Colombia: Indigenous Tribe Marches, Occupies Flood Plain
12/5/99
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Title: COLOMBIA: INDIGENOUS TRIBE MARCHES, OCCUPIES FLOOD PLAIN
Source: Global Response
P.O. Box 7490
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490
Phone: 303/444-0306
Fax: 303/449-9794
http://www.globalresponse.org
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 5, 1999
Dear Members of Global Response's "Quick Response Network:"
Earlier this year we issued two Emergency Actions concerning the
abduction and murder of people in the Embera Katio indigenous
community in Colombia. Embera Katio leaders were killed by
paramilitary forces because of the community's opposition to
construction of a dam on the Sinu river.
In November we circulated another call for emails and faxes
(reproduced below).
Here is an update, showing again how urgently the Embera Katio
People need international support.
Please respond to the call for faxes and emails if you can.
DECEMBER 5, 1999
Several dozen indigenous Colombians from the Embera Katio tribe
have begun a 700-kilometer march on foot to Bogota from their
Alto Sinu reservation in Tierralta municipality, Cordoba
department, to demand the suspension of a hydroelectric project
that will flood their lands, and to protest the threats made
against them by armed groups. The Embera Katio leaders said they
have been declared "military targets" by groups angered over
their opposition to the hydroelectric project. [Vientos del Sur
12/4/99] The paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
(AUC) are headquartered in Tierralta [see Update #466].
On Nov. 29, another group of 40 Embera Katio families from the
Alto Sinu--some 200 women, men and children in all--moved to an
area facing imminent flooding by the Urra 1 hydroelectric dam and
began settling in for a long-term occupation to accompany the 20
families who normally live at the site [see Update #513]. Another
50 families are expected to join them; the Embera Katio are also
asking supporters from outside their community to participate in
the occupation. [Statement 11/29/99 by Embera Katio tribal
authorities ]
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WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS
November 28, 1999
COLOMBIA: COMPANY STARTS FLOODING INDIGENOUS LANDS
On Nov. 18, the Urra S.A. company began filling its dam on the
Sinu river in Colombian department of Cordoba, with authorization
from the Environment Ministry. Indigenous leaders of the Embera
Katio community of the Alto Sinu region charge that this action
has been taken without consulting with the communities, without
relocating local residents who will be flooded out of their
homes, and without indigenous authorization for use of the
territory.
The filling of the dam will directly affect indigenous
homes and crops and will flood various sacred sites, causing
destruction of the social, economic and cultural life of the
Doza, Beguido and Amborromia communities, home to 24 families.
CALL FOR EMAILS AND FAXES FROM INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS:
Indigenous leaders are asking supporters to send urgent messages
to President Andres Pastrana Arango (by fax to ?284-2186,
289-3377 or 286-7434 or by email to pastrana@presidencia.gov.co)
and Environment Minister Juan Mayr Maldonado (fax ?288-9788 or 288-
9892
or by email to jmayr@minamb.gov.co)
demanding that the filling of the dam be called off pending true
consultation with the communities.
[Urgent Action from Embera Katio community 11/18/99]