Meta: Military repression against the inhabitants of El Castillo. Possible new diplacements

30.07.08

Meta: Military repression against the inhabitants of El Castillo. Possible new diplacements.

Bogotá 21st July 2008
PUBLIC COMUNICATION

Continued military repression against the inhabitants of the high part of the municipality of El Castillo – Meta. A new diplacement is evident.

Not sufficient with the forced displacement of more than 800 families since 2002, the cultural upheaval, the breaking of the family networks and the destruction of social organisations and unions.
The National Federation of Agricultural Unions (FENSUAGRO in it’s Spanish initials) and the Independant Farm Workers Union of Meta (SINTRAGRIM) sees with great concern the military repression undertaken by the Special Commission of the Battalion 21 Vargas that has today formally acknowledged itself against the inhabitants of the high part of the municipality of El Castillo – Meta.

Events:

In the days following the Humanitarian Mission undertaken during the 21st and 22nd May 2008 in the communities of Campo Alegre and La Esmeralda various acts took place that worried the population of these communities and those surrounding. The 21st Vargas Battallion of the National Army by means of a mobile commission that controls the region with permanant patrols have undertaken the levelling of the houses of peasant farmers, although it is not known what for, acts that have been evidently intended to intimidate and cause terror amongst the peasant farmers who have resisted the same as those that have returned to the region searching an alternative survival for them and their families.

The situation in which they live is uncontrolable and already the civil authorities of the municipality of El Castillo appear to have no control and no information over what is taking place with the abuses of the army that we outline.

• At the end of the month of May the house of Señora Valentina, an elderly local peasant that lived alone in her house and in innadequate conditions was levelled.

*Directly afterwards, the population of Miravalles reported acts that certain members of this special commission of the army accused a peasant of being a guerilla and later they threatened him with the paramilitaries.

• On the 7th of July 2008, between 10.00am and 10.30am a military commission came to 30 meters away from the house of a peasant, Aladino Álvarez Calvo from El Castillo with ID number 7´792.673. The house was in the high part of the community of Caño Lindo. The people who composed the commission asked politely if he would sell them some bananas which Aladino went on to do, but when Aladino went to offer them lemonade they took photos of him with a red and black cell phone. Following this they asked him what he was doing when they found him working, at which Aladino replied to them that he was sowing beans in this section of land, the military responded that it was lies and that he was with a radio comunicating with the Guerilla when he was found by the army and a member of the military added, ”Relax, already we’re fattenning a number of pigs for a good night.” ”Things have changed now, because we have found those that hadn’t left the region before in the previous displacement.” ”Here many people will die.” Aladino saw they had a long list inside a notebook where it appeared there were many names, among which was the name of José Rengifo, a local peasant of the same community.

• On the 7th July 2008, between 11.00am and 12.00pm a commission of the army arrived in a friendly manner at the house of Jesús Antonio Rengifo from San Martin with Identification number No. 3´282.313. The peasant said that the army ”arrived at my house taking photos with a red and black cell phone, later thet entered into the house and opened a drawer, looked inside and closed it and then they went out and left.” ”I was with my young grand daughter.” The peasant, Jesús Antonio Rengifo requested it to be made known to the Officer of the local defence so that they investigate this matter because they took photos of him and they are in pursuit of him.

• On the 13th of July 2008, we recieved a call from the community of Caño Lindo where they informed us of the presence of the army about 100 meters away from the house of Herminson Tique, a peasant that in previous days was required by members of the army who are part of this special commission, that he attend an appointment with them in the mountains close to his home. The peasant didn’t attend this appointment out of fear and a belief that he considered this something that was outside the legal framework of the law.

• On the 13th of July 2008 military fly-overs took place in the municipality of El Castillo at a low altitude gererating a collective panick amongst the inhabitantes of these communities.

• On the 19th of July 2008 , at aproximately 2:30pm a party took place in the community of La Esmeralda on behalf of the sports committee during which arrived a small red wine coloured car and van and from which immediately stepped out members of the Special Forces known as the ”Gaula” and surrounded the site and they decided to take photos and film with a video camera all the people they found in the community reunion after which they left.

• On the 19th of July 2008, a call was recieved in which a denouncement was made that two military vans was seen arriving carrying soldiers and armed civilian men to the community of El Once. The vans unloaded the personel and left empty towards the municipality of Cabeccera.

We ask of the government and “Democratic Security” to guarentee the rights and liberties of the peasants and civil leaders of the High Ariari region

AIDEE MORENO IBAGUE
RUBBY CASTAÑO
Human Rights Secretary SINTRAGRIM – FENSUAGRO
– FENSUAGRO – CUT

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