Peasants terminate humanitarian refugee encampment

18.07.07

Today the peasants in the refugee encampment in the city of Barrancabermeja return to their homes in Northeastern Antioquia, South of Bolivar, and the Cimitarra River Valley. The termination of the encampment takes place following an agreement reached with the federal government, and recognition of the evidence that the peasant community is being abused by the National Army and the paramilitaries. The agreement with the government is comprised of four focus points: first, a process to pave the path to re-establishing the Peasant’s Reservation Zone (a federally designated area reserved for family farm development which prohibits large scale industrial development). Second, regarding human rights, it establishes a Verification Commission to Northeastern Antioquia; the military forces will reiterate instructions to troops about due respect to civilian population; the Presidential Human Rights Program will assign a coordinator to the zone for six months; and a series of measures will be taken to assure follow-up to denunciations originating in the zone. The third point calls for a meeting with the Presidential Social Action Program to look for solutions to damages caused by aerial fumigation of illicit crops. The fourth point provides guarantees to the peasants during their return to the zone. The peasants stated that if the state does not comply with the agreement, they will mobilize again.

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