Urgent Action-Again death threats against Afro-Colombian leaders in the Norte del Cauca Region / SE INCRTEMENTA EL RIESGO CONTRA COMUNIDADES DEL CAUCA

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

AFRODES USA and WOLA urge you to contact Colombian authorities immediately and urge them to take action to guarantee the safety of Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and human rights leaders in northern Cauca.

On December 4, Lisifrey Ararat of the Community Council of La Toma and the Black Communities Process (PCN) received a text message that stated:“Hp no decidan por la comunidad que si quieren tienen 8 dias pasalir sigue la lista *** fin **. This translates into English as “Motherfucker don’t decide for the community what they want. You have eight days to leave the area. The list remains active.”

The same text message which came from the telephone number 310 8964370 was also sent to Yair Ortiz, Edwar Mina (both leaders from the Community Council of La Toma), Arley Gonzalez (mining leader), Enrique Guetio (traditional indigenous leader from the Cabildo Cerro Tijeras) and Edwar Villegas (member of the human rights group CUT-Valle and Association NOMADESC). This threat follows another threat that was received by the Aguilas Negras-Nueva Generacion paramilitaries to these same groups on October 22nd.

PCN, NOMADESC and others recently participated in a round of visits to the US Congress and an OAS hearing on the right to previous consultation for Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Communities. For details of this visit, got to: http://actualidadetnica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8500:gimena-sanchez-garzoli-&catid=57

Please contact the following offices immediately and urge them to protect the lives of these activists, investigate these threats and prosecute those responsible for making them. Also recommend to these offices that they take bold steps to strengthen the right of previous consultation for these communities. The Colombian authorities’ information is as follows:

- Colombian Vice President’s office: Francisco Santos 57-1-560-1195
- Ministry of Interior and Justice: Fabio Valencia Cossio 57-1-444-3100 (Executive Secretary)
- Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Program: Carlos Franco 57-1- 595-1853 o 57-1595-1888.

For further information, please be in touch with Charo Mina Rojas of AFRODES USA at (434) 760-0663.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solicitamos a todos ustedes pronunciarse a la mayor brevedad por los graves hechos que atentan contra las comunidades, afrocolombianas, indigenas y campesinas del norte del cauca.

ACCION URGENTE

AMENAZADO LICIFREY ARARAT LIDER MIENERO DEL MUNICIPIO DE SUAREZ QUE SE REUNIO CON EL ALTO GOBIERNO EL PASADO 5 DE NOVIEMBRE
EN AUDIENCIA DE LA OEA EN WASHINTONG

Las organizaciones abajo firmantes altamente preocupadas por los últimos hechos que se han presentado en el Municipio de Suarez Cauca y en particular por la amenaza que en el día de hoy recibió el dirigente minero LICIFREY ARARAT y otros líderes de la región solicitamos a la comunidad nacional e internacional efectuar todas las acciones necesarias para prevenir nuevos hechos que atenten contra la integridad física y sicológica de las comunidades ubicadas en el noroccidente del Cauca.

LOS HECHOS.

1. El día 4 de diciembre de 2009, siendo las 9: 31 a.m., LICIFREY ARARAT, dirigente minero del Consejo Comunitario del Corregimiento de La Toma y miembro del PCN, recibió un mensaje de texto que decía: “Hp no decidan por la comunida que si quieren en los recurs tienen 8 dias pasalir sigue la lista *** fin **
2. *” (SIC). Este mensaje que provenía del número de teléfono 310 8964370, también fue recibido por YAIR ORTIZ, EDWAR MINA dirigentes del Consejo Comunitario de La Toma, ARLEY GONZALEZ, líder minero, ENRIQUE GUETIO, Autoridad Indígena Tradicional del Cabildo Cerro Tijeras y contra EDWAR VILLEGAS, miembro del equipo de derechos humanos de la CUT-VALLE y de la Asociación NOMADESC.
   

1. Esta nueva amenaza se suma a la que fue hecha el día 22 de octubre de 2009 por vía fax, en la que el grupo autodenominado “AGUILAS NEGRAS NUEVA GENERACION” declara objetivo militar a 8 organizaciones de la región y 5 lideres afrocolombianos, indígenas y defensores de derechos humanos. Estas amenazas se han materializado en los siguientes hechos: El día 29 de Octubre de 2009 fue asesinada MARLY CAROLINA HUILA GUAMANGA, hechos sucedidos en 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 el comunero indígena NILSON CAMPO y herido de gravedad EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA, en el sitio denominado “El Tanque” ubicado en el
   

1. Cerro Damián del Resguardo Cerro Tijeras, Municipio de Suárez, Cauca. Anotamos que el comunero indígena EGIDIO OVANDO HUILA, murió el día 28 de noviembre de 2009, en la clínica Valle de Lili, de la ciudad de Santiago de Cali.
   

