Association of U’wa Traditional Authorities
Decreto 1088 de 1993
Resolucion de Registro No. 003 de 1997
Direccion General de Asuntos Indigenas Ministerio del Interior
Cubara, June 6, 2000
Ladies and Gentlemen, International Community, U’wa support group
Cordial Greetings,
This letter is intended to shed light on current events taking place within the peaceful mobilization by members of the U’wa people, in defense of our cultural, territorial and environmental principles, and the sanctity of our lives.
Since May 22 of this year, the peaceful march of U’wa people towards the municipality of Cubara recommenced, with the objective of blocking the route from Soberania to Santanderes. The peaceful takeover began with 50 U’wa people. Today the 6th day of June, 2000 we have a mobilization of 170.
In this lapse of time, those present at the blockade have been threatened by those who work for Oxy saying “Why are you causing trouble when your case has already been lost, and why do you oppose the project because the site is outside our reserve.” We are also being threatened with firearms especially those of us who speak for the U’wa. Faced with these threats the U’wa people have issued public communiqués to the general public.
Participants in the mobilization also receive psychological abuse in the form of threats that anti-riot police are prepared to move in and with respect to that we have reports that in Samoré and in Cedeño there are more than 150 policemen.
Our community is having financial difficulty maintaining the blockade and those that are gathering with us. The goal is to reach 500 U’wa people mobilized on the blockade.
Cordially,
ASRAYU BOCOTA
Traditional Authority
ISAIS TEGRIA
Secretary ASOU’WA
Office of Cabildo Mayor U’wa Calle 4 No. 3-53 Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario
Telefax 011 5778 892326
Cubara Boyaca
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
U’wa Communiqué
Cubara, June 6, 2000
The Association of Traditional U’wa Authority and the U’wa Cabildo Mayor would like to inform the public of the actions that have been taking place in the last few days within the peaceful mobilization in defense of our cultural principles.
Facing threats that have been made by those who work in favor of Oxy, we have filed a denouncement with the police in Saravena and we will await the consequences that this will have on the investigation.
We denounce and reject the incident which occurred on Friday June 2 in which an automobile was burned by someone who is against our cause. We let it be known that it is not our custom to engage in such actions to further the claim for our rights.
To maintain good relations with our brothers Riowa of Gibraltar and Samoré we have come to some agreements which we all have agreed to follow.
To the different transport companies, and those who carry passengers we inform you that our community shall allow no passage through the blockade until there is a positive response to our cause.
Lastly, we would like to make it clear before the eyes and ears of the National and International community, that the Colombian Government and Occidental shall be solely responsible for what takes place on our sacred land, Kera Shichara Mojones Sagrados.
U’WA TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
ASRAYU BOCOTA
KUIRASIRU BARROSA
KAJKOA AGUABLANCA
RUBUKU TEGRIA
KUIORU COBARIA
