U’WA: A CALL FOR JUSTICE, A CALL FOR SUPPORT | Amazon Watch
Amazon Watch

U’WA: A CALL FOR JUSTICE, A CALL FOR SUPPORT

December 23, 2005 | Campaign Update

“The U’wa people, by the power we have held for thousands of years, feel ourselves compelled to call out to the world. Understand that the strength of our power is with our words. We, the U’wa, are nonviolent people. Our power is our instinctive respect and spiritual consciousness. It is our responsibility to continue to exercise our natural power in order to create the balance necessary to inspire mutual collaboration, survival and protection within our sacred territory, until the end of the world. This month armed groups [have been] rampaging through U’wa territory, raping, burning, threatening and contaminating; intimidating our people… They corrupt our culture, and violate our human and spiritual rights, just as did the first Conquistadors did some 500 years ago.” U’wa Communiqué, January 24 2004

On the heels of a successful and inspiring delegation to the U.S. this fall, U’wa president Berito Cobaria and leader Daris Cristancho returned to their territory deep in the Colombian cloudforests for 7 days of fasting and ceremonies to report back to community elders and go through a cleansing ritual that is routine after travels to the outside world.

The U’wa, known around the world for their steadfast efforts to keep oil extraction – and thus Colombia’s forty year civil conflict – out of their pristine cloudforest homelands, are again facing tremendous threat. The 5,000 member tribe continues to find themselves up against increasing pressure from the Colombian government and the state run oil company—Ecopetrol—whom are looking to begin seismic testing inside the U’wa indigenous reserve, and frequent victims of human rights abuses at the hands of, varyingly: the Colombian military, right wing paramilitaries, and two left wing guerrilla groups.

No sooner had the U’wa leaders hiked down from their mountain top ceremonies and returned to their communities than word came of new abuses and ominous threats for the future. The Colombian military recently established a permanent outpost deep in the U’wa territory in the community of “Tamarana.” This is the first time ever that traditional U’wa families have been so close to non-U’wa, particularly to this type of intense, heavily armed, military battalion specialized in jungle combat. As predicted, the presence of the military outposted is already being felt.

In November, three incidents occurred related to this new military presence in U’wa territory. Members of the just established outpost have already unleashed a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and reconnaissance. Brigade members brutally harassed an U’wa school teacher, accusing him of being a guerrilla—-a virtual death sentence if the accusation trickles down to right wing paramilitaries. They broke up a community meeting and left only after confiscating the communal notebook that compiled notes and minutes of past meetings. Numerous fourteen and fifteen year-old girls have been sexually harassed, and an elder U’wa man was shot and seriously wounded while fishing in the river while brigade members fired long-range warning shots to intimidate the community.

Another meeting between the Colombian government and the U’wa is slated for mid January 2006, as part of the consultation process the government and Ecopetrol are required to carry out before beginning the seismic testing phase of oil extraction. The U’wa have denounced the process and stated they will not participate, nor negotiate, their land and culture.

With gas prices hitting all time highs, we continue to see the true price of oil being paid not by the average American consumer, but by communities like the U’wa and by our planet. In response to the recent global warming induced extreme weather, Daris reaffirmed her people’s stance against any type of oil exploration and the militarization that accompanies it, explaining: “We told the government when the hurricanes come, to go ahead and stop them with their soldiers and with their money, if they think that is more powerful.”

Amazon Watch will begin a new phase of our campaign to support the U’wa in the struggle to defend their lives, land and culture in January 2006. To get involved and take action to support the U’wa during this critical time, please email: Kevin@amazonwatch.org or call our San Francisco office at: 415.487.9600

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