5. Los territorios de las comunidades negras, indígenas y campesinas de los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires, en los que han ocurrido múltiples hechos de violación de los derechos humanos, están amenazados por los intereses de las multinacionales, que ponen en riesgos los derechos territoriales y culturales, particularmente el derecho a la vida y la integridad de las comunidades ancestrales que habitan la zona de noroccidente del Cauca.


6. En los últimos meses la comunidad se ha manifestado y ha exigido respuesta al estado colombiano por la presencia de multinacionales de exploración y explotación de minerales, en particular de oro, como la Sur Africana Anglo Gold Ashanti y la Canadiense Cosigo Resurces. Estas multinacionales y algunas decisiones arbitrarias del Ministerio de Minas y Energía e INGEOMINAS, han pretendido desalojarlos de la zona y despojar al territorio de sus riquezas.



El Ministerio de Minas y Energía realiza trámites de otorgamiento de títulos mineros en esta zona a empresas y a particulares, violando el derecho a la consulta previa y al consentimiento previo libre e informado. Por efecto de estos títulos hoy se pretende desalojar a la comunidad de la Toma.

1. La comunidad de la toma tiene una presencia ancestral desde 1635, el gobierno ha otorgado títulos en el corregimiento de la toma y en otros territorios de los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires, violando los derechos consagrados en la ley y en el convenio 169. Por estos títulos miembros de esta comunidad entre ellos YAIR ORTIZ ha sido denunciado ante la Fiscalía por supuesta explotación minera ilegal. De igual manera, es importante anotar, que estas comunidades se han manifestado al lado de las comunidades indígenas y campesinas de los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires, afectadas por la hidroeléctrica de La Salvajina, operada por EPSA en consorcio con la multinacional Española UNION FENOSA.
2. El 5 de noviembre de 2009, la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la OEA, convoco a las partes para celebrar audiencia, sobre la situación de derechos humanos en los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires. En la audiencia por parte de las comunidades participaron los líderes del Proceso de Comunidades Negras, PCN, CLEMENCIA CARABALI, Asociación de Mujeres Municipales de la valsa, Municipio de Suarez Cauca, LICIFREY ARARAT, Consejo Comunitario de la Toma; por parte de las comunidades Indígenas, participo el ex gobernador del Cabildo Honduras JOSE GOYES y por parte de las Organizaciones no Gubernamentales de derechos Humanos BERENICE CELEYTA de la asociación Nomadesc. Por parte del Gobierno la viceministra del Interior BIBIANA MARQUEZ, el representante de la Vicepresidencia CARLOS FRANCO, un representan te del Ministerio de Defensa y el Director de Acción Social.
3. Durante esta audiencia fue evidente la responsabilidad del estado Colombiano frente a los hechos de despojo territorial, entrega de los recursos naturales a las multinacionales, violación a los derechos de la consulta previa, ley 70, legislación indígena e incumplimiento a las directivas 004 y 005 de la corte constitucional y ocurrencia de graves crímenes de lesa humanidad. El gobierno nacional no tuvo ninguna respuesta clara, excepto evasivas frente a su responsabilidad, por las demandas que hicieron los peticionarios ante los comisionados de la OEA.
   

10. Por otro lado manifestamos nuestra preocupación por la actitud agresiva de la Empresa Electrificadora del Pacifico, EPSA, contra las comunidades que asistieron el día 1 de diciembre de 2009, a una reunión convocada por esta empresa para “SOCIALIZAR LA FORMULACION DEL PLAN DE MANEJO AMBIENTAL Y CONSULTA PREVIA, DE LA OPERACIÓN DE LA CENTRAL HIDROELECTRICA DE SALVAJINA” cuando aun no se han cumplido los procedimientos que exige la ley y el convenio 169. Esta reunión se efectuó en el sitio conocido como Casa de Teja y en presencia de toda la comunidad la EPSA expreso: “los líderes y organizaciones de la región se están oponiendo al progreso y están obstruyendo el trabajo que la EPSA y AMBIOTEC venimos haciendo hace 2 años”. Ante todo, nos alarma la curiosa coincidencia entre lo expresado en esta reunión por EPSA y las amenazas que en el día de hoy llegaron vía mensaje de texto a los celulares de los líderes que participaron en esta reunión.


SOLICITAMOS.

A LAS ORGANIZACIONES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL

Pronunciarse a la mayor brevedad y exigir del estado colombiano una respuesta clara y oportuna para prevenir cualquier hecho que atente contra la integridad de los miembros de las organizaciones amenazadas.

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, de los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires.

Solicitamos a las organizaciones internacionales en todo el mundo acompañar a las comunidades, afrodescendientes, indígenas y campesinas 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.

