CPTnet
September 7, 2001
BARRANCABERMEJA, CO: CPTers vigil in port for 24 hours

On August 28th the CPT team in Colombia maintained a 24 hour presence in
the port area of Barrancabermeja. This mile stretch of port has seen 15
deaths this past year and four murders in the last 3 weeks. CPT under the
banner of "One day and night without violence" called on security forces to
maintain a more visible presence in the port to deter some of the violence.
"We began the increased presence in the port" explained CPTer Jonathan
Horst, "and we expect the security forces to continue it". Campesinos,
village farmers, throughout the area have been asking for a more visible
presence by the police and navy to help protect this important area of
transportation and trade.

During the 24-hour vigil the CPT team held prayers every four hours and
sang songs of worship. Other human rights groups and religious leaders
joined the team in the presence and prayers during the vigil. During one of
the sharing times the team was joined by a street merchant. He asked the
team if he could share something, unable to speak, the man just wept.

Increased violence in the port area poses a great threat to the campesino
population. People living in outlying areas must use the port to buy and
trade goods and communicate with relatives in the city. Increasingly
paramilitary forces have used this area to target the civil
population--most recently the motorists who transport food and medicines to
rural areas.

To end the vigil CPTers took a motor canoe to the nearby navy base where
they maintain a checkpoint on the river. There the team asked the Navy
Commander, Agust�n Rodriguez, to work to protect the civilian population.
"We are open to collaborating with the navy to find alternatives solutions
to end the violence in the port," stated Pierre Shantz.

Violence in the port continues. A week after this action, in the afternoon,
another man was assassinated in the port.