Mining for justice in Colombia -Nov 20, 2006

By Michelle Braley and Joel Klassen

On Sunday 5 November 2006, after mobilizing for forty-five days of protest in the town of Santa Rosa, Colombia, six hundred small-scale gold miners from the south of Bolivar province crammed into the back of flatbed trucks and went home.

Amid joyful whoops and hollers, their mile-long caravan made the two hour drive to the end of the snaking mountain road which leads to the mining zone. From there, they walked several more hours along grueling trails to their homes. We went with them.

In grief and rage over the recent murder of community member Alejandro Uribe at the hands of soldiers from the Colombian army, miners from many communities had gathered to call for a serious investigation into Uribe's death, and for measures to enhance their security.

They had sacrificed income, and many of them time with their families, to live in cramped conditions, and at times to go without food. When asked what he felt the mobilization had achieved, one participant responded, "Respect for life."

Representatives of the Regional Office of the Colombian government's Human Rights Ombudsperson, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and other civil society organizations including Christian Peacemaker Teams, accompanied the return in response to a request by the mining leadership.

During the mobilization, miners and their allies engaged in several rounds of negotiations with governmental authorities until arriving at a nine point accord which included the following substantive resolutions:

1) A special human rights unit of the national attorney general's office will continue to investigate Alejandro Uribe's death.

2) Army units must obey the Colombian constitution and international law and respect the distinction between civilians and combatants.

3) The government recognizes the miners' organization, the Federation of Agrominers of the south of Bolivar, as legal and legitimate.

The agreement's success will be measured in large part by the army's actions. From past experience with similar negotiations, miners expressed strong skepticism about the willingness of the Colombian government to ensure the fulfillment of the accords.

As the miners walked home, many soldiers surrounded a small group in a threatening manner, but then dispersed when a larger group of returnees approached. Other soldiers gave out leaflets to returnees that encouraged guerrillas to turn in their weapons. Many people ripped up the leaflets immediately, infuriated at the insinuation that they were guerrillas. One soldier was heard to remark, "It seems like these people have eaten scorpions," implying that he sensed their anger, and their refusal to be intimidated.

The soldiers' actions and attitudes are fueling people's doubts about the seriousness of the government's and army's intent to respect the people. Together with other national and international bodies dedicated to building respect for human rights, Christian Peacemaker Teams will continue to monitor the situation of the people living in the south of Bolivar province.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and membership from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations. Supporting violence-reduction efforts around the world is its mandate.

Article reproduced with the kind permission of Christian Peacemaker Teams