03/15/2005

Contacts: Mamie Mutchler and Andrea Lari
ri@refugeesinternational.org or 202.828.0110

Groups of Afro-Colombians, after years of displacement in urban areas, have established peace settlements back on their collectively owned land, but increasing insecurity caused by the armed conflict in Colombia is threatening these settlements. Different armed groups, including the national army, are attempting to break their nonviolent resistance in order to enhance their military strategy and the communities are losing confidence in the capacity of the Colombian government to provide them with the necessary protection.

Returning displaced persons have established peace settlements in approximately 50 communities in Uraba province. In these settlements every single family agrees to maintain a rigid stand of not interacting with any armed actor, whether members of the FARC (the main guerrilla force), the national army, or the right-wing paramilitary. Their strategy is non-violent resistance to involvement in the conflict. This means refusing any formal relation with individuals carrying weapons, and aiming at self protection through building houses close one another, fencing the settlement and cultivating collective fields within its perimeter. This choice of autonomy carries with it a high price: isolation, limited economic opportunities, and barely acceptable living conditions, with no running water or electricity, and no health or school facilities at hand.

Further, the choice of non-violent resistance is a challenge to all armed actors, and the settlements are under constant pressure from them to provide intelligence or material support. When these entreaties are resisted, the response may be violent. In early March, eight people, including outspoken leaders of the peace community of San Jose de Apartado and their families, were massacred by individuals wearing uniforms.

In February Refugees International visited the community of Nueva Vida, located in the Uraba region of Cacarica, along a tributary of the Bajo Atrato River. Their displacement took place in February 1997 following a counterinsurgency operation coordinated between the XVII Carepa Brigade of the Colombian Army and groups of paramilitaries. A villager told Refugees International, "The community leaders were gathered and the commander said we had three days to leave our houses since they needed to look for the guerrilla. Then helicopters came dropping bombs and shooting. Our houses were looted and more than 80 people died. We all fled, some using boats to reach Turbo, a nearby town, others escaped by land seeking sanctuary on the mountains or crossing into Panama."

The group of more than 3,000 people who reached the city was taken by the police to Turbo's athletic facilities. While some food assistance was provided, health conditions deteriorated rapidly. "Many children and elderly were dying at the hospital. We had to do something so we started to create a health committee and engage the authorities to assist us properly," said one leader interviewed by RI. With the support of faith-based activists and officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the group elected 35 leaders to engage responsible authorities regarding assisting them during their displacement and organizing the community's return. The leaders drafted a plan for their return, which included the establishment of humanitarian zones, unarmed protection through members of independent judicial bodies, legal recognition of their land rights, community based development projects and moral reparation for those killed in the attack.

The first resettlement took place in 2001, but it did not work out smoothly. The community suffered at least three incursions by the paramilitary forces. Constant pressure was placed upon girls to provide sexual favors to soldiers and upon young boys either to join the network of informants or to work on the African palm oil and coca plantations run by the paramilitary's leaders. The continued pressure succeeded in breaking the community ties developed throughout the negotiation of the resettlement process. The community split again, with one group opting to reestablish a peace settlement.

This resettlement process represents an example of the tenacity and strength of this Afro-Colombian community. It has been strongly supported through the permanent presence of both the civilian authorities mandated to provide protection, such as the Defensoria del Pueblo [the Colombian equivalent of the Public Ombudsman's Office], which can activate the early warning system and consequential governmental protective measures in case of threats, and of members of international and national voluntary groups. Living within the community they represent a deterrent against potential attacks and can generate international attention if needed. Finally, the community is also part of the provisional security measures demanded of the Colombian government by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights.

RI was impressed by the creativity and courage of this community. They successfully solicited the involvement of community and government representatives, UN and foreign embassy officials, and staff of non-governmental organizations in a mixed verification commission to oversee the return process. This body monitored the implementation of the return agreement between the community leadership and the Colombian authorities for a while and facilitated a degree of effective scrutiny. The process also helped strengthen the community's organizational capacity and its ability to identify the most appropriate options for the future.

Although there have not been recent attacks on Nueva Vida, the security situation remains tenuous. Paramilitaries have tried to enter the community despite being repeatedly alerted of the prohibition to do so. Not far from the settlement, on community owned land, the paramilitaries have a permanent base in Balsa. In this context, security can deteriorate quickly.

The responsible authorities have also shown signs of disengagement. The mixed verification commission has not met since March of last year. In 2004 the Defensor del Pueblo visited the community only three times instead of the planned 12, casting doubts about its capacity to activate the early warning system when required. Key aspects of the resettlement agreement remain pending. The community's rights have not been restored on significant portions of their lands, including compensation for illegal exploitation of timber, while the dredging of the river which allows vital access to the settlement has been suspended. In addressing these pending issues, the Government of Colombia, with the support of the United Nations, should respect the choices expressed by the community. This would make the peace community a safe and sustainable option for resettled people and ultimately provide guidance for other groups undertaking resettlement elsewhere in the country.

Refugees International therefore recommends that:

The Government of Colombia

• Reactivate the mixed verification commission for Nueva Vida in order to implement the agreements still unfulfilled, in particular regarding the land issues, and live up to its responsibility to protect and ensure the well being of its citizens.
• Verify the existence of the Balsa paramilitary's settlement located in the Cacarica area and if found, dismantle it.
• Strengthen the presence in the community of independent judicial bodies, in particular the Defensor del Pueblo, and enhance its capacity to activate the community early warning system.
• Provide similar protection and support to other peace communities in the country.

• Expand the UNHCR presence in the area and take an active role to facilitate the resumption of the mixed verification commission.
• Support the community's initiatives to improve access to education for children and adolescents and the expansion of existing economic and productive activities.

• Maintain financial support for those national and international non-governmental groups that are supporting the process of establishing peace settlements of returning displaced persons.