CPTnet
3 November 2006

COLOMBIA: Gold miners call for end to killings; CPT to send delegation

"We are here to defend our territory. We can do nothing else but defend our
territory."

The small-scale miners of the south of Bolivar pry gold from the land with
pick and shovel and smelt it in furnaces. They have evolved efficient ways
to secure their livelihood. In their decades on the land, they have also
had to evolve efficient ways to protect their lives and interests in the war
that rages in their territory.

Colombian army units have engaged in an escalating operation in the zone
over the last year. Soldiers tell mining communities that their job is to
open the area for multinationals that wish to establish large, open pit
mines.

On 19 September beloved mining and civic leader, Alejandro Uribe was
assassinated by members of the Nueva Granada Battalion, as he walked home
from a community meeting. The army claimed they had killed an armed and
uniformed guerrilla, although they provided no evidence for the claim. Two
days later, soldiers said to local people, "He won't be your only
death-there will be more dead leaders." The population decided to act.

Hundreds made the long journey on foot to the town of Santa Rosa. They
called in supporters and observers from the church, human rights agencies of
the government, the UN, and national and international civil society
organizations, including CPT. Miners demanded that the national government
investigate the murder of Uribe, stop army abuses, and ensure their land
rights.

Early government responses did not satisfy the community, but, on 30
October, after forty days of asserting their demands, community members
signed an accord with the government and are now in final negotiations for
their return home.

Christian Peacemaker Teams will be among those accompanying the miners, who
remain at high risk. They will return to a zone that the army still
patrols, and ELN and FARC guerrillas still maintain a presence.

Miners, through the Federation of Agri-Miners of the South of Bolivar and
the "Humanitarian Spaces" movement, will continue their ten-year-old
struggle to protect their land and livelihood. They are working to
formalize land titles, and calling for the creation of a Mining Reserve
Zone.

Kedahda, a subsidiary of the UK/US/South African multinational conglomerate
AngloGold Ashanti is preparing to open a mine in the zone. Canadian
companies have also expressed interest. Any company operating in the
current context is benefiting from, and complicit in, murder.

Alejandro Uribe is not the first person to die in the miners' struggle. But
as one miner said, "If we need to die, we will be dying for a just cause."

CPT will host an international delegation to Colombia from January 17-30,
2007. The delegation will focus on mining issues, and visit the mining zone
to strengthen international support for the communities' struggle to defend
their territory. To join the delegation, fill in and mail the application
at http://www.cpt.org/delegations/delegations.php.