CPTnet
June 29, 2003

COLOMBIA UPDATE: May 2004

During the month of May CPT Colombia celebrated three years of accompaniment
along the Opón river, in the northeastern part of the country. The
communities defined steps they needed to take to continue their struggle for
a viable peace. CPT workers encountered the navy and national army in the
region. The violent deaths of three soldiers and a resident in the Opón
disturbed the calm of the community.

Update on the accompaniment of Opón Communities:

In open meetings, the Opón community

*decided to make public on May 2 their 'Process of Life, Dignity, and
Liberty' which they began in January. With help from CPT and the Program
for Development and Peace of the Magdalena Medio Region, the communities
have demanded respect from all the armed groups that operate in their zone.

*analyzed the first moments as a unified community on May 15, and concluded
that the decision strengthens the community, and affords
some protection from the violent actions of the armed groups.

* decided to begin development projects such as growing cacao and African
palms to produce income. After defining steps to continue their process for
implementing autonomy and peace, community members decided at the same
meeting to ask the support of the state and other organizations. Workers
with the Program for Development and Peace of the Middle Magdalena and a
European Union Representative, attended this meeting, along with CPT.

May 8
Fernando Díaz, a member of the Ñeques community whom the team knew well,
was assassinated by paramilitaries in Barrancabermeja. CPTers accompanied
the family as they received news of the death.

May 23
CPT team members encountered the army and navy along the Opón River. The
army was cooking at a civilian home, but the soldiers had asked permission
to use the family's pots. CPTers reminded the commander that, according to
Colombian law, soldiers may not enter civilian homes.

Later that day the commander of another group of twenty navy soldiers
informed the team that his men only receive 3,000 pesos (U.S.$1.20) a day
for food, which is not sufficient.

May 27
CPT attended a meeting with the Municipal Committee for the displaced
persons of the Opón River. Although the mayor's office had made promises
concerning the return of the communities to the river, many of them have not
been fulfilled. One community leader asked the municipal representative,
"Why do you not respect us and honor the agreements of our return? We have
no security. The lack of security prevents us from complying with the
agreements."

Barrancabermeja Update:

In the city of Barrancabermeja, CPT paid attention to the refinery workers'
strike at Ecopetrol, the national oil company. A CPT delegation from North
America held a vigil against violence.

May 5
The Social Forum marched through the main streets of Barrancabermeja in
support of the strike by USO, the United Workers' Union. The twenty
thousand participants of the march proceeded in a nonviolent
manner as requested by the march leaders. The march ended with an
ecumenical service begun by Carol Rose of CPT. The union and Ecopetrol
reached an agreement to end the strike on May 26.

May 16
Two CPTers participated in a memorial event and Eucharist for the
twenty-five people who were kidnaped and/or killed in Barrancabermeja on May
16, 1998.

May 20
Two CPTers went to Puerto Berrio, two hours south of Barrancabermeja, to
speak with Colonel Niño of the Calibío Battalion of the National Army.
CPTers expressed their condolences for the violent deaths of three of their
soldiers killed by the guerrillas (FARC) along the Opón River. CPT also
noted that there had been soldiers without
proper identification in the Opon, which frightens the people and creates
rumors of military - paramilitary cooperation. The Colonel said he
recognized the problem.

May 22 - 29, 2004 Delegation
A delegation of six people from the United States and Canada arrived with a
translator from Bogotá. The delegation met with religious and social
groups, and the army in Barrancabermeja. Colombians repeatedly expressed
their belief to the delegates that the presence of CPT in their communities
allows them to live in their homes, as well as take steps for themselves in
the process toward peace. The delegation and team preformed a candlelight
vigil during the evening of May 28. They prayed in two separate locations
where homicides had taken place the week before.

May 25
During a meeting with a social development group, the team learned that
anti-narcotic fumigation aircraft had landed in Barrancabermeja in order to
spray the southern part of the Bolivar province, which lies to the north of
Barrancabermeja. The Colombian government had agreed not to fumigate zones
where there are European Union-backed projects, which exist in the south of
the Bolivar province. Despite the agreement, it appears as though the
government will order fumigations in this area to begin in July.