EXIGENCIAS
Exigimos a los diferentes actores armados (Ejercito Nacional, Paramilitares e insurgencia) respeto a la vida y derechos de las comunidades ubicadas en los municipios de Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires.
A las multinacionales respeto al territorio, autonomía y autodeterminación de los pueblos.

A LOS ORGANISMOS GUBERNAMENTALES Y ESTATALES
Al Ministerio de Minas e INGEOMINAS, revocar Las licencias mineras otorgadas a particulares y a las multinacionales.

A la Corporación Autónoma Nacional del Cauca, abstenerse de otorgar licencias ambientales sin el debido proceso de consulta previa, libre e informada.

Al Gobierno Nacional exigir la aplicación del derecho fundamental a la consulta previa y consentimiento libre e informado y revocar todos los títulos mineros otorgados violando las normas nacionales e internacionales que protegen los derechos de las comunidades afrocolombianas, indígenas y campesinas.

Al Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia pronunciarse públicamente si ha autorizado a la Empresa EPSA adelantar proceso de consulta sin que EPSA cumpla con todos los procedimientos. De ser afirmativa la respuesta se sirva informar a la Procuraduría General de la Nación y a las comunidades Cómo? cuando? Donde? y con quienes? se protocolizo este proceso de consulta. De no ser afirmativa se proceda de manera inmediata a frenar los procesos de implementación de mega proyectos en la zona.

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, afro descendientes, indígenas y campesinas amenazadas.

A los Organismos de Investigación del Estado efectuar de manera oportuna las investigaciones necesarias para esclarecer los hechos y aplicar las medidas penales, disciplinarias y administrativas a que haya lugar contra los responsables intelectuales y materiales de las amenazas y los hechos que atentan contra vida de las comunidades de la zona. Así mismo le solicitamos entregar los resultados públicamente en el menor tiempo posible y mostrar públicamente sus resultados.

Al Gobierno Nacional, al Estado y a todas las instituciones, generar condiciones de atención y protección adecuadas, a favor de las comunidades, afrodescendientes, indígenas y campesinas de Colombia 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 al Auto 004 del 26 de enero de 2009 y 005 febrero de 2009, en el cual se ordena la protección de los derechos fundamentales de las personas y los pueblos indígenas y afro descendientes desplazados por el conflicto armado o en riesgo de desplazamiento.

Finalmente, hacemos responsable al gobierno nacional por los hechos que atenten contra las comunidades sus líderes y sus territorios.

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

General FREDY PADILLA
Ministro de la Defensa (E)
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN Bogotá D.C.

siden@mindefensa.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=siden@mindefensa.gov.co>

infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co>

mdn@cable.net.co com/mc/compose?to=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 com/mc/compose?to=ministro@minjusticia.gov.co>

MARIO IGUARAN
Fiscal General de la Nación
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01 Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 570 20 00

contacto@fiscalia.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=contacto@fiscalia.gov.co>

denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=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 com/mc/compose?to=defensoria@defensoria.org.co>

secretaria_privada@hotmail.com com/mc/compose?to=secretaria_privada@hotmail.com>

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

anticorrupción@presidencia.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=n@presidencia.gov.co>

reygon@procuraduría.gov.co com/mc/compose?to=reygon@procuradur%C3%ADa.gov.co>


Dirigir copia de sus comunicaciones a:

ASOCIACION NOMADESC

Accionjuridica.nomadesc@gmail.com nomadesc@gmail.com>

CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR

dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com yahoo.com>

pcnkol.bogota@renacientes.net

ASOCIACION NOMADESC
CONCEJO COMUNITARIO DE LA TOMA
PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS
COORPORACION SEMBRAR
ASOCIACION DE MUJERES MUNICIPALES DE LA BALSA
PALENQUE EL ALTO CAUCA
ASOCIACION KU-MAHANA
CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR

Siguen firmas

Urgent Action: Recent Afro-Colombian Human Rights Violations/Accion Urgente Sobre Violaciones de DDHH de los Afro-Colombianos

August 5, 2009

Dear Supporters of Afro-Colombian Human Rights,

This past week we received various reports of concern from our Afro-Colombian grassroots counterparts that we wish to bring to your attention. We kindly suggest that you contact the State Department and ask that they take action on the following cases affecting Afro-Colombian communities.

•On July 30, members of the Colombian Marines arrived and stationed themselves at the Community of Bajito, in Mosquera (Nariño Department) in anticipation of an armed conflict against a guerrilla group in the area. The Marines proceeded to raid approximately 100 civilian homes and to install themselves in these homes without any regard for the inhabitants. According to the Ibarbo family and other families, the Marines allegedly took the personal identifications of persons residing in the homes they occupied without informing them. These families report that Eduar Cortez Ibarbo was abducted by the Marines, severely beaten-up, and accused of having ties with the guerrilla. The leaders of this community have been stigmatized and accused of supporting the guerrillas and engaging in illegal operations such as storing weapons. The community notes that the activities of the Colombian armed forces including the breach of international humanitarian law, harassment of community members on the part of soldiers and combat operations between the Colombian Marines and the guerrillas have generated the internal displacement of the entire community- approximately 700 Afro-Colombians.

