War takes from us dreams, hopes, and the life of a weaver

Greetings,

We are saddened by the news we received yesterday, that our friend and compañero Andrés Muelas was murdered on Tuesday night as he was returning home on his motorcycle in Northern Cauca, Colombia. It is uncertain who was responsible, but it was nonetheless a senseless act representative of the senselessness of war. We share the communique below in English and the following words in Spanish to honor Andrés, whose life and spirit has touched all of us in different ways.

Epitafio

Ya somos el olvido que seremos.
El polvo elemental que nos ignora
y que fue el rojo Adán y que es ahora
todos los hombres y que no veremos.

Ya somos en la tumba las dos fechas
del principio y el término, la caja,
la obscena corrupción y la mortaja,
los triunfos de la muerte y las endechas.

No soy el insensato que se aferra
al mágico sonido de su nombre;
pienso con esperanza en aquel hombre

que no sabrá que fui sobre la tierra.
Bajo el indiferente azul del cielo
esta meditación es un consuelo.

-- Jorge Luis Borges

Las arismetica nos falla no sabemos si decir que eres uno mas o uno menos o depronto el equilibrio donde el mas y el menos se encuentran para dejarnos el vacio y al mismo tiempo el todo del ejemplo. Aqui estamos hablandote desde la conformidad de la distancia y la inconformidad de la conciencia que se reuza a hacere historia y te quiere en el presente. En este presente que tanto requiere de andreses que caminen mientras nombran la palabra, la palabra libertad. Tu voz hace eco que despierta nuestra concienia colectiva al mismo tiempo con tu sonrisa nos anima y nos alegra. Para que no te conviertas en uno mas o uno menos sino en razon y ser del ejemplo de la libertad.

Colectivo La Chiva, Canada

Safe journey, Andrés.

La Chiva

##

War takes from us dreams, hopes, and the life of a weaver

[02/24/2010] [ ] [Author: Communication Network – ACIN (Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca)]

http://www.nasaacin.org/noticias.htm?x=11158

Andrés Fernando Muelas, his warm and sincere smile will always radiate. The same one that inspired and reminded us that we must continue to fight during times of pain and sorrow, like today.

They don’t tire of causing pain. On his way home last night [Tuesday Feb. 23], a bullet took the life of our compañero, Andrés Muelas. At around 10:30 pm in an area known as El Frutal, five minutes away from the rural township of Mondomo, men in military uniforms came onto the road and began shooting indiscriminately. A truck driver was also killed, and four others travelling on the same road were wounded. It is unknown who is responsible for these killings, but we know that various armed actors travel throughout these areas.

Andrés Muelas began his community involvement as the youth group coordinator in the reserve of Concepción in Northern Cauca, where he was also from. He was an active member of the Council [traditional indigenous authority], acting as an official, secretary, and treasurer. He also worked alongside other compañeros from the Communications Program. Despite his young age, the community selected him to become the coordinator for the Sa’t fxine Kiwe community project for his leadership and intelligence. He also worked with the ACIN’s Communication Network and community radio, was a health assistant, and was part of the musical group Son Rumbero. As the coordinator of the youth and adult education program of the ACIN, our friend and compañero was truly committed to his community.

The bullets from these armed men, who have taken ownership of life, continue to threaten, displace, and steal our territory and our lives. The communities of Jambaló, Caldono and Cajibío have not had the opportunity to recover from the impacts of the armed confrontation that occurred last weekend, and yet this meaningless war continues to sadden and fill with sorrow the Nasa community of Northern Cauca.

Currently, our territory is completely militarized by various soldiers on the roads and highways. Certainly, this incident will be an excuse to increase the military presence in our territory on top of the president’s recent order to place 5,000 soldiers in our territories. Some say they fight for us, others say they fight in order to protect us. The truth is that none of them defend life, and their strategies of terror seek to rob us of our territory in order to take the resources from Mother Earth.

Andrés, your family, your community, and your people, cry for their loss. You leave us today in order to return to our territory’s womb, to accompany those who have given up their life in the name of liberty for our community and those around the world. Your struggle will not be in vain. There will come a day when communities will break the chains of greed and oppression, and we will return to feel that we have a right to life. On this day, Andrés, your name will be with all of us, accompanying and guiding the way of these people that watched you grow.

Safe journey, compañero!

Haiti: Assistance and Strategic Resistance

We share this analysis of the evolving situation in Haiti by Dr. Manuel Rozental (Translation by Dan Whitesell)...

