Afro-Colombian News

Memorando de NASGACC cerca del caso de los territorios Afro-Colombianos usurpados por companias de palma aceitera de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó (Chocó, Colombia)

(Link to original in English below)

Para: Miembros y sus Ayudantes sobre la Política Extranjera, Cauces de Congresistas Afro-Americanos de los Estados Unidos

De parte de: Gimena Sanchez, WOLA; Kelly Nicholls, USOC; Charo Mina Rojas y Marino Cordoba, AFRODES USA; Ajamu Dillahunt, NASGACC; Carlos Quesada, Global Rights; Nicole Lee, TranAfrica Forum; Arturo Escobar, UNC; Roland Roebuck, NASGACC y James Vondracek, Chicago Religious Leadership Network (CRLN).

RE: Desarrollos re: caso de usurpación ilegal de tierras por los paramilitares y las compañías de aceite de palma en los territorios Afro-Colombianos de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó (Chocó, Colombia)

Fecha: 25 Mayo 2010

Te escribimos hoy para informarte de dos desarrollos positivos en las regiones Afro-Colombianas de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó (Chocó) en el noreste de Colombia, para expresar nuestra preocupación con las nuevas amenazas hechas contra líderes de grupos Afro-Colombianos y de personas desplazados internamente y también contra las organizaciones de derechos humanos que soportan estos grupos, y para hacer recomendaciones sobre las diferentes maneras que puedes ayudar a proteger y soportar los derechos territoriales de gente Afro-Colombiana.

En Septiembre del 2009, German Marmolejo fue elegido como el nuevo representante legal del Consejo de la Comunidad de la Cuenca del Rió Curvaradó bajo de circunstancias cuestionables, como muestran los dos documentos anexados, uno de la Comunidad Camelia en Curvaradó y otro de la Asociación de Consejos Comunitarios y Organizaciones de Bajo Atrato (ASCOBA). A pesar de las protestas que lanzaron los residentes de la comunidad que viven en esos territorios, el Ministerio de la Justicia y del Interior de Colombia todavía reconoció German Marmolego como el represéntate de el Consejo legítimamente elegido y planeaba regresar 25.000 hectáreas de tierra que fue usurpado por grupos paramilitar violentamente y ilegalmente a Señor Marmolego el 19 de Mayo (le semana pasada).

Al alivio de las comunidades de Curvaradó y la ONG Colombiana, Justicia y Paz, la Corte Constitucional de Colombia emitió un fallo el 18 de Mayo que evita el regreso de tierra en la regiones de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó por el Ministro del Interior hasta que se pueda determinar los residentes ancestrales de la tierra y hasta que nuevas elecciones para el Consejo de la Comunidad se puedan conducir en Agosto del 2010.

En otro desarrollo relativo y muy positivo, el Procurador General de Colombia emitió órdenes de detención para 24 empresarios de pala aceitera en cargos de apropiación ilegal de tierra, desplazamiento obligado, conspiración para cometer crímenes, falsificación de documentos públicos, violaciones de regulaciones ambientales, y amenazas contra las personas que trabajan en resolver estos tipos de casos.

La red de los Estados Unidos que apoya las comunidades Afro-Colombianas (NASGACC) esta muy agradecido a la Embajada de los Estados Unidos por su respuesta rapida en esta y otro situaciones de emergencia y también por su constante apoyo por los derechos de las comunidades desplazados internamente en Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó.

