CPTnet

21 December 2011

COLOMBIA: Garzal's  President, Reverend Salvador Alcántera, Forced to Flee for His Life

-by Stewart Vriesinga

On Friday, December 9th, shortly after Salvador was warned that armed actors wearing balaclavas had come looking for him, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Colombia accompanied Salvador and his family safely out of the Magdalena Medio region. CPT has accompanied Garzal and Nueva Esperanza's struggle to remain on their lands for more than four years.

Salvador's situation is not exceptional. In Colombia leaders of millions of  campesinos (small farmers) seeking to remain on their land or return to the lands from which they were displaced are more likely to be killed than  receive state protection and titles to their lands that would guarantee their safety.* 

Despite years of campaigning, the communities of Garzal and Nueva Esperanza, along with their national and international allies (including CPT)  have been unable to convince the state to recognize and protect  the right to land titles and protection from those who seek to displace them. This most recent threat came only one day after a delegation of supporters including national and international church representatives, Swiss embassy and Swiss non-governmental  organizations (NGOs), national NGOs, and  CPT visited the community and heard first-hand reports of the situation.

Although the forced displacement of one of their strongest leaders underscores the precariousness of their situation, community members remain determined to stay on the land that is rightfully theirs.  CPT Colombia affirms that right and continues to accompany the communities of Garzal and Nueva Esperanza. Since receiving a great deal of national and international attention helps keep them safe, CPT Colombia asks that you circulate this article widely.

For further background on Salvador Alcántera see article here. 

For further information on Garzal see recent newspaper article in El Espectador [in Spanish].

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