CPTnet
July 9, 2003
COLOMBIA: Expanding Solidarity
On June 14th, members of CPT's Colombia team and
representatives of six different human rights and
economic development non-governmental organizations
(NGO) made a trip to Los Neques to talk with community
members living along the Opon River in the area where
CPT Colombia works.
The NGOs had been invited to La Florida and Los Neques
to learn about the security and economic development
concerns related to rural fishing and farming
communities. Both communities had been displaced and
were able to return when CPT began to accompany them
in May 2001.
The meeting took place at a small school in Los Neques
and was attended by over seventy people. Much of the
discussion focused on the failure of the municipal
government to provide houses, canoes, fishing nets,
corn seed, and tools it had promised to the
communities to help them resettle and to replace much
of what they lost because of their forced
displacement. Seventy-five pre-fabricated houses are
still uncompleted. Throughout the area, unfinished
houses still lack roofs, doors, walls, and windows.
The organizational representatives listened closely
and offered to accompany the communities in their
efforts, but made it clear that the completion of
these projects depends on community members getting
together to push the projects ahead.
The community did not discuss the issue of security.
Frequent visits and threats by armed groups (guerilla
and paramilitary) make this a dangerous topic to
discuss in public. In fact, the meeting started an
hour late because community members were nervous that
an armed group was watching. Community meetings
generally attract much attention from the armed groups
who are trying to maintain military and political
control in La Florida and Los Neques.
The communities had a chance to establish
relationships with important non-governmental
organizations in Barrancabermeja, and community
members had a chance to share their struggles. People
also expressed gratitude that these organizational
representatives --many of whom are considered targets
by one of the armed groups that patrols the Opon
River--made the effort and took the risks to come out
to support their communities.
_______________
To stop receiving messages from CPTNET on MennoLink,
send a message with
only the word, "suspend," in the body to
server@MennoLink.org.
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among
Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and
Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction
efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508
Chicago, IL 60680; Telephone: 773-277-0253
Fax: 773-277-0291.
To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail,
fill out the form
found on our WEB page at
http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.php
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Aug 02 2003 - 22:28:35 EDT