Aunque vemos estas ocurrencias nuevas como muy positivas y útil en asegurar protección inmediatamente para los residentes de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó, continuamos a estar extremadamente preocupados por la seguridad personal de los miembros de estas comunidades y por la seguridad de los ONGs Colombianas que trabajan cercanamente con ellos, en particular la ONG Justicia y Paz. Dada su larga historia en condenando la corrupción que existe dentro de las empresas de aceite de palma que operan dentro del región y sus allegados vínculos con grupos paramilitar, Justicia y Paz cree, con mucha razón, que los desarrollos recientes los va convertir a ellos y a las comunidades que ellos defienden en un objetivo mas grande para ataques legales y fiscales. Enrique Petro, un líder de la comunidad en la región de Curvaradó, quien visito a los Estados Unidos en Diciembre del 2006 para participar en una junta organizado por la oficina del disputado Donald Payne (NJ), es un líder de una comunidad de gente desplazada internamente que esta bajo de mucho peligro. Justicia y Paz ha recibido información que asesinos han estado pagados para matar a Enrique Petro por su colaboración con organizaciones de derechos humanos dentro del país y por todo el mundo. De acuerdo con una acción urgente que emitió la organización Amnistía Internacional, “el informante dijo que los paramilitares han acusado Enrique Petro de promover la visita de organizaciones nacionales e internacionales de derechos humanos a la región para supervisar las violaciones de derechos humanos relacionados con el desarrollo masivo de las plantaciones de palma Africana en la zona.”[1] Señor Petro ha sido instrumental en ayudar las comunidades desplazadas regresar a sus tierras ancestrales y en el desarrollo de mecanismos de autoprotección como la creación de una zona humanitaria de biodiversidad para ayudar proteger a estas personas que están regresando a sus tierras en medio de un conflicto violento.

Adicionalmente, estamos preocupados por los tácticos perturbadores que están siendo empleados para desacreditar los dueños legítimos de estos territorios y los defensores de derechos humanos que soportan sus esfuerzos. Un grupo en particular llamado La Diaspora ha empezado una campana global para desacreditar los. La campana incluye la distribución internacional de información que acusa los miembros de estas comunidades y de Justicia y Paz de tener vínculos con el FARC y que acusa la organización independiente Brigadas de Paz Internacional de participar en el tráfico de drogas. Esto pone las vidas de todos los involucrados en mucho peligro. El represéntate de La Diaspora, German Marmolejo, ha proporcionado WOLA con varios documentos y videos que reiteraran estos reclamos falsos. El 26 Marzo 2010, WOLA, USOC, LAWG, y otros ONGs de los Estados Unidos organizaron un evento sobre la impunidad en Choco en cual Danilo Rueda presento. Antes de este evento, en el 21 de Marzo, La Diaspora envió un correo electrónico en Colombia y en los Estados Unidos diciendo que los miembros de Justicia y Paz son los representares políticos, comunicadores, y legales de los terroristas del FARC. Adicionalmente, en Mayo, graffiti diciendo que Justicia y Paz era un grupo terrorista y llamando por acción nacional contra el “sacerdote marxista”, Padre Javier Giraldo, fue encontrado por todas partes de Bogota. Tal actividad y tal declaraciones son lo que dan inspiración y causan amenazas de muerte contra miembros de Justicia y Paz y las organizaciones que soportan su trabajo.

Tenemos tres recomendaciones para los políticos de los Estados Unidos:
Comunica al gobierno de Colombia la importancia de la garantiza de la seguridad física de las comunidades y organizaciones afectadas por la decisiones de la Corte Constitucional hecho el 18 de Mayo sobre la situación territorial de Curvaradó y bajo de amenazas después de las ordenes de arresto de 24 empresarios de la palma aceitera;
Expresa su suporte por la decisión de la Corte Constitucional de Colombia sobre el bloque temporal que pusieron en la tierra de Curvaradó y Jiguamiandó y por un censo preciso y nuevas elecciones para el Consejo de la Comunidad.
Pedir que las autoridades Colombianas tomen medidas audaces en el desmantelamiento de las estructuras operativas (militar, económico, y social) de las redes criminales paramilitares (Aguilas Negras y Auto-Defensas Gaitanistas) que operan el la región del Rió Bajo Atrato.

Por más información, favor de contactar a Gimena Sánchez, WOLA por coreo electrónico a gsanchez@wola.org o por teléfono a (202) 797-2171.

Englis version at http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/ToCBC-NASGACC-ASCOBA-May2010.pdf

Afro-Colombian organizations report on US human rights violations

The Black Community Process -PCN and AFRODES USA submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Committee for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States compliance with international human rights standards, with the endorsement of organizations member of NASGACC, and other in solidarity with Afro-Colombian struggle.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a very unique process, created in 2006 through the UN General Assemble, to review the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. “The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations.” (UNHRC). It is a mechanism that aims to remind States of their responsibilities with international human rights standards, address human rights violations and improve the human rights situation in all countries.

