CPTnet
9 October 2007
ROOSTER MINE, SOUTHERN BOLIVAR: Defending life and the right to remain
by Joel Klassen
During the Fourth Assembly of the Communities of Southern Bolivar on 19-20
September in Mina Gallo (Rooster Mine), community members commemorated the
life of Alejandro Uribe, leader of the Southern Bolivar Agro-Miners'
Federation (Fedeagromisbol), on the first anniversary of his assassination
by the army. Fedeagromisbol also sounded the alarm regarding the Colombian
government's aim to approve quickly a change in the Colombian mining code
that threatens the viability of the area's mining communities.
To the rhythm of a drum, a student parade opened the gathering. Children
wearing their best clothes and carrying signs with messages of peace and
dignity filed down the main street the Uribe's home village, where he was
recognized for his efforts to improve children's education.
Numerous individuals paid Uribe homage in words and music, conveying the
affection and respect that he inspired: "I have no words, all I have is a
pain here in my chest for the loss of a brother, a companion in the
struggle"; "If we suffer all together, we suffer less; each helps to lessen
the pain of the other."
Many expressed rage that the Colombian government continues to insist that
Uribe was a guerrilla soldier killed in combat: "Alejandro Uribe was not a
guerrilla soldier, he was a mining leader!"
Following the commemoration, the assembly's work began. Federation leaders
warned that before Christmas the national government wants to approve a
change in the mining code that governs mining activities in the country.
The proposed revision favours multinational companies in that it takes into
account only economic, technical and environmental protection capacity to
prioritize access to mining. This change presents a huge obstacle to small
miners, who lack the resources to compete on a level playing field with
international interests. They do not use formal business plans, nor are
they able to raise funds in the world's stock exchanges. Nevertheless,
these artisanal miners have worked the mines for decades, and are committed
to staying there, a right recognized in the current code, even if weakly.
Representatives of the Federation and of the Secretary of Mines of the
department of Bolivar reported on a pilot project to improve technical
levels of mining in the zone. A mining leader said the project could
benefit the zone, but emphasized "we miners must not fall asleep: from the
moment that the mining code reform is passed, we will not have a legal foot
to stand on to stay in our homes. They can force us out, and any
multinational come in. We need to oppose this reform with all our strength."
The communities debated about how to respond to the mining code change and
discussed the issue of building an access road into the zone. Those
gathered committed to developing proposals to continue their struggle when
they returned to their villages. They will meet again the first week of
October.
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