Medios
Comunicado AFRODES y NASGACC acerca del Curvaradó
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 Blandón and his son in the region of Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó (Chocó). We ask that the Colombians authorities immediately investigate this crime and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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These murders underscore the need for the Colombian government take bolder actions to secure the physical safety of the inhabitants of Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó, 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 Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó.
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 Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó 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 Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó 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 Iván 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 Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó including Court Order 222, the sentence of the Chocó tribunal, Incoder resolutions and push forward the case against the 23 oil palm industrialists.