• On July 27th, the Displaced Women Collective of Valle del Cauca (COLMUDEVSA) announced that the government had not adequately responded to the critical humanitarian situation faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and that their lives and those of their families are in danger. Due to lack of a suitable government response to their plight, the Women’s Collective and District Working Group of Buenaventura decided to peacefully takeover the headquarters of Acción Social (Colombian agency in charge of IDPs) in Buenaventura to demand immediate solutions to their situation of internal displacement. COLMUDEVSA is urging the Colombian
authorities to implement the Constitutional Court’s recent orders on internal displacement
(092 of 2008 and 004, 005, 007, 008 and 009 of 2009).

• On July 24th, Clara Portilla, member of the Organization of Displaced Persons (OPD) from the Nariño Department received a written racist death threat from the “The Black Eagles” paramilitary group. In this threat, the paramilitaries threaten to kill her if she does not leave town within 72 hours.

• In July 2009, the Colombian military began a process of forced manual eradication in Bebedó located in the San Miguel Community (Chocó Department). The eradication provoked attacks from the guerrillas who killed civilian eradicators. It also has seriously undermined the security of the Afro-Colombian community living in this area. The community is concerned about the military’s eradication project because it violates their Constitutional civil right to previous consultation. They are not opposed to eradication of coca itself but how it is being done without their consultation and consideration of their rights. They argue that eradication done without consultation with those affected will only exacerbate illicit activities, and at the same time hurt the community’s licit economic activities. Members of this community have actively opposed the eradication efforts due to fear that such efforts could lead to attacks against them. Currently, there is concern that these protests may escalate into violent confrontations.

• According to the Black Communities Process (PCN), the Colombian government granted a concession to the foreign mining company Anglo Gold Ashanti to mine in the northern Cauca Department without following the previous consultation process with the Afro-Colombian communities in the area. Granting a concession for mineral exploitation without prior consultation with the communities affected is a violation of Law 70 of the Black Communities (1993), the ILO Convention 169 and the Order 005 of the Colombian Constitutional Court. PCN states that this concession will result in the eviction of 1,502 families from the Afro-Colombian Community Council of La Toma on the 6th of August 2009. The traditional small scale Afro-Colombian miners and their families have inhabited these territories since 1636 and make a living primarily from small scale gold mining.
The Community Council of La Toma consists of five villages: Yolombo, Gelima, Dos Aguas, El Ato and La Toma. 6500 of the 7000 hectares have now been conceded to the Anglo Gold Ashanti company. Afro-Colombian leaders predict that as the Community Council of La Toma faces displacement, other Afro-Colombian communities in the municipalities of Suarez, Buenos Aires and Santander de Quilichao are likely to become displaced in the future. Ashanti and Consigo Resort, another mining company, are allegedly looking for permanent license to exploit the gold in these municipalities. Afro- Colombian leaders are concerned that this type of economic development done without the proper consultation mechanism will not benefit the local communities. Rather it will lead to displacement and leave hundreds of traditional Afro-Colombian artisan miner families with no means of sustaining themselves.

• On July 2nd 2009 a sailor, linked to the company Harimar, named Gustavo Estrella, threatened a member of the Chanzara Community Council (CCL) which forms part of the Afro-Colombian community councils umbrella network COCOCAUCA. Estrella hassled the officer for the legal actions taken by the autonomous regional organization of Cauca (CRIC) against Harimar and accused him of blocking the progress of Harimar. The perpetrator said that if they were in Buenavista then ‘things would be different’; perhaps suggesting that he could be murdered or disappeared. One month earlier, during first week of June, another person linked to Harimar circled the Bellavista Community (where CCL is located) showing off his 9mm gun in a threatening manner.

• On July 17th in Quibdó (Department of Chocó) the 34th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerillas attacked a commercial establishment in the center of the city by launching a grenade into a crowded area. 11 civilians were wounded by this explosion including Michel Diana Hurtado Ortega, Deyvis Antonio Arrieta Pérez, Freddy Antonio Díaz Hoyos, José Bertuqueo Molina Sáenz, Elcy Rengifo Ayala, Sandra Correa Ospina, Julio Eduardo Herrera, Ángela Largacha Córdoba, Oscar Herrera Hoyos, Danny Maria Largacha Córdoba and Belkin Palacios Córdoba. The FARC is one of various illegal armed groups present in Quibdó and the violence among these groups has increased in recent months. This is the 9th attack against a commercial establishment to take place in Quibdó in 2009.

