168 Afro-Colombian Grassroots Groups and
Community Councils Reiterate their
Opposition to the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade
Agreement
Dear Members of Congress,
We, the undersigned U.S.
organizations and individuals, are concerned
about the grave human rights situation
facing Colombians of African descent. We
wish to reiterate our opposition to the
U.S.-Colombia FTA and to call attention to
the negative consequences this Free Trade
Agreement will have on Afro-Colombian
communities.
In a letter sent to
Representative Nancy Pelosi this week, 168
Afro-Colombian grassroots groups and
community councils reiterated their
opposition to the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade
Agreement. The Afro-Colombians believe this
agreement is a “grave” threat to their
human, territorial and cultural rights.
These rights are protected by the Colombian
Constitution and the law of the Black
Communities (Law 70- 1993). In this letter
the Afro-Colombians underscore points which
we summarize and explain below:
The FTA will have the
unintended consequence of validating illegal
appropriation of Afro-Colombian titled lands
by illegal armed groups.
Since the implementation of
Law 70, land titling of Afro-Colombian
territories has coincided with violent
displacements by illegal armed groups
seeking control of Afro-Colombian lands.
Methods such as gruesome massacres,
killings, threats and intimidation have
resulted in an internal displacement rate of
approximately 79% from Afro-Colombian
collective territories. Over 5.6 million
hectares of Afro-Colombian territory are
vulnerable to exploitation due to conflict
and internal displacement. Because these
lands are bio-diverse and resource rich,
national and international companies have
sought the rights to use these lands and
exploit their resources. It has only been
subsequent to internal displacement, in
large part, that multinational, U.S. and
domestic corporations have been able to
access Afro-Colombian land in order to
implement large scale economic projects,
including the cultivation of monoculture
crops. This seizure occurs without the
knowledge or consent of internally displaced
Afro-Colombians.
Effects of changes in
Colombian legislation, which severely weaken
the achievements of the Afro-Colombian civil
rights movement and their territorial rights
found in Law 70 of 1993, would be
exacerbated if the FTA is passed.
Since the passage of Law 70,
the Colombian government has undertaken
measures and passed legislation that have
weakened the rights of Afro-Colombians.
This legislation includes the Forestry Law
which opens Afro-Colombian territory to
logging interests and interests of
“corporate squatters” over those of the
internally displaced. A new change in the
mining code further undercuts Afro-Colombian
rights to mined resources on their
territories. The Rural Development Statute
allows land that was illegally obtained by
armed actors to be legalized and titled by
land invaders. Recently, Colombia’s
Constitutional Court ruled that the Forestry
Law was unconstitutional because the State
failed to consult with Afro-Colombian and
Indigenous communities as required by the
law. In retaliation, the State took steps
to pass another law that would have similar
effects on Afro-Colombian territories. The
FTA would privilege multinational investor
rights over those of the Afro-Colombians.
Presently, albeit difficult, Afro-Colombians
can challenge rulings and statutes in
domestic courts. The FTA would supersede
domestic laws, providing no relief to these
communities when their rights are violated.
Present economic policies
created by the Colombian government have
rolled back many of the civil rights
victories achieved by Afro-Colombians. The
U.S. Congress must not pass the FTA given
the Colombian government’s track record of
regressive policies towards Afro-Colombians.
Historically, the Colombian
government has shown limited political will
to address the socio-economic conditions of
Afro-Colombians and their grave humanitarian
and human rights situation. Officials of the
State have denied that racism exists in
Colombia. Although Colombian law states that
Afro-Colombians must be consulted in all
economic projects that involve their
territories, the reality has been that
little real consultation takes place. In the
case of the FTA, the previous consultation
process was not followed. Afro-Colombians
are at a great disadvantage when it comes to
powerful state mechanisms and companies,
some of whom are allegedly backed by both
paramilitaries and local politicians. The
traditional practices, knowledge and
cultural survival of Afro-Colombian people
are threatened by the imposition of economic
projects in their territories. National and
international economic projects that ignore
the Afro-Colombian local governance
structures (community councils) are
detrimental to Afro-Colombian internal
economic planning processes, culture and the
environment.
