how rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian lands are being cleared for the benefit of foreign corporate access to natural resources. FENSUAGRO is the union most targeted by political violence and other forms of repression. Our goal will be to build internationalist support for Colombian farmers and FENSUAGRO members by exposing dangers they face and advocating for a US policy that strives for peace and justice rather than war. This does not mean, though, that the delegation will be all work and no play! There will be ample opportunity to relax, enjoy Colombian culture and make new friends in our shared struggle to build a new and better world!

For more information: email- james@afgj.org

Phone- 520-243-0381

Download leaflet

Mr Brendan O’Connor MHR
Minister for Home Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Mr. O´Connor,

Minister for Home Affairs,

We are writing to protest against the interrogation of Mr. Alejandro Rodriguez by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on February 3^rd. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of our organisation, Peace and Justice for Colombia, and he is a well known advocate for workers´ rights and solidarity.

It is of our knowledge that during the interrogation Mr. Rodriguez was asked about individuals, the work of Peace & Justice for Colombia and about the Agricultural Workers Unions Federation of Colombia (FENSUAGRO). FENSUAGRO is a legitimate Colombian organisation that is formed by several affiliated unions, peasants and farmers´ organisations, with a total of 80,000 members nation-wide, with presence in 22 out of the 32 federated entities of the Colombian State. In a country where land distribution continues to be a major motive of inequality and injustice, FENSUAGRO is also the union that has been more brutally targeted by the Colombian state, its official forces and the paramilitaries. According to the International Trade Union Confederation, 49 union leaders were killed in 2008 alone, and 838 between 2000 and 2008; 95 per cent of the cases are reported as ’unsolved ’, many of these crimes have been committed against FENSUAGRO organizers and activists. We consider it to be a trust-worthy union.

It has been well documented that key members of the Colombian government have been historically linked to leading drug trafficking organisations and far right extremist groups. In 1991, the US Defense Intelligence Agency listed Uribe among ‘important Colombian narco-traffickers’ as well as a ‘close personal friend’ of Pablo Escobar Gaviria. Uribe’s Colombia is also responsible for arguably the largest internally displaced population in the world; 4 million Colombians are internally displaced rivalling only the Sudan.

We are also aware that the government of Alvaro Uribe has launched a campaign to censor and delegitimize solidarity initiatives internationally. We can only consider this interrogation as part of the mentioned campaign and it is completely disgraceful that the AFP is being used for the systematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, labour leaders and any other organisation or individuals who raises their voices in support of the Colombian people in their demands of democracy and social justice, and denounce the atrocities committed by Uribe´s government. Mr. Rodriguez has the support of professionals, trade unionists, academics and human rights organisations in Australia and internationally. For his work and commitment to the people of Colombia and Latin America, he too deserves the support of the Australian government.

• Peace & Justice for Colombia is an Australia-based solidarity organization that aims to build solidarity amongst Australians with the Colombian people and workers, and all the work we do is public and open.
• Peace & Justice for Colombia strongly condemns any attempt by the AFP, ASIO or any other intelligence agencies in Australia to persecute, detain or harass Mr. Rodriguez or any other solidarity activists. We consider this is a serious abuse of power under the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005.
• We protest against the AFP cooperation with the Uribe administration.
• We condemn any attempts of Uribe to criminalise international solidarity with Colombia.
• We demand that the Australian Government suspends its involvement with the Uribe regime while human and labour rights are not respected in that country.

Yours sincerely,

Peace and Justice for Colombia

We have learned that Colombian political prisoner, Liliany Obando, will have another hearing today THIS MONDAY, DEC. 21ST. Please support her application for Home Detention. This is a basic right frequently given to those accused and convicted of a broad range of crimes, including those jailed for paramilitary and parapolitical activities.

The right to home detention is especially made available to single mothers, like Liliany, who are sole providers for their families.

We are urging people to act now and contact the presiding Judge, Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar.  If at all possible, we suggest people send his office a fax. However, if you are unable to make an international call, please send your message as an email.

SAMPLE EMAIL/FAX:

English version (copy and paste and sign or develop your own)
Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar,
Juez # 9
Via fax & Email,
Your attention:
info@ramajudicial.gov.co
FAX +57-1-323 0102

The Honorable Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar:

I am writing in support of the petition for home detention by Colombian political prisoner, Liliany Patricia Obando Villota.  Ms Obando is a head of household, single mother of two children.  The right to home detention is frequently extended to prisoners in similar circumstances, even to those accused or convicted of paramilitary or parapolitical crimes.  We call on you to do the right thing and grant Ms Obando’s petition for the well-being of her family, especially her children.

I solemnly believe that Liliany Obando this to be her right and that she does not represent any danger to her community. She is an academic and critical thinker whose constitutional rights must be guaranteed.