We strongly urge you to contact Susan Sanford, Colombia Desk
Office of Andean Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
(Tel: 202-647-3142; Fax: 202-647-2628) and
Steve Moody, Foreign Affairs Officer - Human Rights and Labor, Asia and Western Hemisphere Affairs, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (Tel: 202-647-8301; Fax: 202- 647-8326) at the US State Department and ask that they:

- Insist that Colombian authorities take strong action to implement human rights condition F of U.S. Military assistance to Colombia which states public forces are properly distinguishing between civilians and combatants in indigenous and Afro- Colombian areas. Cases of abuse on the part of the public forces in Nariño should be investigated and those found guilty brought to justice.

- Urge the Colombian government to take immediate action to guarantee that protection measures are immediately put in place to protect the life of Ms. Portilla and the other Afro-Colombian IDP leaders and organizations found in this document.

- Encourage USAID to work with the Colombian government to work with the community of San Miguel to create a coca cultivation reduction plan centered on alternative development projects developed by the affected Afro-Colombian territorial authorities. According to Article 52 of Law 70 (1993) of the Black Communities the authorities should support the creation of micro-financing associations to facilitate the gradual substitution of illicit crops. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture should be asked to regulate the exploitation of the forestry and mining sectors and the government should provide training opportunities to rural farmers on production, commercialization, and first-aid.

- Ask that Colombian authorities adequately address the concerns of the La Toma community and Displaced Women Collective of Valle del Cauca (COLMUDEVSA) in a manner that respects their Constitutional Rights.

- Recommend that the Colombian authorities take bolder actions to dismantle the operational structures (military, economic and social) of the illegal armed groups Black Eagles, New Generation and FARC in areas of the country, most notably Chocó, Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca Departments, where Afro-Colombians live.

Attached to this document you will find a list of threats and killings involving Afro-Colombians received prior to this week.

We thank you in advance for your actions on these important matters.

Sincerely,

Gimena Sanchez
Senior Associate for Colombia
Washington Office on Latin America

Marino Cordoba, Charo Mina Rojas and Otoniel Paz
Association for Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians USA

Nicole Lee, Esq.
Executive Director
TransAfrica Forum

Joseph Jordan
Director and Associate Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Carlos Quesada
Latin American Program Director
Global Rights

Kelly Nicholls
Executive Director
U.S. Office on Colombia

James Vondracek
Managing Director
Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN)

Roland Roebuck
Afro-Latino activist
Washington, DC

Agustin Lao-Montes, PhD
Associate Professor, Sociology
University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Ajamu Dillahunt
Community Organizer
North Carolina Justice Center

Arturo Escobar
Professor of Anthropology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Murders and Threats Against Afro-Colombian Leaders and Communities 20091

Murders:
• On January 26th 2009, three Afro-Colombian bodies were found floating in the river flowing out of the Guapi-Cauca municipality, Cauca Department. The bodies were later identified as fishermen from the settlement of Saija located in Timbiqui Municipality. The persons killed were Eliseo Castro, Wiston Hurtado Quintero and Richard Hurtado Quintero. Although there is insufficient information to know the motives of the crime it is worth noting that the area is a hot zone for all the armed groups (military, paramilitary, and guerrilla) and serves as a contested zone for the narcotics trade.

-Odulfo Mosquera Orejuela, a local Afro-Colombian leader, was killed in the basin of Cacarica by the FARC, February 10, 2009.

-Ana Isabel Gomez Perez, President of Junta de Desplazados del Municipio de los Cordobas (Cordoba) and member of the Committee of Family Victims of Cordoba (Comfavic), was killed April 14, 2009. Ms. Isabel is originally from the Chocó.

-Claudia Fernanda Ramos Camacho, an Afro-Colombian teacher in Rio Mira hired by CRIC, was killed on April 19, 2009.

-On May 3rd 2009 a helicopter of the Colombian military indiscriminately machine- gunned several areas where Afro-Colombian communities reside in the Lopez de Micay municipality. Among the victims there was a thirteen year old boy, Aureliano Tovar, who was shot. The community demanded that the military, at least, take the boy to a nearby hospital to seek treatment. Although Cali has a better emergency response centers, the military took the ailing boy to Pasto. Aureliano died May 6th due to severe gun shot wounds. As a consequence of the military’s actions, members of the Afro-Colombian communities have received threats.

-On May 4th 2009 a typist from the Ministry of Education of Tumaco was murdered on her way to work. Unofficial estimates claim that in Tumaco in 2009 at least one person a day has been killed. This comes in spite of heavy policing and military operatives by the local and national government. Locals suspect that these authorities have been infiltrated by criminal groups and are thus ineffective.

-Estrella Hinestroza Robayo, leader of ASODESS and IDP women's advocate, was killed in Granada Meta, May 20, 2009.