This is the first time that the United States will be evaluated in its human rights obligations. Several NGOs in the US submitted their reports on issues such labor and employment, gender, health, housing, immigration, political represion, international policies and others. Only the US Human Rights Network (USHRN) submitted a compilation of 24 reports.

The submission by PCN and AFRODES USA focused on the impact of the US policies Plan Colombia and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Afro-descendant economic, social and cultural rights. This is a unique opportunity for the Afro-descendant organizations to address the implications of the US policies toward Colombia in the serious violations of Afro-Colombian human rights, before the UN Humans Rights Council, make specific recommendations to modify such policies, and hold the country accountable for its failures on ensuring respect and implementation of those rights.

The UN’s first UPR of the US is schedule to take place on December 20th, 2010.

To read the complete report go to:
http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/PCN-AFRODESUSAjointSubmission-US-April2010.pdf

For a USHRN summary of the reports go to: http://www.ushrnetwork.org/sites/default/files/_USHRN_Overarching_UPR_Report.pdf

Also find individual reports at: http://www.ushrnetwork.org/campaign_upr

Human Rights Organizations exhort Exhort US Embassy to call Colombians Attention on Human Rights Violations

In April 10, the paramilitary group “Los Rastrojos – Comandos Urbanos” sent
death threats to more than 60 Colombian human rights organizations and individuals and international human rights organizations.

The International Campaign for the Right to Defend Human Rights, leaded by organizations such USOC, WOLA and the Center for International Policy, prompt US Ambassador William Brownfield to urge Colombian government immediate action, and to monitor closely the Colombian government's efforts to address the situation. "Continuing impunity in these cases should be seriously considered when deciding whether to certify compliance with the human rights conditions in appropriations legislation, especial relating to human rights defenders." say in their letter the organizations.

The letter was signed by, Lutheran World Relief, Latin America Working Group (LAWG), Human Rights First and AFRODE USA among others.

Read the letter at http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/LetterToUSEmbassy-RastrojosThreats-42010.pdf

AFRODES USA Urge Solidarity with Afro-Colombian Communities and Leaders

With great indignation AFRODES USA denounces the alarming escalation in the violation of the Afro-Colombian fundamental rights in Colombia. We are receiving distressing reports from all corners of Afro-Colombian territories about the genocide and permanent threats to leaders, communities, and their organizational structures. More http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/StatementonGeneralHHRRSituation1-2010.pdf

Recent Murder of Afro-Colombians in Choco

December 24, 2009

Dear Supporters of Afro-Colombian Rights,

AFRODES USA and the Network in Solidarity with Afro-Colombian Grassroots Organizations in the U.S. (NASGACC) strongly condemns the December 19th assassinations of Afrodescendants Manuel Moya, Graciano Bland�n and his son in the region of Curvarad� and Jiguamiand� (Choc�). We ask that the Colombians authorities immediately investigate this crime and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

These murders underscore the need for the Colombian government take bolder actions to secure the physical safety of the inhabitants of Curvarad� and Jiguamiand�, fully and effectively dismantle the military, economic and social operational structures of illegal armed groups operating in this area. This development shows that the Colombian authorities have not taken the steps necessary to properly resolve the illegal appropriation of lands by oil palm companies in Curvarad� and Jiguamiand�.

The lack of resolution in this case, lack of physical return of lands to their rightful owners and lack of political will on the part of Colombian authorities to effectively combat paramilitarism in this area has led to conflict among Afro-Colombians, violence and insecurity. This greatly hampers the well being of all Afro-Colombian and mestizo civilians living in the Curvarad� and Jiguamiand� area. The lack of action on the part of the State is enabling criminal activity to continue to expand in area. This activity greatly hampers the advancement and economic development of Afro-Colombians in the region. The persistent impunity in this case weakens the possibility of local and regional institutions possibility to exert their authority in the region.