Rather than support an FTA
with Colombia, the 168 signers urge Members
of the U.S. Congress to:
1) Publicly oppose any
consideration of the FTA with Colombia until
the Colombian government can demonstrate
major changes that guarantee the
participation of the Afro-Colombian
grassroots and community councils in
determining all economic projects that are
to be implemented in the collective
territories.
2) Urge the Colombian
government to immediately and
unconditionally return the illegally
appropriated collective territories of
Afro-Colombian communities in Jiguamiandó
and Curvaradó, Naya, Mira, Border and Maria
la Baja. These collective territories were
expropriated by violence, massacres,
assassinations and internal displacement.
3) Establish periodic
U.S. Congressional hearings to evaluate the
information the Colombian government
presents to the U.S. in terms of steps taken
for Afro-Colombian rights. The
Afro-Colombian grassroots and community
council leaders should be invited to
participate at such hearings to present
their point of view.
4) Establish a U.S.
Congressional delegation to visit the
collective territories and meet with
community councils affected by the internal
armed conflict and violence. Such a
delegation should be coordinated with the
organizations that form part of the Network
for Advocacy in Solidarity with Grassroots
Afro-Colombian Communities (NASGACC).
We recommend that you take
into account the Afro-Colombian grassroots
and community councils’ point of view when
determining your position on the Colombia
FTA. Also we ask that you implement the four
recommendations they propose.
Sincerely,
Nicole Lee
Executive Director
TransAfrica Forum
Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli
Senior Associate for
Colombia
Washington Office on Latin
America (WOLA)
Natalia Cardona
Senior Associate for Latin
America and the Caribbean Peace Building
Unit
American Friends Service
Committee (AFSC)
Marino
Cordoba, Charo Mina Rojas and Otoniel Paz
Association for Internally
Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES USA)
Carlos Quesada
Latin America Director
Global Rights Partners for
Justice
Jim Vondracek
Managing Director
Chicago Religious Leadership
Network on Latin America (CRLN)
Joseph Jordan
Director and Associate
Professor
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Norma Jackson
Benedict College
Humberto Garces
Manuel
Zapata Olivella Education Center
John
Jairo Garces
Hope Day Foundation
Monika Rizo
Afro-Colombian activist,
NASGACC
Julio Cesar Montaño
Afro-Colombian activist,
Black Communities Process (PCN)-Illinois
Eunice Escobar
Afro-Colombian activist,
Chicago-Illinois
Gerald Rudolph and Cassandra
Fralix
Carolina Peace Resource
Center
Below you will find the list
of the Afro-Colombian organizations that
signed the letter:
1. Afroherencias, Santander de
Quilichao
2. AMUFROCA, Puerto Tejada
3. Afrotambo, Tambo, Cauca
4. Asociación de Afrocolombianos
Desplazados (AFRODES)
5. Asociación de Desplazados del
Pacifico, Sur-Costa Pacifica Caucana
ASODESPASUR,Guapi
6. Asociación Agropecuaria El
Palenque, Guachené
7. Asociación de Afrodescendientes
de Barrancabermeja y el Magdalena
Medio–AFROBAM-CNOA
8. Asociación de Parteras Unidas del
Pacifico, ASOPARUPA, Buenaventura
9. Asociación de Mujeres
Afrocolombianas, AMUAFROC
10.
Asociación de Mujeres Campesinas, Indígenas
y Negras del Cesar –ADMUCIC
11.
AMUCIB, Buenaventura
12.
Asociación Municipal de Mujeres –ASOM.
Buenos Aires, Cauca
13.
Asociación de la Mujer Trabajadora
ASOMUTRALP, Buenaventura
14.
Asociación de Mujeres Afrocolombianas
AMAFROCOL.
15.
Asociación de Mujeres, Buenaventura
16.
Asociación de Mujeres Cabeza de Familia
Comuna 3 y 4, Buenaventura
17.
Asociación Mujeres Jefes de Hogar ASOMUJEH,
Buenaventura
18.
Asociación de Concheras de Francisco
Pizarro-Salahonda, Nariño
19.
Consejo de Mujeres de Buenaventura
20.
Corporación Caminos de Mujer, Tumaco
21.
FUNDEMUJER, Fundación para el Desarrollo de
laMujer de Buenaventura y la Costa Pacifica,
Buenaventura
22.
Grupo de Mujeres Flor del Campo Vereda La
Balsa, Buenos Aires, Cauca
23.
Grupo de Mujeres Las Orquídeas Vereda
Cascajero, Buenos Aires, Cauca
24.
Grupo de Mujeres Productoras en Acción
vereda la Alsacia, Buenos Aires, Cauca
25.
Grupo de Mujeres RENACER de Honduras, Buenos
Aires, Cauca
26.
Grupo de Mujeres Sonrisa Campesina Vereda El
Silencio. Buenos Aires, Cauca
27.
Mujeres Protagonistas del Desarrollo,
MUPRODEB, Buenaventura
28.
Red Nacional de Mujeres Afrocolombianas,
KAMBIRI, Buenaventura
29.
Asociación de Jóvenes Afrodescendientes
Charqueños. Charco, Nariño
30.
Asociación de Jóvenes Afrodescendientes del
Departamento del Cesar, KUMAGENDE
31.
Asociación de Jóvenes Comunitaria – ASJUCOM
32.
Asociación para el Desarrollo Juvenil de la
Costa Pacifica Juventud 500, Buenaventura
33.
Asociación de Jóvenes, ASOJUN, Puerto Tejada
34.
Asociación Cadhubev Benkos Vive, Cali
35.
Colectivo de Estudiantes Universitarios
Afrocolombianos, CEUNA
36.
Comité Juvenil, Guachené
37.
Grupo Juvenil KASIMBA. Cali
38.
Red de Jóvenes Afrocolombianos, Tumaco
39.
Colectivo Local de Jóvenes, Buenaventura
40.
Asociación de Negros Unidos del Río
Yurumangui, APONURY
41.
Asociación de Comunidades Negras Unidas del
Rio Raposo ACONUR, Buenaventura
42.
Asociación Campesina Nuevo Porvenir
43.
Asamblea de los Resistentes, El Charco
44.
Asociación Nacional de Pescadores
Artesanales, ANPAC, Buenaventura
45.
Asociación de Organizaciones de Comunidades
Negras del Cesar “Ku – Suto”
46.
Asociación de Victimas Renacer Siglo XXI,
Buenos Aires, Cauca
47.
Asociación Ku-Mahaná, Cali
48.
Asociación Integral de Gestores
Comunitarios, ASOGEDINCO, Suarez, Cauca
49.
ASOCUREN, Cali
50.
Benkos Biojó, Puerto Tejada
51.
Centro de Pastoral Afrocolombiana "CEPAC",
Buenaventura
52.
Asociación de Consejos Comunitarios del Bajo
Atrato, ASCOBA
53.
Asociación de Consejos Comunitarios,
Timbiqui
54.
Red de Consejos Comunitarios del Pacifico
Sur, RECOMPAS, Tumaco
55.
Asociación de Consejos y Organizaciones
Étnico Territoriales de las Zonas Centro y
Norte de Nariño, ASOCOETNAR
56.
Federación de Organizaciones y Consejos
Comunitarios del San Juan, FOSAN, Chocó
57.
Foro Interetnico Solidaridad. Chocó
58.
Consejo Comunitario Mayor Asociación
Campesina del Atrato, COCOMACIA
59.
Consejo Comunitario General del Rió San
Juan, ACADESAN, Chocó -Valle
60.
Consejo Comunitario para el Desarrollo de
Comunidades Negras de la Cordillera
Occidental de Nariño y Sur del Cauca,
COPDICON
61.
Gran Consejo Comunitario del Río Patia
Grande, sus Brazos y Ensenada de Tumaco,
ACAPA
62.
Capitanía de Páez. Belalcazar, Cauca
63.
Comunitario Alto Mira y Frontera, Tumaco
64.
Consejo Comunitario Bajo Mira y Frontera,
Tumaco
65.
Consejos Comunitario Cortina Verde
Mándela,Tumaco
66.
Consejo Comunitario de Ladrilleros,
Buenaventura
67.
Consejo Comunitario La Toma. Suarez, Cauca
68.
Consejo Comunitario Cerro Teta. Buenos
Aires, Cauca
69.
Consejo Comunitario de Pilamo. Guachene,
Cauca
70.
Consejo Comunitario La Alsacia, Buenos
Aires, Cauca
71.
Consejo Comunitario del Alto y Medio Río
Dagua, Buenaventura
72.
Consejo Comunitario del Río Calima,
Buenaventura
73.
Consejo Comunitario Córdoba y San Cipriano,
Buenaventura
74.
Consejo Comunitario del Río Mallorquín,
Buenaventura
75.
Consejo Comunitario de Puerto España y Mira
Mar, Buenaventura
76.
Consejo Comunitario del Río Raposo,
Buenaventura
77.
Consejo Comunitario del Río Yurumangui,
Buenaventura
78.
Consejos Comunitario Imbilpi del Carmen,
Tumaco
79.
Consejo Comunitario La Nupa, Tumaco
80.
Consejo Comunitario Mayor del Río Anchicayá,
Buenaventura
81.
Consejo Comunitario Negros en Acción,
Timbiqui
82.
Consejo Comunitario Negros Unidos. Timbiqui
83.
Consejo Comunitario Parte Alta Sur del
Saija, Timbiqui
84.
Consejo Comunitario Patia Norte San
Bernardo, Timbiqui
85.
Consejo Comunitario Recuerdo de Nuestros
Ancestros, Tumaco
86.
Consejo Comunitario Renacer Negro, Timbiqui
87.
Consejo Comunitario Rescate Las Varas,
Tumaco
88.
Consejo Comunitario Río Caunapi, Tumaco
89.
Consejo Comunitario Río Chagui, Tumaco
90.
Consejo Comunitario Río Gualajo, Tumaco
91.
Consejo Comunitario Río Rosario, Tumaco
92.
Consejo Comunitario Tablón Dulce, Tumaco
93.
Consejo Comunitario Tablón Salado, Tumaco
94.
Consejo Comunitario Veredas Unidas Un Buen
Común, Tumaco
95.
Junta Central Bajo Mira y Frontera, Tumaco
96.
Consejo Comunitario de Unicosta, Santa
Bárbara
97.
Consejo Comunitario El Progreso, Roberto
Payán
98.
Consejo Comunitario El Progreso del Campo,
La Tola
99.
Consejo Comunitario Manos Amigas del Patía
Grande, Magui Payán
100.
Consejo Comunitario de Agricultores del
Patía Grande, Roberto Payan
101.
Consejo Comunitario Sanquianga, Olaya
Herrera
102.
Consejo Comunitario La Amistad, Magui Payan
103.
Consejo Comunitario del Río Satinga, Olaya
Herrera
104.
Consejo Comunitario Manos Unidas del
Socorro, Barbacoas
105.
Consejo Comunitario Unión de Cuencas de
Isagualpi, Roberto Payan
106.
Consejo Comunitario Integración de Telembí,
Roberto Payan
107.
Consejo Comunitario Catangueros. Roberto
Payan
108.
Consejo Comunitario la Esperanza del Río La
Tola, La Tola
109.
Consejo Comunitario el Progreso del Río
Nerete, La Tola
110.
Consejo Comunitario Bajo Río Guelmambí.
Barbacoas
111.
Consejo Comunitario Alto Río Sequihonda, El
Charco
112.
Consejo Comunitario Gualmar, Olaya Herrera
113.
Consejo Comunitario Odemap Mosquera Sur,
Mosquera
114.
Consejo Comunitario Prodefensa del río
Tapaje, El Charco
115.
Concejo Comunitario de Pilamo, Guachené
116.
Comunidad Negra del Pilamo, Guachené
117.