Haiti: Assistance and Strategic Resistance

Friends,

I ask you to please read this text, and I sincerely thank you for taking interest in this critical issue. Through these messages I would like to share my analysis, propose a general plan and ask for your help and orientation, as well as your support.

The more I analyze and observe the situation, the more aware I become of the need to get people whose skills are needed into Haiti soon, but under certain minimal conditions so that one does not become a hindrance but rather of service, and to avoid contributing to the mistreatment of the Haitian people, despite the best of intentions. Contacting organizations such as Partners in Health (PIH) run by Paul Farmer, whose political and technical orientation has been clear and one which is guiding efforts on the ground. Establishing contact with journalists and members of different organizations on the ground in order to understand the situation and establish contacts to get to where resources human and material are needed while weaving contacts with organizations outside who are working on mobilizing and transferring such resources is crucial now. Cuban physicians and health workers have been on the ground in Haiti for a long time. Supporting and joining these efforts, which are experienced, disciplined and well coordinated could achieve greater impact. The Via Campesina has launched a solidarity assistance campaign, based on their experience in Asia with the tsunami. The fact is --with respect to emergency help-- that human resources are of little use without equipment, supplies and necessary logistical support, just as these are not effective if qualified personnel are not available and information is difficult to obtain.

I offer the following analysis and proposal for consideration and directional framework:

1. The United States has launched, in alliance with Canada and possibly other countries, a massive military, media and political operation, using the crisis as a pretext. In every aspect, it has the characteristics of “disaster capitalism”, in which the shock caused by the earthquake, is used by transnational and imperial interests to achieve strategic goals. Naomi Klein warned us about this on January 14 in an interview with Amy Goodman. The sending of 10,000 troops, the occupation of the airport, the control of aid delivery (preventing it from arriving), the emphasis on preventing disturbances and controlling the population and the coordination between Clinton-Bush and Obama for a project "similar to the one for the Asian Tsunami", provides sufficient support for this argument.

2. The result of these steps is obvious: Haiti has been occupied. The earthquake has allowed the United States and Canada to station large numbers of troops closer to Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. U.S. bases have been recently established in Colombia, are being established in Panama and have already been established in the rest of the Caribbean and South America.

3. Everything indicates that, far from providing humanitarian aid, the intention is to use this aid as an instrument of propaganda, as well as to foment what has already begun to happen: a social explosion due to the desperation of people without housing, without water, without food, without services and who come from conditions of absolute poverty. The social explosion would justify the presence of troops and more troops, the complete subjugation of Haiti, the destruction of any resistance in the country and the advance of hemispheric occupation towards the goal of "Free Trade" and to overcome the serious economic crisis. All this while the U.S. government presents itself as generous, to gain public support, when in reality, President Obama has promised only 100 hundred million dollars (a miserable amount), while at the same the military operation costs much more than this.

4. Calculated Reaction: The action of the United States is a provocation, with a strategically calculated reaction. Nicaragua, through President Ortega, has already denounced the U.S. military presence and its intentions and has demanded the withdrawal of troops. It's expected that Venezuela and Cuba will not stand idly by and that, at a minimum, they have started to provide aid directly to the Haitian population. Cuba and Venezuela are already doing so with health personnel, logistics and equipment. With the airport of Puerto Principe occupied by U.S. troops it will not only be difficult to get aid to the people, but also the restricting and monopolizing of aid will complicate matters because Haiti has become a beach head of the United States militarily and we can expect Washington to denounce the presence of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other progressive countries as political actions intended to take advantage of Haitian suffering. What these countries do in Haiti becomes a pretext for the U.S. to attack them. What will happen in this situation is unpredictable, but a likely scenario is that the joint humanitarian and political actions of the progressive countries will generate a crisis, which could also lead to an armed confrontation. In other words, all of this could lead to a war for the oil and mineral resources of Venezuela and the region, with the support of and from Colombia. Of course Brazil is a key factor whose reaction and response are still undetermined. It's obvious that this is an act of aggression by the U.S. in their fight for control of Haiti. They are exploiting in an unprecedented act of cowardice the misery and suffering of the people to achieve geo-strategic, military and ultimately economic objectives.

