On Monday 24 May 2010, in front of the northern Bogota headquarters
of the multinational corporation AngloGold Ashanti, members of an international
delegation of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) performed a symbolic trial. The delegation was composed of six
United States citizens and one Canadian citizen, as well as representatives of
the CRIC, Sembrar, Mobilization Against Hunger and Poverty, and CPT team
members Julie Myers and Chris Knestrick.
The action tried to make visible the human rights violations
in Colombia committed by the Canadian mining company, including displacement,
forced disappearances, political corruption, militarization, contracts with
paramilitaries, and environmental degradation.
"We are internationals but we are not in agreement
with international and multinational corporations stealing the land for the
profit of other countries, without thinking about the people who work and live
for years and years on the land in way that is just and sustainable," said
Julie Myers.
In the heavy rain, the participants read accusations
brought against the company to a delegate dressed in gold clothing,
symbolically representing AngloGold Ashanti. After each accusation, the
crowd shouted “guilty!” and a participant wrapped a paper chain that read “guilty”
around the delegate.