Yours truly,
Signed by__________________________________________

Spanish version (copie, pegue y firme abajo o envie su propia version)

PAZ Y JUSTICIA PARA COLOMBIA, PJFC-AUSTRALIA

Actualizacion 8   20 de Diciembre2009

SE SOLICITA ACCIÓN INMEDIATA EN APOYO A LA SOLICITUD DE CASA POR CÁRCEL DE LILIANY OBANDO: AUDIENCIA PUBLICA LUNES 21 DE DICIEMBRE 2009 en BOGOTA, COL

Somos del conocimiento que la prisionera política colombiana, Liliany Obando tendrá una audiencia publica este Lunes 21 de Diciembre para dilucidar su caso y la solicitud de detención domiciliaria.

Este es un derecho constitucional dado frecuentemente a aquellos acusados y convictos de una seria amplia de delitos incluyendo aquellos sentenciados por para militarismo y parapolítica. Este derecho a la detención domiciliaria es especialmente concedido a las madres solteras cabeza de familia quienes como Liliany son las únicas sostenedoras de sus familias.

Nosotros le pedimos a nuestros amigos y colaboradores a que actúen ahora y contacten al juez de la Fiscalía a cargo del caso: Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar.  Si fuera posible le pedimos a las personas que le envíen al juez un fax a su oficina. Sin embargo si no les es posible hacer llamadas internacionales o utilizar una maquina de fax entonces les pedimos que envíen un mensaje electrónico.

MUESTRA DE EMAIL/FAX:
(Copie, pegue y firme la muestra o haga su propia versión de carta)

20 de Diciembre de 2009.

Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar,
Juez # 9
Por fax y correo electrónico,
Su despacho:
info@ramajudicial.gov.co
FAX +57-1-323 0102

Distinguido Doctor Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar;

Le escribimos en apoyo a la solicitud de detención domiciliaria presentada por la prisionera política colombiana, señora Liliany Patricia Obando Villota.  La señora Obando es una madre cabeza de familia con dos niños.  El derecho a la detención domiciliaria es extendido con frecuencia a prisioneros en circunstancias semejantes, aun a los acusados o condenados por parapolítica y por actividad paramilitar.  Le instamos a hacer lo correcto y justo y conceda la petición hecha por Liliany Obando por el bien de su familia, especialmente sus niños.
Creo solemnemente que Liliany Obando tiene este derecho y que ella no representa ningún peligro para su comunidad. Ella es una académica y una pensadora critica cuyos derechos constitucionales deben ser garantizados.

Atentamente,

Firma: ________________________

PARA ENVIAR UN EMAIL,

Ponga en el espacio de Asunto:  “Atención Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar, Juez # 9” y Mandelo a la siguiente dirección: info@ramajudicial.gov.co
Envié copia de su mensaje a nuestras siguientes direcciones:
pjfcolombia@gmail.com & sol.net.pp@gmail.com

PARA ENVIAR UN FAX O PARA LLAMAR DIRECTAMENTE:

DR. OSCAR GUSTAVO JAIMES VILLAMIZAR:
TEL +57-1-288 7909, FAX +57-1-323 0102

TO SEND AN EMAIL,
Put in the subject line:
“Atención Dr. Oscar Gustavo Jaimes Villamizar, Juez # 9” and send to: info@ramajudicial.gov.co
Please send a copy to:
pjfcolombia@gmail.com & sol.net.pp@gmail.com

TO SEND A FAX OR TO CALL DIRECTLY:

DR. OSCAR GUSTAVO JAIMES VILLAMIZAR:
TEL +57-1-288 7909, FAX +57-1-323 0102

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

There are more than 7,200 political prisoners in Colombia.  PJFC works in solidarity with all these prisoners, but has a particular concern regarding the case of Liliany Obando. She served as a consultant for FENSUAGRO, the largest union of farmers and farm workers in Colombia.

She was arrested the very week she was to release a report on the murders of FENSUAGRO members by the military and paramilitaries.

Liliany’s case is a flagship case, because she was the first person detained and tried on bogus charges as part of the FARC-política. The FARC-política is an attempt to repress, intimidate and marginalize the political opposition, labor and student movements by falsely linking them to Colombia’s armed rebellion. The basis for this process are emails allegedly discovered in computers recovered after a bombing attack by the Colombian Air Force against a guerrilla peace negotiation camp on March 1, 2008. However, the Colombian Police Officer in charge of the initial investigation has said the computers contained no emails but only documents in Word. The international police agency, INTERPOL, has said that the computer’s files showed evidence of tampering by the Colombian authorities.

Liliany’s case is important for two reasons:

1. If she wins the case, the whole FARC-política process is discredited; but if  she loses,  then a precedent is set for a virtual witch-hunt against the Colombian opposition based on this process.
2. The Colombian government is trying hard to shut down FENSUAGRO by spuriously portraying it as a front for the guerrillas.  A conviction of Liliany will result in a renewed effort against FENSUAGRO, which is already the most persecuted union in Colombia.

In solidarity,
Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC.
Websites: www.colombiasolidarity.net  &  www.freeliliany.net
Emails: pjfcolombia@gmail.com & freelilianynow@gmail.com

For more information, please see: