On 10 April 2008, several social and human rights organizations received a threatening email from a paramilitary group called "Águilas Negras, Bloque Norte de Colombia" ( Black Eagles, North Division of Colombia). The group declared as targets for assassination members of the Southern Bolivar Agricultural-Mining Federation (the Federation), Sembrar Corporation (a human rights organization), the Program for Development and Peace in the Middle Magdalena (Programa) and the parish priests of two rural communities, Tiquisio and Regidor, in southern Bolivar province.

In spite of recognition of collective land ownership, deforestation, expansion of cattle ranching and palm planting and fruit extraction continue FRANCISCO SANTOS Vice President of the Republic CARLOS HOLGUN SARDI Minister of the Interior FERNANDO ARAUJO Minister of Foreign Relations JUAN LOZANO Minister of the Environment MARIO IGUARAN ARANA Federal Prosecutor EDGARDO MAYA VILLAZON Attorney General VOLMAR PEREZ Nacional People’s Ombudsman JULIO CESAR TURBAY QUINTERO Controller General

Context: The Project Accompaniment and Solidarity Colombia (PASC) works with the Justice and Peace Commission (Justicia y Paz) to defend and to assert the rights of the Afro-Colombian communities of Curvarado and Jiguamiando who suffered a forced displacement in 1997 during a joint military operation of the National Army and paramilitary groups. We support the struggle for the reclamation of their lands, sown illegally with African Palm plantations, by accompanying the communities who engage in civil resistance.

The Association for the Promotion of Social Alternatives, MINGA, the Progresar Foundation and the Committee of Social Integration in Catatumbo, CISCA, denounce before the national and international community the aggravation of the human rights crisis in the Catatumbo region, Norte de Santander department (province), resulting from the atrocities committed by presumed members of public forces against the peasant farming communities.

Cano Manso leaders received gunshot wounds during an operation in Belén de Bajirá

Reminder: Afro-Colombian communities of the Curvarado and Jiguamiando underwent a forced displacement in 1997during a joint operation by the national army and paramilitary forces. The return of the communities to their land, now covered in African Palm tree plantations, is currently taking place under the menace of the paramilitary and the inaction of government authorities.

CONTINUING THE STRATEGY OF ANGLO GOLD ASHANTI

Threats against international organizations in Colombia

International and national organisations accompanying the communities of Sur de Bolívar have been threatened alongside miners leaders

INFORME 82 CURVARADO – JIGUAMIANDO

National Army Brigade 17 supports illegality

Intimidation of the community leader EUSTAQUIO POLO, corporate infiltration inside the Incoder, preparation of the forest cutting in Jiguamiando, negative effects of palm pesticides on the health of women, repopulation in Andalucia and El Guamo.

While they protect palm extraction, the “demobilized” ‘AGUILAS NEGRAS’ THREATEN ENRIQUE PETRO AND HIS FAMILY WITH MURDER

Reminder
Since April 2006, the Humanitarian Zone of Caño Claro in Curvaradó, Chocó, has been situated on the land of Enrique Petro, member of the Community Council of Curvaradó, in the midst of African Palm plantations.

Summary of recent events

The Association for Promoting Social Alternatives MINGA has notified the national and international public of new crimes and abuses of the police and military forces against the citizens of the Catatumbo region in Colombia.

The facts:

Curvaradó – Jiguamiandó

Renewal of sowing and extraction of African Palm

“We will enter El Tesoro (HZ) and El Limón (BZ) where there are many people reclaiming their land” said an ex-paramilitary.

SUMMARY