5. Strategic reaction and goals of Solidarity and Resistance: Coordinating a massive relief effort, in an efficient, effective way and in defense of the Haitian people, despite the U.S. military presence, so that the people receive the aid and the world knows it, not only accomplishes humanitarian goals and undermines the pretext for stationing troops --by meeting the needs of people desperate to survive at any cost--, but it also exposes imperial interests and ultimately, becomes a way to defend Haiti from occupation by encouraging a viable resistance of solidarity in the face of tragedy. It also prevents a hemispheric war and the advance of military occupation for economic ends. To put it another way, we should oppose the strategic project of concentrated capital by developing a coordinated strategic project of resistance to the reigning economic model and for the dignity of Haiti. Following the coup in Honduras, this is another step toward hemispheric occupation for transnational corporations and global financial interests. As we move forward in providing humanitarian assistance, a vital and pressing component of solidarity, it's essential and urgent that we consolidate and coordinate comprehensive strategic goals.

6. Key tactical goals that come to mind immediately are:

a. To mobilize material and human resources: Health (particularly surgical support), in coordination with people on the ground and from organizations with experience and credibility in this area, that are not serving the interests of Washington. Via Campesina, PIH in Haiti, Cuba, ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas), HSA (the Hemispheric Social Alliance) and others. What's important is to know what's needed and where, send it there and create the conditions, along with the people to make it work. We already know there's humanitarian solidarity; what's missing is organization and direction and it should be better coordinated and aligned to achieving strategic goals.

b. To develop logistics (this is what is most needed at this time and what the United States controls), such that we can identify what's needed, mobilize and deliver it. People are needed on the ground in Haiti and in coordination outside of Haiti. Via Campesina has considerable experience in this area (tsunami).

c. Political-communications-

solidarity work. Analysis and news that serve as a counterweight to what the system is generating in terms of propaganda and actions. The magnitude of what they are attempting to do in Haiti is just as bad as what they did in Iraq under the pretext of concern for weapons of mass destructions. The world turned out to protest massively against that war. People must be informed of what's really going on if they are to take action. This requires committed people with political clarity to be in Haiti to help communicate for the resistance and to build resistance. Without this work, the two previous goals cannot succeed. 7. What's needed immediately is humanitarian aid, within this contextual framework. President Evo Morales, revealing his human decency and his political ability, will go directly to Haiti on Monday (January 18th) in a Bolivian plane to deliver aid. His presence in Haiti is an extraordinary act of solidarity, but it's also a way to encourage others to provide help, to put logistics in motion and to serve as a counterweight through his immediate presence on the ground. It will be his word and his actions that communicate much more than any speech. With this gesture, he is providing resistance to the provocation, setting the example, working to prevent war and going directly to the people. His visit deserves great attention and strategic support, but it also shows us the way. We must respond by reaching people inside and outside of Haiti to provide aid first of all and also to expose the aggressor at the same time. At the same time, governments of countries such as Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba have quietly and immediately mobilized resources and aid and are working on the ground. Under these circumstances, those of us who feel a commitment to go to Haiti, with specific and most needed skills (health care, electricians, reconstruction, logistic support, disaster planning, etc.) but also as communicators and strategic activists, would do best to be involved as part of a coordinated and strategic effort, so as not to become a hindrance while there and to avoid serving the interests of the occupation and transnational capital. Also, if one is not familiar with Haiti, one would be lost there. As many of us continue to look for contacts and counterparts, and many have already gone to Haiti as part of solidarity and assistance teams, I share this analysis and interpretation of the context, while I feel, as many others do, the anxiety to contribute and be of service to an exemplary people who have been abused and humiliated in the most un-exemplary way and whose suffering causes in us a wrath and pain that become desperation if we fail to act. In solidarity, we need to act in accordance with our inner sense of commitment, serving as part of a conscious and coordinated effort. I'm not saying that these conditions have to be met before anything is done, but rather that there should be at least coordination and strategic understanding of the context and goals of the assistance for the people of Haiti, to continue to work toward effective and decent assistance and solidarity, if the analysis proposed here based on my observations is essentially correct. I hope our exchanges and the course we set for ourselves can become our common task. With this in mind, I write to you In solidarity, Manuel Rozental January 17th, 2010. General Surgeon with sub-specialization in colorectal surgery I've been a physician for 29 years and practice in Colombia and Canada Activist in the Americas and Communicator Member of the Secretariat of the Hemispheric Social Alliance Tejido de Comunicaciones ACIN (The Northern Cauca Indigenous Communications Network)

URGENT ACTION: THREE INDIGENOUS MURDERED IN CERRO TIJERAS RESERVE

Greetings,

Please find below (in English and Spanish) an urgent action on the continued aggression against indigenous communities in Colombia. Three leaders murdered in the past few weeks in Cerro Tijeras! It is especially important that you act now, as the Liberals and Conservatives in Canada are using every trick possible to try to push through ratification of the Canada-Colombia FTA by mid-December. Their overlooking of the presence of paramilitaries and undying support of the Colombian regime sends a direct signal that Canada's interests in Latin America (and in the world!) are economic and have nothing to do with the defence of human rights, not to mention social and economic rights demanded by the Colombian movements facing this aggression.

In addition to the recommendations provided below (courtesy of the Colombia Support Network, UK), we urge you to please write your member of Canadian parliament and members of the International Trade Committee in particular, which is set to deliberate in the Canadian parliament ratification of the Canada-Colombia FTA in spite of the continued aggression in Colombia. The Libservatives must not get away with defending the indefensible, lest they allow the blood on their hands become blood on the hands of every Canadian that did nothing.

Here are the email addresses of some key Liberals, Conservatives and members of the Standing Committee on International Trade: IgnatM@parl.gc.ca, Rae.B@parl.gc.ca, DhaliS@parl.gc.ca, DosanU@parl.gc.ca, FryH@parl.gc.ca, MartiK@parl.gc.ca, MurraJ@parl.gc.ca, Richardson.L@parl.gc.ca, Brison.S@parl.gc.ca, Cannan.R@parl.gc.ca, Guimond.C@parl.gc.ca, Harris.R@parl.gc.ca, Holder.E@parl.gc.ca, Keddy.G@parl.gc.ca, Silva.M@parl.gc.ca

In solidarity,
La Chiva

Message follows

###

Vease VERSION ESPAÑOL abajo

URGENT ACTION: THREE INDIGENOUS MURDERED IN CERRO TIJERAS RESERVE

THE GENOCIDE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES CONTINUES:

CERRO TIJERAS INDIGENOUS RESERVE (SUAREZ MUNICIPALITY, CAUCA DEPARTMENT) AND HONDURAS INDIGENOUS RESERVE (MORALES MUNICIPALITY) TARGET OF CRIMES

The below signed organisations denounce the grave situation that now confronts indigenous communities in the East and North of Cauca department.

In only two weeks three indigenous communities members have been murdered, and another is currently in grave condition in intensive care in a hospital in Cali. It is important to note the high level of militarization of the territories mentioned, which was further increased in the past two weeks.

As we denounced on 22nd October 2009, a threat arrived to the offices of CUT Valle and Nomadesc organisations, in Cali. Five organisations are mentioned in the threat five, including Cerro Tijeras indigenous reserve, and six individuals are also named. All of the organisations and individuals participate in the Minga of Social and Communitarian Resistance. The threat is signed by the ‘AGUILAS NEGRAS NUEVA GENERACION’ paramilitary group [Black Eagles – New Generation].

We would like to highlight that on October 16th the Minga of Social and Communitarian Resistance held a ‘Peoples’ Congress’ in which serious human rights violations against indigenous, campesino, afro-Colombian, student and popular sectors were denounced at national and international level.

Since the threats, the following events have taken place:

1. On October 29th 2009, MARLY CAROLINA HUILA GUAMANGA was murdered in the Damian area of Cerro Tijeras indigenous reserve, Suarez municipality, Cauca department.

2. On November 11th 2009, REINALDO BOMBA was murdered in Bella Vista area of Cerro Tijeras indigenous reserve.

3. On November 13th 2009, NILSON CAMPO was murdered and EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA was seriously inured in the Damian area of Cerro Tijeras indigenous reserve.

At 10pm on November 13, NILSON CAMPO and EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA were attacked by an unidentified group of armed men as they travelled on a motorbike. Both were members of the Cerro Tijeras indigenous community. According to information from the community, NELSON CAMPO was shot five times, receiving three impacts in the abdomen, one in the face and one in the ear. EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA was also shot five times and attacked with a machete. CAMPO was involved in community agriculture projects, and had previously been the treasurer in Honduras indigenous reserve authority in 2006.

All of these events have taken place late at night or very early in the morning. The perpetrators are seemingly paramilitary organisations who carry out their operations in military camouflage clothes with black armbands.

DEMANDS

We demand that immediate protection is provided to EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA, who remains in serious condition in hospital.

That the different armed groups respect the lives and rights of indigenous communities and the Colombian population in general.

That multinational companies respect the territory, autonomy and self-determination of communities.

That the Ministry of Interior and Justice takes sufficient preventative measures in order to prevent any aggression against threatened indigenous communities and social sectors.

That the state investigation organisms undertake a thorough investigation as soon as possible and as quickly as possible to clarify what is happening in the zone, and that they make the results public.

That the Colombian government and all other state institutions recognise the level of vulnerability of Colombian indigenous communities and social organisations, and complies with their constitutional duty and international legislation which requires them to protect human rights.

To the National Army that in their operations they strictly observe Human righrs legislation and International Humanitarian Law.

We all upon the United Nations, Human Rights organisations, social organisations, state institutions, NGOs, and international control organisms to speak out about what is happening to Cerro Tijeras community as soon as possible, and to accompany the threatened communities in their territories.

We request that international organisations from all over the world accompany indigenous communities and social organisations through permanently monitoring the human rights situation in Colombia and demanding compliance with national and international legislation which demands respect for communities and territory, and also support the Minga of Communitarian and Social Resistance in its demands.

Please direct your correspondence to the Colombian Embassy in your country.

If you are in Britain, you can direct your correspondence to the Colombian embassy at elondres@cancilleria.gov.co.

[also mail@colombianembassy.co.uk ]

NOTE: Please copy your emails to the following email addresses: accionjuridica.nomadesc@gmail.com, dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com





ASOCIACION NOMADESC, CORPORACION JURIDICA UTOPIA, CABILDO INDIGENA DE HONDURAS, CABILDO CERRO TIJERAS, ASOCIACIÓN PARA EL DESARROLLO SOCIAL INTEGRAL, ECATE, SINDICATO DE LOS TRABAJADORES UNIVERSITARIOS DE COLOMBIA SINTRAUNICOL, CORPORACION SERVICIOS PROFESIONALES COMUNITARIOS, SEMBRAR, RED DE HERMANDAD Y SOLIDARIDAD, CAMPAÑA NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL CONTRA LA PRIVATIZACIÓN, LA CORRUPCIÓN, LA PENALIZACIÓN DE LA PROTESTA SOCIAL Y LA IMPUNIDAD “PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR”.



VERSION ESPAÑOL

ACCION URGENTE

CONTINÚA GENOCIDIO CONTRA COMUNIDADES INDIGENAS: RESGUARDO CERRO TIJERAS DEL MUNICIPIO DE SUAREZ CAUCA Y RESGUARDO HODURAS DEL MUNICIPIO DE MORALES CAUCA BLANCO DE LOS CRIMENES

Las organizaciones abajo firmantes denunciamos la grave situación que afrontan las comunidades indígenas de la zona Occidente y Norte del Cauca. En tan solo dos semanas han sido asesinados tres indígenas y otro mas gravemente herido quien se encuentra en cuidados intensivos en la Clínica Valle de Lili de la ciudad Santiago de Cali. Es importante resaltar la alta y constante militarización del territorio. La cual aumento su pie de fuerza ostensiblemente en las dos ultimas semanas.

Como lo habíamos denunciado anteriormente el día 22 de octubre de 2009, llego una amenaza enviada desde el Municipio de Santander de Quilichao a las oficinas de la CUT VALLE y NOMADESC Cali. En esta amenaza se mencionan cinco organizaciones entre ellas el Resguardo Cerro Tijeras y seis personas con nombre propio de las organizaciones sociales pertenecientes a la Minga de Resistencia Social y Comunitaria que aparecen en la amenaza firmada por un grupo que se autodenomina “AGUILAS NEGRAS NUEVA GENERACION”

Resaltamos que la Minga de Resistencia social y comunitaria el pasado 16 de octubre sesiono en su precongreso itinerante y denuncio ante el país y el mundo las graves violaciones de derechos humanos de las que son objeto las comunidades indígenas, campesinas, populares, afro descendientes, estudiantiles y obreras en todo el país.

Dichas amenazas se han materializado de la siguiente manera:

El día 29 de Octubre de 2009 fue asesinada MARLY CAROLINA HUILA GUAMANGA, hechos sucedidos el la vereda Damián del Resguardo Cerro tijeras, Municipio de Suárez, Cauca.
El día 11 de noviembre de 2009 fue asesinado REINALDO BOMBA en la Vereda Bella Vista del Resguardo Cerro tijeras, Municipio de Suárez, Cauca.
El día 13 de Noviembre de 2009 fue asesinado NILSON CAMPO y herido de gravedad EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA, en el sitio denominado “El Tanque” ubicado en el Cerro Damián del Resguardo Cerro Tijeras, Municipio de Suárez, Cauca.

ULTIMOS HECHOS

El día 13 de noviembre de 2009, siendo las 10:00 p.m. fue asesinado NILSON CAMPO Comunero indígena del resguardo de Honduras y herido EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA, comunero indígena del Resguardo Cerro Tijeras, los dos se trasportaban en moto Zusuki Placas XJB 10A, cuando fueron atacados por un grupo armado que hasta el momento no ha sido identificado.

Los hechos sucedieron en el sitio denominado “El Tanque” ubicado en el Cerro Damián del Resguardo Cerro Tijeras, Municipio de Suárez, Cauca. Según información de la Comunidad NILSON CAMPO, recibió cinco tiros de arma de fuego y el herido además de cinco impactos de bala fue agredido a machete.

NILSON CAMPO, recibió cinco impactos tres impactos en el abdomen, otro en el pómulo derecho y otro en la oreja. El comunero indígena actualmente guardiaba el proyecto piscícola de de las asociación de Piscicultores indígenas ASPROINCA y había sido tesorero del Cabildo Honduras en el año 2006 y capitán del mismo en el año 2007.

Es importante anotar que los hechos han sucedido a altas horas de la noche o en la madrugada, los autores al parecer grupos paramilitares desarrollan sus operaciones vestidos de camuflado y con brazaletes negros.

EXIGENCIAS

Exigimos se brinde protección inmediata al comunero indígena del Resguardo Cerro Tijeras que se encuentra gravemente herido.

Exigimos a los diferentes actores armados respeto a la vida y derechos de las comunidades indígenas y del pueblo colombiano en general.

A las multinacionales respeto al territorio, autonomía y autodeterminación de los pueblos.

Al Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia, brindar los mecanismos de prevención suficientes y necesarios para frenar cualquier hecho que atente contra la integridad de las comunidades indígenas y sectores sociales amenazados.

A los Organismos de Investigación del Estado efectuar de manera oportuna las investigaciones necesarias para esclarecer los hechos en el menor tiempo posible y mostrar públicamente sus resultados.

Al Gobierno Nacional al Estado y a todas las instituciones, a reconocer el nivel de vulnerabilidad de las comunidades indígenas de Colombia y organizaciones sociales y cumplir con los mandatos constitucionales y normas nacionales e internacionales de protección a los derechos humanos.

Al Ejército Nacional que en el desarrollo de sus operaciones observe el estricto cumplimiento de las normas de Derechos Humanos y de DIH.

A todas las instituciones del estado dar cumplimiento a los Autos 004 del 26 de enero de 2009 y 005 de 2009, en los cuales se ordena la protección de los derechos fundamentales de las personas, pueblos indígenas y comunidades afrodescendientes desplazadas por el conflicto armado o en riesgo de desplazamiento.

Convocamos al Sistema de Naciones Unidas, organismos de Derechos Humanos, a las organizaciones Sociales, Instituciones del Estado, ONGs Internacionales organismos de control pronunciarse a la mayor brevedad y acompañar en los territorios a las comunidades amenazadas y en peligro de ser exterminadas.

Solicitamos a las organizaciones internacionales en todo el mundo acompañar a las comunidades indígenas y organizaciones sociales mediante una veeduría permanente de la situación de derechos humanos exigiendo el cumplimiento de normas nacionales e internacionales de respeto, a las comunidades y su territorio. Así mismo acompañar a la Minga de resistencia social y comunitaria en sus exigencias.

Sus pronunciamientos los puede enviar a:

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

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

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

‘Authorized’ Minga? The Challenges of Popular Movements

By Micheál Ó Tuathail and Manuel Rozental

Last fall, Colombia’s social and popular movements captured the world’s attention. Emerging initially from the indigenous territories in Northern Cauca and expanding to unite diverse sectors, the Social and Community Minga burst onto the national and international scene with a popular agenda for radical change, a “country of the peoples without owners." The collective screams of the indigenous movement, Afro-Colombian communities, women’s, worker, student and other social organizations across the country reached a fever pitch, garnering much attention from abroad.

A year later, the Minga appears to have arrived at a crossroads, where a once powerful popular agenda risks being manipulated in favour of a narrow and domesticating one. While its capacity to mobilize remains strong, the Minga’s direction is increasingly contested.

Read more here: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/2196/1/


+

Tories trying to push through CCFTA: Interview with Dawn Paley

Interview by Redeye Radio, Vancouver

Re-published on Rabble.ca November 2, 2009

Check out this 15 minute audio interview with journalist Dawn Paley on the Canada-Colombia FTA on Redeye Radio.

Listen to the interview on Rabble.ca:
http://www.rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/redeye/2009/11/tories-trying-push-through-canada-colombia-fta

**

Show Notes:

A bill to implement Canada's free trade agreement with Colombia is on the order paper for this session of Parliament. Activists believe the bill can be defeated.

We spoke with independent journalist Dawn Paley on October 10, nine days before the bill would be debated in the House.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

ORGANISATIONS OF THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITARIAN MINGA THREATENED AGAIN

Santiago de Cali, 22 October 2009

The below-signed organisations reject the threats and persecution which is being levelled against diverse organisations all over Colombia, in particular organisations which are part of the Minga of Social and Communitarian Resistence.

Today, October 22nd 2009, a threat arrived by fax to the offices of the trade union central CUT Valle. Signed by the ‘Black Eagles New Generation’ paramilitary group, the threat declares the following organisations as military objectives:

NOMADESC,
CUT VALLE,
PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS PCN (Black Communities Process),
LA TOMA COMMUNITY COUNCIL,
INDIGENOUS CABILDO AUTHORITY CERRO TIJERAS.

The following leaders were also named as military objective:

LICIFREY ARARA- mining leader from Suarez municipality, Cauca department;
EDWAR VILLEGAS- member of the CUT Valle Human Rights Team;
JOSE GOYES- member of the Political Commission of the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC);
DIEGO ESCOBAR- Member of CUT Valle Executive Committee;
PLUTARCO- Member of human rights association Siglo XXI in Buenos Aires municipality, Cauca; and
MERALDINO CABICHE- member of Suarez municipal council who has been the victim of multiple threats in the past week.

The threat seems to have been sent from a fax machine in Santander de Quilichao municipality, Cauca department, in an internet café called ‘Terra Punto com’.

Details: The fax arrived to the CUT Valle fax machine (number 3901498) at 12.33pm today, titled ‘THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES COMPLYING WITH THE AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS’.

The text reads as follows:

“You are defenders of the guerrilla, requesting land to plant coca to strengthen the indians and the guerrilla. You don’t understand the efforts of the President of the Republic Alvaro Uribe, who with the help of Familias en Accion (Families in Action), Forest Keepers (Guardabosques) and Democratic Security (all 3 are policies of the Uribe government)- a group of men and women concerned with improving the country. We have decided that it is necessary to begin again the fight against thos who camouflage themselves in social organisations such as CUT Valle, Nomadesc, Human Rights defenders, NGOs, enemies of our democracy.

Those bureaucrats don’t let Cauca progress, they don’t allow the entry of multinationals which bring benefits to the communities of SUAREZ, MORALES and BUENOS AIRES. Some of these organisations have made agreements with owners of mining deeds requesting the eviction of communities in mining zones in return for money, such as in La Toma community. We have documents to prove this.

Today we have decided to declare these son of a bitch bureaucrats as military objectives: human rights defenders, Nomadesc, CUT Valle, PCN, La Toma Community Council, Cerro Tijeras, Licifredy, Eduar Villegas, Jose Goyes, Diego Escobar, Recheche, Plutarco, Counciller Meraldino. Signed Aguilas Negras Nueva Generacion (Black Eagles New Generation).”

It is important to highlight that the organisations and individuals mentioned in the threat have been working together in defence of the rights of the communities of Suarez, Morales and Buenos Aires municipalities in Cauca department for several years.

In particular, they have denounced the Colombian state’s non-compliance with agreements signed with the indigenous, afro-Colombian and campesino communities in the area in 1986 (and ratified in 2006).

They have also denounced the harmful presence of the multinational companies Union Fenosa (Spain), AngloGold Ashanti (South Africa) and Smurfitt Carton de Colombia (Ireland). Harrassment of Aida Quilcue continues At approximately 7.45am on October 21st, four men who in a 5 door vehicle were seen to be monitoring the house of AIDA QUILCUE, ex-Chief Counciller of the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC).

The car’s registration plate was recorded, but when the details were taken to the police to ask them to run a check on the vehicle, the reply was that this registration doesn’t exist. At approximately 12pm on October 16th, when AIDA QUILCUE was in the mobilisation of the Minga of Social and Communitarian Resistance in the outside the Cali Municipal Administation Centre, she was followed by two men.

When the men were apprehended by indigenous guards and members of the CUT Valle Human Rights Team, they stated that they didn’t have identification (in Colombia it is obligatory to carry identification at all times). The men were handed over to the police, but the authorities have yet to clarify the men’s identity, where they come from, and why they were following AIDA QUILCUE.

Threat to Jose Goyes The same day, at approximately 1pm, member of the CRIC Political Commission and Ex-Governor of Honduras indigenous reserve JOSE GOYES received a call from a man who said, ‘Am I speaking with Jose Goyes?’, Goyes replied, ‘Yes, with him’, ‘Son of a bitch, we’ve been looking for you for days, but before we shoot you we’re going to give it to you in the face you you faggot, then we’re going to finish you off with lead’.

We are deeply concerned by the serious incidents involving threats, harassment, persecution, eviction and murder which have been occurring all over the country. Such events have increased drastically over the past few months.

We want to highlight that the country’s human rights crisis is intensifying as we enter the pre-electoral period, and when the social sectors all across the country have staged mass demonstrations in the Minga of Communitarian and Social Resistance, manifesting their inconformity with the current government’s policies.

The Minga has been able to show the serious human rights violations which are being committed all over the country.

We call on all of you to speak out as soon as possible, and demand a clear response from the Colombian state, in order to prevent an attack against any member of the threatened organisations.

If you are in Britain, you can direct your correspondence to the Colombian embassy at elondres@cancilleria.gov.co. [also mail@colombianembassy.co.uk ]

ASOCIACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION Y ACCION SOCIAL NOMADESC
CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR
PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS PCN
CENTRAL UNITARIA DE TRABAJADORES CUT – VALLE
CORPORACION JURIDICA UTOPIA
SINTRAUNICOL VALLE DEL CAUCA
ASOCIACIÓN PARA EL DESARROLLO SOCIAL INTEGRAL ECATE
RED DE HERMANDAD Y SOLIDARIDAD – COLOMBIA
CORPORACION SEMBRAR


Translation courtesy of Colombia Solidarity Campaign, UK

Calle 13 to the Colombian Foreign Ministry

At the recent MTV Latin America awards ceremony, 'Residente', of the Puerto Rican group Calle 13, showed up in a shirt that read "Uribe Para Bases Militares" (Uribe, Stop the Military Bases). The design of the shirt offered a double meaning: "Uribe Paramilitar" (Uribe: Paramilitary).

While it's not sure which meaning was more offensive to the Colombian government, as either express equally damning truths about the regime, the Foreign Ministry felt compelled to issue a statement on the rock star's t-shirt: "The message presents offensive content against the president of Colombians."

(He also said Chavez should be nominated for the 'best pop star' award, and demanded Honduran coup government leader Micheletti "leave power".)

We've translated below the response of 'Residente', within which there are no apologies for expressing an opinion and a fact lived by too many in Colombia, as well as in the artist's native Puerto Rico. Adelante, Calle 13!

October 20, 2009

San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Open letter to the Colombian foreign ministry,

I write this letter to let you to know how I feel from the bottom of my heart. I love Colombia, and that’s why I’m worried about the establishment of foreign military bases in the country. As a Puerto Rican, I have lived this reality in my heart and soul, and I wouldn’t like what happens in my country to happen in yours.

According to your statement, I have insulted your president through the text on my t-shirt. On that shirt there was a play on words, a double meaning. You can interpret it however you like. I read it clearly: Uribe, Stop the Military Bases. A clear and direct message.

Through Twitter, the people created the concept of my shirts. The Colombia shirt was made by a Colombian, the Venezuela shirt by a Venezuelan, and so on.

The idea behind the shirts was to give voice to the people, those who, in general, aren’t listened to. Instead of wearing a nice tie, I decided to send a message. The message didn’t come from me but from someone who breathes the same air breathed in Colombia everyday.

My struggle is not against the president but against everything that promotes war, such as the military bases. The text of the t-shirt represents the feelings of many young people in your country, those who like any other human being with feelings I share completely. In this century, it can’t be that there are still those who lack the ability to understand the right artists have to express what we feel at every level. Censorship shouldn’t be the business of government. Whoever doesn’t want to listen to me should simply not go to my concerts. That would be the most valid and legitimate way to censor me. With all due respect to Mr. Uribe, the president of Colombia isn’t Colombia. Colombia is much more than a president. As Rubén Blades says, “patriotism is not defined by those who suppress a people.”

With these words, I sign off. But before I do so, I send a kiss to all the places I have visited in Colombia, such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Palenque, San Jacinto, Maicao, Cali, Medellín, Bogotá, Valledupar, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and all the places that I haven’t been.

René Perez Joglar.
Residente
calle 13