Effective State action and resolution on all pending criminal and human rights cases involving the inhabitants of Curvarad� and Jiguamiand� including the case of 23 palm oil industrialists would not only improve the security for Afro-Colombians living in the area but it would also lead to a weakening of criminal structures and a strengthening of local state institutions. Effective action would also greatly reduce the existent security threats against members of the Afro- Colombian community councils and the national and international NGOs that accompany these communities namely the Colombian NGO Justicia y Paz and international accompaniers Peace Brigades International and PASC.

Given the above, we ask that you take immediate action by contacting U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield in Colombia and informing him that these developments are a violation of the human rights condition pertaining to the rights of Afro-Colombians that the Secretary of State must implement in order for Colombia to receive U.S. military assistance. Ambassador Brownfield can be reached via email at AmbassadorB@state.gov

In order to rectify this situation and protect the rights of Afro-Colombians, U.S. officials should insist that they ask the Colombian authorities to do as follows:

1) Publicly pronounce themselves against the triple murder committed against Afro-Colombians on December 19th, as well as, the murder of Benjamin Munoz that took place earlier this year.

2) Urge the Attorney General promptly and effectively investigate these murders and bring the perpetrators and intellectual authors of this crime to justice.

3) Put a stop to false accusations in the media that insinuate that the latest murders are in some way related to members of the Colombian NGO Justicia y Paz (Abilio Pena and Danilo Rueda), as well as the spokesperson for MOVICE and ex-columnist Iv�n Cepeda Castro. Such accusations, in addition to being unfounded, greatly endanger the lives of these individuals.

4) Support the self-protection initiatives developed by Afro-Colombians and
mestizos who inhabit the humanitarian and biodiversity zones.

5) Effectively implement the decisions made by judicial and other authorities in the case of Curvarad� and Jiguamiand� including Court Order 222, the sentence of the Chocó tribunal, Incoder resolutions and push forward the case against the 23 oil palm industrialists.

Please be sure to inform AFRODES USA of any responses you receive from the
U.S. Embassy by emailing Marino Cordoba at macobe2001@yahoo.com

For further information on this case, please contact Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli at (202) 489-1702 or Charo Mina Rojas at (434) 760-0663.

Take Action to Guarantee Safety of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Leaders from Norte del Cauca region

December 6, 2009

Dear Activists,

AFRODES USA and WOLA urge you to contact Colombian authorities immediately and urge them to take action to guarantee the safety of Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and human rights leaders in northern Cauca.

On December 4, Lisifrey Ararat of the Community Council of La Toma and the Black Communities Process (PCN) received a text message that stated:�Hp no decidan por la comunidad que si quieren los recursos, tienen 8 dias pasalir sigue la lista *** fin **. This translates into English as �Motherfucker don�t decide for the community what they want. You have eight days to leave the area. The list remains active.�

The same text message which came from the telephone number 310 8964370 was also sent to Yair Ortiz, Edwar Mina (both leaders from the Community Council of La Toma), Arley Gonzalez (mining leader), Enrique Guetio (traditional indigenous leader from the Cabildo Cerro Tijeras) and Edwar Villegas (member of the human rights group CUT-Valle and Association NOMADESC). This threat follows another threat that was received by the Aguilas Negras-Nueva Generacion paramilitaries to these same groups on October 22nd.

PCN, NOMADESC and others recently participated in a round of visits to the US Congress and an OAS hearing on the right to previous consultation for Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Communities. For details of this visit, got to: http://actualidadetnica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8500:gimena-sanchez-garzoli-&catid=57

Please contact the following offices immediately and urge them to protect the lives of these activists, investigate these threats and prosecute those responsible for making them. Also recommend to these offices that they take bold steps to strengthen the right of previous consultation for these communities. The Colombian authorities� information is as follows:

- Colombian Vice President�s office: Francisco Santos 57-1-560-1195
- Ministry of Interior and Justice: Fabio Valencia Cossio 57-1-444-3100 (Executive Secretary)
- Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Program: Carlos Franco 57-1- 595-1853 o 57-1595-1888.

For further information, please be in touch with Charo Mina Rojas of AFRODES USA at (434) 760-0663.