-Otavio Castaño, from the municipality of Guapi in Cauca, had been missing since June 6th 2009 and was assumed kidnapped. The morning of June 11th residents of the neighborhood discovered that Mr. Castaño had been murdered with a chainsaw when they found pieces of his body. The killing was allegedly committed by the paramilitary group “Los Rastrojos” who had previously extortioned Mr. Castaño for money.

Threats:

-Afro-Colombian sisters Johana and Elena Acosta won a racial discrimination lawsuit against two nightclubs in Cartagena. On February 4th 2009, after three years in court, the defendants were found guilty and forced to pay the Acosta sisters 100 million pesos. Since then the sisters and their lawyer, Francisco Hernandez, have received violent phone calls threatening them “hey corrupt lawyer, son of a bitch, you are going to die before you see a single dime of that money!.”

-Afro-Colombian partners in Buenaventura informed us on March 10, 2009 that a paramilitary group was distributing pamphlets announcing that persons deemed undesirable by the paramilitaries (drug dealers, thieves, prostitutes, etc.) will be “socially cleansed.” We find this development to be particularly disturbing given the paramilitary demobilization process and recent efforts by the Colombian authorities to increase the presence of the military in this port city. Recent interviews done by WOLA in June with victims from Buenaventura indicated that
the threat remains and that paramilitaries have taken actions (killings and disappearances) against persons, their family members are too afraid to report these violations to the authorities.

-On March 13, 2009 Adom, Adacho, Asociación Orewa, Asociaciones Comunales, Codegeved, Comisión Nacional de Reparación, Cocomacia, Defensoría del Pueblo, Diócesis de Quibdó, Fedeutch, Foro Interétnico Solidaridad Chocó, Mujer y Vida, Oficina departamental de Paz, Personería de Quibdó, Red departamental de Mujeres Chocoanas. Ruta Pacifica de Mujeres and Unión Desplazada Del Chocó are asking that action is taken regarding pamphlets containing death threats against civil society organizations in Quibdó and Chocó.

These organizations are concerned about the threat of death and harm that exists against them and others, as well as, the terror campaign that paramilitaries are orchestrating against the civilian population. They note that paramilitaries are threatening to individually and collectively kill, persecute massacre ethnic leaders in order to impose their economic, political and military projects in the region. They are especially concerned for the welfare of the large number of IDPs situated in Quibdó and their leaders since this population is very vulnerable to attack.

-In April 2009, Afro-Colombian IDP leaders Erlendy Cuero Bravo, delegate of AFRODES to the National Coordination Table on IDPs (CND) and Ricauter Angulo, Coordinator, National Municipal Table of IDPs in Cali, situated in Cali received pamphlets from the Black Eagles threatening them for their working in defending victims’ rights.

-Senator Piedad Cordoba, Afro-Colombian Senator threatened by the Black Eagles paramilitaries, in pamphlets distributed May 2009.

- On May 29, 2009, a strange man entered the office of the Municipal Association of Women (ASOM), an afíliate of the Black Communities Process (PCN) in La Balsa community, Buenos Aires Municipality in Cauca. The unknown man entered the office and began to ask for well-known Afro-Colombian advocate Clemencia Carabalí. When he was informed that she was not in the office, the man told the other women in the office that “she should watch out for her family and not involve herself in what does not pertain to her.” The same threat was made to Liliana Sandoval of ASOM, once the man determined that she worked with Clemencia. Various Afro-Colombian women advocates from ASOM have received similar cellphone threats.

-On May 31st 2009 in Vigia del Fuerte, Antioquia, various threatening and accusatory pamphlets were distributed. These pamphlets falsely accuse and threaten the life of missionary Jose Nelly Mena, among others. The Dioceses of Quibdo urges local and national authorities to make a full investigation and punish the material and intellectual actors of this crime. Additionally, they ask for the proper mechanisms to ensure the safety of Jose Nelly Mena and other religious leaders.

-Hugo Rivera Aquiñonez is the legal representative for the IDP association “El Porvenir” in the municipality of Tumaco. On Sunday June 14th 2009, two unknown individuals were searching for Mr. Rivera with the intent of murdering him. Mr. Rivera was able to escape with the help of neighbors and family members.

Security Issues Concerning Members of AFRODES in Bogotá

In recent months the Association of Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) has received numerous threats and been subjected to strange and menacing persons coming to their office. It is recommended that Carlos Franco of the Vice President’s office meet with the core members of AFRODES to discuss their security situation and develop actions that can be taken to ensure their safety.

AFRODES played a key role in helping the Colombian Constitutional Court gather the information necessary to do its hearing on Afro-Colombian IDPs. This hearing led to the Order issued by the Court in January 2009 that orders the Colombian State to take actions to reverse the poor situation faced by Afro-Colombian IDPs. AFRODES also recently released a joint report with Global Rights on the situation of Afro-Colombian IDP women that provides useful information and recommendations for how the particular concerns of such women can be addressed.

