[Imc-chicago] COLOMBIA: EMBERA PROTEST IN BOGOTA

[nscchicago]

Tom Baker here forwarding for Nicaragua Solidarity and 
the Embera. PLEASE POST 


WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS
             ISSUE #778, DECEMBER 26, 2004
  NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY NETWORK OF GREATER NEW YORK
         339 LAFAYETTE ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012 
             (212) 674-9499 <wnu at igc.org>


*4. COLOMBIA: EMBERA PROTEST IN BOGOTA

On Dec. 20, nearly 400 Embera Katio indigenous people from the
area of the Sinu and Verde rivers in the northern Colombian
department of Cordoba traveled in nine buses to the Interior
Ministry in Bogota to press demands for a just solution to the
environmental, economic and social problems the Urra dam has
caused for their communities. The Embera went to Bogota after
their talks with Interior Minister Sabas Pretelt de la Vega ended
on Dec. 17 without agreement in Monteria, the departmental
capital of Cordoba. Their action surprised local and national
authorities, who expected them to return home after the talks
ended. The communities had been in a permanent assembly at the
Urra dam headquarters in Monteria since Oct. 25 [see Update
#770]. 
 
Once in Bogota, the 372 Embera protesters--including 185
children--camped in front of the Ministry of Environment, Housing
and Territorial Development, where they planned to remain until
their demands were met. At 3am on Dec. 23, some 200 agents of the
Metropolitan Anti-riot Squad (ESMAD), headed by a Col. Ricaurte
(no first name was given), came and ordered them to leave the
premises within 10 minutes or face removal by force. To avoid
violence, the Embera chose to walk to the offices of the National
Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). Col. Ricaurte told
the Embera that his orders from Interior Minister Pretelt were to
force them to board buses to return to Cordoba, and that if
necessary he would do it by tying them up--first the men, then
the women and finally the children.
 
The Embera ignored Ricuarte's threats and continued walking to
the ONIC offices. After setting up in front of the ONIC building,
they were surrounded by police, who have blocked them from
leaving. The ONIC is urging the government to review and
reevaluate earlier agreements concerning the Urra dam, with an
eye to safeguarding the Embera community as required by law. The
Embera plan to remain in Bogota until their demands are met; they
are asking for solidarity in the form of warm clothing, blankets,
medical assistance, food and other aid. 
 
International messages of support for the Embera protesters can
be sent to: President Alvaro Uribe Velez
(auribe at presidencia.gov.co); Vice President Francisco Santos
(fsantos at presidencia.gov.co); Environment Minister Sandra Suarez
(direccion at minambiente.gov.co); and Mines and Energy Minister
Luis Ernesto Mejia Castro (minas.energia at minminas.gov.co). [ONIC
Executive Committee 12/23/04, Censat Agua Viva 12/23/04, Cabildos
Mayores del Rio Sinu y Rio Verde 12/21/04, El Universal
(Cartagena) 12/20/04, all via Colombia Indymedia]
 
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