Complete information in Spanish http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/ACCIONURGENTESUAREZ.pdf

Members of US Congress to Secretary Clinton on Afro-Colombian HUman Rights

Given the deteriorating human rights situation facing Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, Representatives McGovern, Schakowsky, Payne, and Honda, wrote a letter calling on US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to make changes in the US aid package to Colombia. The letter asks the U.S. government to stop spending taxpayer dollars on the military, which has been found to be killing innocent civilians and illegally wiretapping human rights defenders, journalists, and Supreme Court judges and to support internally displaced people, Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, and small farmers who are trying to turn away from coca. The letter (link to full text below ) strengthens the human rights of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities in various ways including by underscoring that US: �Programs targeting Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities should be designed and implemented in consultation with representatives of Afro-Colombian urban and suburban communities and the community council and cabildo leaders of the territories in question.�

In addition to being subjected to violence related to the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous leaders are at a high risk of being harmed due to their bold efforts to stand up for their territorial rights by standing against economic interests in the natural resources found in their ancestral territories. Recent cases, such as that of various Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities in Cauca, point to systematic threats against these communities for defending their right to be previously consulted on all economic projects to be implemented in their territories.

In order to support this effort to change US foreign policy in favor of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities� rights we encourage you to contact your Representative today and ask that he or she sign on to the McGovern, Schakowsky, Payne, and Honda letter to Secretary Clinton.

To do so, please visit the LAWG page explaining how to call your representative: http://bit.ly/4yP9re. and the online action center at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/625/t/8560/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1651

You can also find the full text of the Dear Colleague and the list of updated co-signers by going to: http://bit.ly/1uXuB3

For more information on recent death threats see: http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/AFRODESUSAurgentactionoct23pcn.pdf
and: http://www.wola.org/?&option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=6&Itemid=&topic=Colombia

In behalf of Afro-Colombian Communities and leaders, we thank you for your support.

Afrocolombian News

Afro-Colombian Grassroots Communities and Leaders under Death Threat

The Process of Black Communities-PCN issued today a public statement denouncing recent death threats against leaders and communities in the Northern Cauca region who emphatically oppose to large scale mining projects in their collective lands. A death threat pamphlet was received by members of the Community Council of La Toma, sent via facsimile, on which several grassroots organizations, community leaders and the Community Council are threaten by the paramilitary groups "Aguilas Negras" and "Rastrojos". The groups identify themselves as members of the "Familias en Accion" one of the Colombian government programs in the framework of the "Democratic Security" policy.

AFRODES USA and other organizations set a urgent action last week asking members of the Congress and the Department of State to urge the Colombian government to guaranty the safety of leaders and communities and to investigate the threats.

The security issues had increase in those areas where Afro-Colombian grassroots communities are actively oppose to developmental projects that affect their fundamental rights and are imposed without the proper application of the Previous Consultation mechanism, obligated by law.

Read PCN statement (Spanish) at http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/comunicado103009.pdf


Read AFRODES USA alert (English) at http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/AFRODESUSAurgentactionoct23pcn.pdf

AFRODES USA Strongly Condemns Armed Groups' Violations of Afro-Colombian Rights and International Humanitarian Law Violations in Timbiquí (Cauca)

AFRODES USA issued a statement condemning the indiscriminate use of force by guerrilla groups and Colombian army that put in risk the Afro-Colombian civilians in the urban zone of Timbiquí, in the Department of Cauca. In the statement AFRODES USA remind "all of the parties to the internal armed conflict that these actions violate international humanitarian law" ruled by the Geneva Conventions, to which Colombia is subscribed, and also to the Colombian armed forces that "they are obliged to protect the rights of Afro-Colombian civilians living in this area".

AFRODES USA is concern that military bases in the community centers where the civilian populations is setled, as is the case in Timbiqui, is a violation of Condition F, the human rights condition pertaining to Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities of the foreign appropriations act of the United States.

Read more http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/TimbiquiAlert.pdf

President Obama We Are Counting on You

President Obama We Are Counting on You to Send the Message to President Alvaro Uribe that the US Demands Protection of Afro-Colombian Human Rights

By Charo Mina Rojas.
Afro-Colombian advocate and activist. Member of AFRODES USA and the Network for Advocacy in Solidarity with Grassroots Afro-Colombian Communities (NASGACC).
http://www.afrocolombians.com/pdfs/ToObama-re-meetingUribe6-29-09.pdf