Other Reports:

• The Noanamito Afro-Colombian community of Lopez de Micay (Cauca Department) reported in January 2009 an increase in paramilitary presence in their area and increased activities on the part of the “New Generation” paramilitaries. They fear that the increased presence of this group is going to lead to human rights abuses.

• On June 25, President Uribe ordered that 12,000 members of the Colombian armed forces “recover from the FARC” the territories surrounding the River Naya (Valle del Cauca Department). It is believed that for every inhabitant in this area there will now be two soldiers. The Afro-Colombian Community Council of the River Naya are deeply concerned and reject the notion that there territories are serve as a “sanctuary for guerillas and narcos.” Approximately 18,570 Afro-Colombians and indigenous persons from the ethnic group Epera Siapidara inhabit this area. They fear that this military incursion will lead to deaths and new internal displacements because in February 28, 2008 these communities were subjected to aerial bombardments that damaged properties and led to displacement. Further, 30% of this population depends on growing banana, plantain, papa china, corn and cacao for its subsistence and there is concern that this militarization will obstruct their right to freedom of movement and thus their ability to sustain themselves.

•The 24th of January the 10th regiment of the Colombian Marines allegedly seized a shipment containing ACPM, the fuel needed for electricity in the lower part of the Saija Community Council (Cauca Department). Due to the outdated infrastructure of the Afro-Colombian community of Saija, the electricity generator plant depends on a daily dose of ACPM. Without ACPM the community has no electricity and this creates great discomfort and insecurity in a region affected by armed groups. The Marines did not explain why they seized the fuel from the Afro-Colombian community. Moreover, ACPM has no other known use which discards the argument that its seizure was an attempt to fight the guerrillas. After pressuring them for a response, the 30th of January, the Marines claim that the seizure came as a result of the transportation vehicle not having proper documentation and license plate (for which we the community was subsequently fined). It should be noted that the transportation vehicle used was our traditional canoe for which there is no clear and explicit policy regarding its mobilization and documentation.

Nuevas Amenazas hacia las comunidades negras del Norte del Cauca / New Threats against the black communites of the north of Cauca

(en español)

THE PROCESS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES IN COLOMBIA PUBLICIZES THE FOLLOWING ACTS BEFORE THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:

OCURRENCES:

1. The north of Cauca, specifically the municipalities of Suarez & Buenos Aires, is inhabited by a population that is 70% Afro-Colombian. These descendents of past slaves who now subsist from agriculture & mining are communities that have been an example of the construction of a grassroots peaceful resistance for the entire country.

2. Many Afro Colombian leaders have sacrificed their lives and personal interests to help in the construction of a national project that would help create the reconciliation needed within our society but with respect for our differences.

3. The north of the Cauca is a geographically strategic area that historically was a transportation corridor and still is of utmost environmental and mining importance. These reasons have caused that the region often finds itself in constant dispute with legal and illegal armed actors in addition to the particular interests of the companies such as AngloGold Ashanti, Union Fenosa and numerous timber companies.

4. In the region their are numerous organizations that are parts of the Process of Black Communities in Colombia- PCN- such as: Communal Councils, women's organizations, victims' organizations, groups of communal action, agricultural organizations and mining cooperatives. These groups constitute an invaluable and active defense of human rights and the promoting of initiatives seeking to better the quality of life for Afro Colombians.

5. It is note worthy the long tradition of struggle of these communities that have been mobilizing for hundreds of years for the right to freedom, of the most recent struggles it is important to take into account:

* The fight against the Salvajina Dam because of its negative impacts towards local communities. Since created in 1986 there have been several broken promises from the government towards the communities.

* The process of prior consultation in regards to the EPSA project of the canalization of the River Ovejas to enlarge the Salvajina reservoir.

6. In 2004, derived from these struggles, the Integrated Inter Ethnic Commission is constituted by local delegates from indigenous and black communities in the municipalities of Suárez, Buenos Aires & Morales. This is done with the accompaniment of the Association of Indigenous Cabildos from the North of Cauca- ACIN and the Process of Black Communities- PCN.

7. All the implemented or planned mega development projects for the region have contributed to the forced displacement and the deterioration of the economic, environmental, social and cultural rights of local communities. This has also deepened the inequality that exists between the region's inhabitants and populations in other parts of the country.


