CPTnet
30 May 2009
COLOMBIA UPDATE: April 2009


During April, the people of the Magdalena Medio continued to struggle for justice through community processes, social movements, and public marches.  CPT Colombia stands as a witness to the people's resistance and continues to offer support through accompaniment and solidarity work.

31 March - 3 April
Gladys Gomez, Stewart Vriesinga, and Eloy Garcia visited community members in Tiquisio concerned about suspicious activity.  An unknown party has been building an airstrip, and leaders of the Community Process of Tiquisio expressed concern about the involvement of paramilitary groups and the potential increase of illegal activity and violence in the region.

3 April
The Legion of Affection conducted a symbolic action in response to a violent murder/suicide committed beside a school in the Arenal neighborhood of Barrancabermeja.  The Legion invited the students and the community to participate in painting a mural to reclaim the space.  The Legion also presented a cultural dance to illustrate the renewal of life.  CPTers Sandra Milena Rincon, Jenny Dillon and Sarah Shirk accompanied the event (See photos.)

6-7 April
The Corporation for Coexistence and Peace in Northeast Antioquia (CAHUCOPANA) and the Yiris Castro Judicial Cooperative visited Puerto Nuevo Ite in the Cimitarra Valley to speak with community members about family members killed as false positives (False positives are civilians whom the military kills and presents as guerrilla fighters to fill quotas.)  If victims' families sue the government, they can receive roughly $13,000 U.S. dollars in restitution.  CPTers Sarah Shirk and Eloy Garcia accompanied the visit.

9 April
In keeping with a team agreement to honor Colombian holidays, CPTers Jenny Dillon, Gladys Gomez, Stewart Vriesinga, Sarah Shirk, Eloy Garcia and Tracy Hughes spent the day swimming and relaxing at a lagoon near Barrancabermeja.  (See photos.)

11 April
Along with his family, David Lopez from Black Communities' Processes and the team's undoing racism advisor, joined CPTers for lunch and a conversation about the history of Afro-Colombian communities.

14-15 April
CPTers Tracy Hughes and Jenny Dillon went to the Opón.  Many families have been forced to leave for economic reasons.  Ecopetrol, a large oil company with a refinery in Barrancabermeja, has begun oil explorations.  Hughes and Dillon visited remaining families, renewing relationships and hearing updates on community processes.  (See 7 May 2009 CPTnet release, "Where Have All the Children Gone?" and photos.)

14-16 April
Sarah Shirk and Stewart Vriesinga traveled to the municipality of Regidor with the local Human Rights Ombudsman to visit 123 families from the town of Buenos Aires who have occupied an abandoned cattle ranch. The group formed the Association of Small Farmers of Buenos Aires (ASOCAB), and seeks legal advice and accompaniment as they face a legal battle with the powerful family that once lived on the land.  A judge postponed an eviction order scheduled for 15 April 2009.  (See photos.)

20 April
CPTers planned a public action focusing on violence and internal displacement as part of the international campaign Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia.  Colombia has 4.3 million internally displaced people, second only to Sudan.  CPT and partner organizations gathered for a symbolic act and then processed to the Oil Worker's Union (USO) to sign paper dolls, which CPT will deliver to the U.S. Congress.  (See photos.)

21 April
Hired killers assassinated Edgar Martinez Ruiz, a community leader in the Southern Bolivar Agricultural-Mining Federation (FEDEAGROMISBOL) in San Pablo at 9 a.m.  The team's March Update noted that San Pablo "has the highest levels of violence, threats, and displacement, as well as the highest risk to the civilian population from paramilitaries."  Martinez was a staunch community activist and was pushing the mayor's office to become fiscally accountable.  He is survived by his wife and two children (See 24 April 2009 CPTnet release, "COLOMBIA: Southern Bolivar community leader Edgar Martinez Ruiz assassinated.")

22-23 April
Pierre Shantz, Tracy Hughes, and Eloy Garcia accompanied the community of San Pablo in response to the murder of Edgar Martinez.  His funeral took place on the morning of the 23 April, followed by a processional and protest march through town.  (See photos.)