CPTnet
15 June 2006

COLOMBIA UPDATE: May 2006

In May, CPT and other social organizations in Barrancabermeja worried about
the actions of the demobilized paramilitaries. They heard that armed men
continued acting as paramilitaries in different zones of the Magdalena
Medio. Hundreds of these ex-paramilitaries work as security guards, carrying
guns as part of their work but continuing to exert social control by
charging "taxes" for security.

The Opon River flooded, damaging the crops. Water entered areas where an
oil pipeline had ruptured, and hence contaminated the river. Guerrillas and
the army continued their presence in the Opon River communities. This
situation generated fear in the community, because armed combat displaced
them five years ago.

The team continued to film the nonviolence section in the Mohana, the
Popular Women's Organization's TV program.

1 May

The team participated in an Ecumenical Action for International Labor Day.
Each organization commemorated their martyrs. CPT remembered Tom Fox and
murdered residents of the Opon.

3 May

The team met with the Major Jaime Sanchez of Plan Seven of the Army. Among
other things, they talked about chickens stolen and damage caused by the
soldiers on the Opon River in April (See April 2006 Update
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cptcolombia/message/105?l=1).

4 May

The International Complementary Committee (MIC) formed by Christian Aid,
Project Counselling Services, Diakon