WE DENOUNCE:

1. In June 2000 the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia- AUC paramilitary group, took a public presence in the area of Buenos Aires and then Suarez. It maintained control of the area until 2004. As a product of this we have had a long history of massacres, selective assassinations, forced rationing of food, massive displacements, forced disappearances, the raping of women, and forced recruiting as some of the actions that were implemented against the population with the support of public security forces. One of the more well known massacres from the south of our country is one that happened in this territory, in Naya. In the case of Buenos Aires, these acts are part of a process of discussion and work around some pilot projects of collective reparations being promoted by the National Commission of Reparations and Reconciliation- CNRR. In spite of the previously mentioned acts, towards the end of 2007 there has been evidence of a paramilitary reorganization process in the region.

2. On October 9, 2007, 10 armed men from the Calima Bloc came to the residence of Clemencia Carabalí, member of The Municipal Association of Women of Buenos Aires –ASOM, located in the countryside of La Balsa, municipality of Buenos Aires. Clemencia, was interrogated for about 20 minutes about her personal activities. Clemencia, at this time was pregnant and the above mentioned encounter caused the death of her unborn child and forced her to relocate to the town of Santander de Quilichao where she remained for three months. When she returned to La Balsa, she was once again was forced to leave her home to go live in Santander de Quilichao in Feb. 2008 because of the frequent harassment from unknown individuals regarding her activities and where about.

3. In the month of May 2008 the compañero Robert de Jesús Guacheta was killed in the municipality of Morelos. He was the supplicant governor in his community and a member of the Inter Ethnic Commission.

4. The compañera Francia Elena Márquez, member of the Community Council for the countryside of La Toma in the municipality of Suárez is a dynamic youth organizer and member of the Association of Women of Yolombó and of the Inter Ethnic Commission has been subject to continued threats after her speaking in a communal hearing that was held with the government.

5. On May 29, 2009, in the office of the Municipal Association of Women located in La Balsa, an unknown man appeared asking for Clemencia Carabalí: "What has she been doing and where is she?" When the women said that she was not in the region, the man said that she better "take care of her family and mind her own business". A similar message was also left for the compañera Liliana Sandoval, also a member of ASOM, after he asked if she worked with Clemencia Carabalí. In the same way, various compañeras of ASOM have been threatened by means of phone calls on their cellular phones. All are asked if they work with Clemencia Carabalí and then they are told to take care of their families and to mind their own business.

These acts show that there is an insistent persecution against the relentless effort of peaceful resistance that these organizations do in defense of the communities' rights'. This persecution is brining drastic and irreparable consequences for the leaders of these organizations. From the intensification of the armed conflict in the regions inhabited by Afro descendent populations, the large number of assassinated leaders, family members and the more then one million people who are victims of internal forced displacement.

In recognizing the grave situation of the Afro descendent population in Colombia, the Constitutional Court regulated Auto 005 of 2009, in which it prioritizes the region of the North of Cauca, as an emblematic case in which there are specific orders that include:

* The Office of Social Action, in coordination with the territories it must design and put into action a specific plan for the protection and assistance of these communities, that must be functional by October 30, 2009.

* The Ministry of the Interior & Justice, must design no later then October 30, 2009, a plan to chart the collective and ancestral territories that are inhabited by the Afro-Colombian population.

* ORDERS that the Director of Social Action as coordinator of the National System of Attention to the Displaced Population, and CNAIPD, design a holistic plan for the prevention, protection and assistance of the Afro Colombian population. This must be done with full participation of the communities themselves and full respect of all selected authorities, those constituted and those from the respective territories. The Plan of Prevention, Protection and Assistance to the Afro Colombian population should be designed no later the January 18, 2010. The director of Social Action on July 1, 2010 should present a report regarding the advancement of the application of the holistic plan.

WE DEMAND:

1. The national government adopt the necessary measures to protect the lives of the leaders from the black communities of the municipalities of Suarez & Buenos Aires and the guarantee the right to a free, open and informative prior consultation, regarding any projects that would affect the communities' rights' and territory.

2. The local, departmental and national governments must protect as mandated the Colombian Law, the Convention 169 of the OIT and the Auto 005 of 2009, the right of black communities to remain in their territory. To comply; communities, organizations and leaders should be coordinated with to assure that the mechanisms and guarantees for the accomplishing of what is mandated by Auto 005 of 2009 and other measure related to the issue.

3. The government and the CNRR, adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the lives of the leaders, organizational members and communities that accepted to participate in the Pilot Program of Collective Reparation. Equally that measures be adopted that guarantee this exercise can advance without back track in regards of the right to autonomous participation of the communities, organizations and leaders.

4. We demand that the wave of threats, intimidation and assassination of community leaders and members of the Inter Ethnic Commission be investigated and that the appropriate measures be taken against those responsible.


El Proceso de Comunidades Negras –PCN urges the national and international community to demand that the Colombian government completely follow in compliance with the Auto 005 of 2009.


Human Rights Team
Proceso de Comunidades Negras en Colombia PCN
http://www.renacientes.org/

Masacre en el Chocó

Urgente: acaba de cometerse una masacre en el Chocó