Asociación de Campesinos del Tolima [The Association of Peasants of Tolima—SC] confronts persecution and transnational interests

The peasant leaders Héctor Orozco and Gildardo García are murdered after denouncing harassment by the Army.

 

(Translated by Steve Cagan, a CSN Volunteer Translator. Edited by Teresa Welsh, a CSN Volunteer Editor.)

 

FENSUAGRO-CUT [Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria-Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia—National Confederated Agricultural/livestock Union Federation-Confederation of Workers of Colombia—SC]

 

Agencia Prensa Rural [Rural Press Agency—SC]

 

La Asociación de Trabajadores Campesinos del Tolima – ASTRACATOL [The Association of Rural Workers of Tolima—SC], an affiliate of FENSUAGRO-CUT, denounces before national and international public opinion, institutions, governmental and non-governmental human rights organizations, the murder of the peasants Héctor Orozco, vice-president of the ASTRACATOL section in Chaparral and Gildardo García, which took place on March 30, 2011 in the rural community of La Marina, in the municipality of Chaparral.

 

BACKGROUND

 

1.              La Asociación de Trabajadores Campesinos del Tolima – ASTRACATOL, an affiliate of FENSUAGRO-CUT, recognized legally in 2007 as a result of important processes of peasant mobilization in the department, is an agrarian and union organization made up by peasants and rural workers of Tolima who have organized to demand the democratic construction of an agrarian policy, as well as to guarantee their permanence in their territory and effective defense of their rights.

 

2.              One of the Sectional chapters of ASTRACATOL is located in the municipality of Chaparral, where both the peasant organizing process and its leaders have been victims of accusations, hostility and human rights violations by troops of the National Army who are present in the region.

 

3.              The military presence in Chaparral increased significantly in the last three years, with a strong accent in the most recent period. The concentration of troops of the National Army has as its goal guaranteeing the presence of transnational companies interested in exploiting the natural resources of the region, which abounds in sources of water and watersheds. Currently, ISAGEN [a mixed private-public corporation affiliated with the Ministry of Mines and Energy—SC] is carrying out the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Amoyá River; two high mountain battalions were created to protect it in the Las Hermosas Canyon.

 

4.              Added to the foregoing is the creation of the Southern Task Force in April of 2010 which has meant an increase in the levels of persecution of the rural population of the area and the leaders of ASTRACATOL, as well as ongoing violations of International Humanitarian Law by the troops of the National Army, which put the lives of the civilian population at risk.

 

During recent months, the life of the peasants of the rural community of La Marina has been carried out under this panorama. The population center of the community, its surrounding area and access routes have been militarized by troops of the National Army, generated heavy restrictions on transit and in the development of rural daily life, and involving the civilian population in the dynamics of the armed conflict.

 

FACTS

 

1.              On March 30, 2011, at approximately 6 in the afternoon, the peasants Héctor Orozco and Gildardo García were going home on motorcycles on the road that runs between the urban center of Chaparral and the urban community of La Marina; they were murdered near the community of Espíritu Santo-Albania by firearms. There are no witnesses to the deed. However, we must mention that this area is fully militarized and less than 400 meters from the place where this happened there is a permanent presence of troops of the National Army near what is called the Espíritu Santo crossing.

 

2.              Once the lifeless bodies of the peasants were found, the competent authorities (the mayor's office of Chaparral, the prosecutor's office and CTI [Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, the crime scene investigators—SC]) were alerted so they could begin the process of removing the bodies. However, the response was negligent, and the removal of the bodies could only be carried out at 11 in the morning of the 31st of March, more than twelve hours after the murders had occurred. During this period, the bodies of the victims were exposed to the weather, and their families were confronted with a period of suffering without being able to recover their loved ones.

 

3.              Right now the autopsies are being performed. This has also been delayed; the families are waiting for the bodies to give them Christian burials.

 

Héctor García was a peasant from the settlement of San Fernando in the rural community of La Marina. As a distinguished leader of the community he functioned as vice-president of the Junta de Acción Comunal [Communal Action Board—the elected leadership body of the community—SC] and vice-president of the Chapparral Chapter of ASTRACATOL. He was 35 years of age. He was married and had 3 minor children.

 

Gildardo García was a peasant from the settlement of Florestal-Ambeina in the rural community of La Marina. He was a member of the Junta de Acción Comunal of his community. He was 32 years of age. He was married and the father of 4 minor children.

 

The Asociación de Trabajadores Campesina del Tolima – ASTRACATOL rejects the murder of these peasants that occurred in the rural community of La Marina, as well as whatever other type of violation that would affect the rights of the peasants and/or that is aimed that persecuting the grassroots organizing processes that we have built in defense of our territory.

 

We therefore demand:

 

Of the State: that it guarantee and make effective the human rights of members of the Asociación de Trabajadores Campesina del Tolima – ASTRACATOL, as well as guaranteeing the right of free association and opposition.

 

Of the national government: that it take appropriate measures to assure the lives, honor and personal integrity of the members of the Asociación de Trabajadores Campesina del Tolima – ASTRACATOL, and of peasants in general.

 

Of the Office of the Vice-president of the Republic: That it make a commitment to guarantee the human rights of the members of the Asociación de Trabajadores Campesina del Tolima – ASTRACATOL.

 

Of the Inspector General: that he investigate the facts explained here to the extent that it fits within his responsibility.

 

Of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation: that they investigate and clarify the facts mentioned here and move forward the appropriate actions in the face of this case, guaranteeing Truth, Justice and Reparations for the victims and their families.

 

Of the United Nations: that they make a pronouncement about this situation.

 

Of the Defender of the People [government agency charged with defending the legal and human rights of citizens—SC] that they make a pronouncement and take action in the face of possible violations of the human rights of the members and leaders of the Asociación de Trabajadores Campesina del Tolima – ASTRACATOL, which will continue developing its work in the department.

 

http://prensarural.org/spip/spip.php?article5599

 

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