CPTnet

9 November 2006

COLOMBIA: Miners return home

by Michelle Braley and Joel Klassen

Santa Rosa, Colombia - On Sunday, November 5, 2006, after mobilizing for
forty-five days of protest in the town of Santa Rosa, 600 small-scale gold
miners from the south of Bolivar province crammed into the back of flatbed
trucks and went home. Amid joyful whoops and hollers, their mile-long
caravan made the two hour drive to the end of the snaking mountain road
which leads to the mining zone. From there, they walked several more hours
along grueling trails to their homes.

In grief and rage over the recent murder of community member Alejandro Uribe
at the hands of soldiers of the Colombian army, miners from many communities
had gathered to call for a serious investigation into Uribe's death, and for
measures to enhance their security. They had sacrificed income, and many of
them time with their families, to live in cramped conditions, and at times
go without food. When asked what he felt the mobilization had achieved, one
participant responded, "Respect for life."

Representatives of the Regional Office of the government's Human Rights
Ombudsperson, the UN Human Rights Commission, and other civil society
organizations including CPT, accompanied the return in response to a request
by mining leadership.

During the mobilization, miners and their allies engaged in several rounds
of negotiations with governmental authorities until arriving at a nine point
accord which included the following main points:

1) A special human rights unit of the national attorney general's office
will continue to investigate Alejandro Uribe's death.

2) Army units must obey the Colombian constitution and international law and
respect the distinction between civilians and combatants.

3) The government recognizes the miners' organization, the Federation of
Agrominers of the south of Bolivar, as legal and legitimate.

The agreement's success will be measured in large part by the army's
actions. From past experience with similar negotiations, miners expressed
strong skepticism about the willingness of the Colombian government to
ensure the fulfillment of the accords.

As the miners walked home, many soldiers surrounded a small group in a
threatening manner, but then dispersed when a larger group of returnees
approached. Other soldiers gave out leaflets to returnees that encouraged
guerrillas to turn in their weapons. Many people ripped up the leaflets
immediately, infuriated at the insinuation that they were guerrillas. One
soldier was heard to remark, "It seems like these people have eaten
scorpions," implying that he sensed their anger, and their refusal to be
intimidated.

The soldiers' actions and attitudes are fueling people's doubts about the
seriousness of the government's and army's intent to respect the people.
Together with other national and international bodies dedicated to building
respect for human rights, CPT will continue to monitor the situation of the
people living in the south of Bolivar province.