Colectivo Libertarios Afromagdalénicos
-Afrolibertarios del PCN y la CNOA en
Barrancabermeja- Magdalena Medio
118.
Comité Local, Buenaventura
119.
Comité Municipal de Derechos Humanos,
Buenos Aires
120.
Corporación Ancestros, Cauca
121.
Corporación Cultural Quinto Elemento,
Medellín
122.
Corporación Festival de Tambores y
Expresiones Culturales de Palenque. Bolívar
123.
Corporación para el Desarrollo de las
Comunidades Afrocaribeñas “Jorge Artel”
124.
Corporación Carabantu, Medellín
125.
Corporación para el Bienestar Integral,
CORBIP
126.
Corporación para la Infancia del Pacifico
FIP
127.
Corporación Palenque Siglo XXI, Bogota
128.
Corporación Vive, Buenaventura
129.
COOAMBIENTE, Buenaventura
130.
Empresa Comunitaria Brisas del Río Agua
Blanca-ECOBRA. Buenos Aires, Cauca
131.
Ecotambor
132.
Federación Integral de Organizaciones Etnico
Territoriales Urbanas de la Costa de Nariño
"FIOCEPNAR"
133.
Fundación Huellas Africanas, Buenaventura
134.
Fundación Organizativa Afroeducadores del
PCN y la CNOA, Magdalena Medio
135.
Fundación Colectiva de Organizaciones
Esperanza Negra,"COEN", Buenaventura
136.
Fundación Massai, Puerto Tejada
137.
Fundación Pacifico Sin Cadenas "PSC",
Buenaventura
138.
Fundación Pacifico Multicultural Center,
"PMC"
139.
Fundación para el Desarrollo Social e
Integral Unidos por Palenque. Bolívar
140.
Fundación para el Desarrollo Integral de la
Población Afrocolombiana
141.
Fundación Renacientes, Tumaco
142.
FUNDESCON, Guachené
143.
FUNDESCODES, Buenaventura
144.
Gestores y Asesores Ambientales, CAMBIE,
Buenaventura
145.
Grupo de Integración Rural, Buenos Aires
146.
JOPROMAR, Buenaventura
147.
Junta de Acción Comunal de la Vereda de
Paloblanco. Buenos Aires, Cauca.
148.
Junta Acción Comunal Vereda Honduras. Buenos
Aires, Cauca
149.
Junta de Accion de la Vereda de Yolombo,
Suarez, Cauca
150.
Kombileza
151.
Movimiento Cultura Sinecio Mina, Puerto
Tejada, Cauca
152.
Movimiento Palenquero Universitario
Afrodescendiente del Cauca-Unicauca
153.
Movimiento Nacional Cimarrón Regional,
Antioquia
154.
Movimiento Gente Unida, Tumaco
155.
Organización de Comunidades Negras del
Charco, ORGANICHAR, El Charco
156.
Organización Campesina del Río Satinga,
ORISA, Olaya Herrera
157.
Organización Mina Vieja, Buenaventura
158.
Organización Negra Campesina para la
Protección del Rio Calima, ONCAPROTECA
159.
Palenque El Congal, Buenaventura
160.
Palenque Alto Cauca, Valle y Cauca
161.
Palenque Ku Suto, Costa Caribe
162.
Palenque Kurrulao, Nariño
163.
Petrona y Sebastián Cárdenas, Cerrito,
Valle
164.
Proceso de Comunidades Negras en Colombia
(PCN)
165.
Red de Etnoeducadores de Bogotá
166.
Unión Veredal del Río Sanquianga, UNIVERSAN
167.
Humberto Villa Vásquez- Líder Comunitario,
Miembro Consejo Comunitarios RIO NAPI
168.
Concejo Municipal de Buenaventura,
RolandoCaicedo, Presidente
For further information
please contact one of the following NASGACC
member organizations:
Rachel
Robb, WOLA, rrobb@wola.org, Nora Rasman,
TransAfrica Forum,
nrasman@transafricaforum.org or
Charo
Mina Rojas, AFRODES USA,
mina@afrocolombians.com
