PBI-Colombia accompanies Nomadesc at general assembly held by Buenaventura Civic Strike Committee
Photo by the Buenaventura Civic Strike Social Movement.
PBI-Colombia has amplified this post from Nomadesc on Instagram:
“On Saturday, August 23, the Executive Committee of the Buenaventura Civic Strike held its Ordinary General Assembly, a meeting that brought together communities to discuss the progress made in the movement’s nine thematic working groups.
During the meeting, spokespersons reminded attendees that the Civic Strike is still alive and that collective efforts have not stopped. ‘Our commitment continues, because the struggle is for the well-being of Buenaventura and for the dreams of those who are reborn,’ said the organizers.
The Assembly also served to reaffirm the importance of maintaining community unity as the basis of the process. Attendees agreed that the aspirations of the people will remain strong as long as the communities remain organized and in resistance.”
Photo by Nomadesc.
The Buenaventura Civic Strike Social Movement also posted on Facebook:
“On Saturday, August 23rd, the Assembly of the Civic Strike Social Movement of Buenaventura came to an end, more than 280 grassroots organizations met to discuss the progress of the agreements and strengthen the organizational process.
The meeting allowed to renew ties, resolve doubts, share first-hand information and reaffirm the commitment to continue demanding from the National and Departmental Government for compliance with the pact.
Active participation demonstrates that the community is still alive, united and willing to fight for the well-being of the territory.”
Photo by the Buenaventura Civic Strike Social Movement.
2017 Civic Strike
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has previously explained: “In 2017, [there was] a massive civic strike—also known as a general strike—in Buenaventura, home to Colombia’s key port on its Pacific coast, to protest the city’s deepening socioeconomic and human rights crisis. For three weeks in May, one hundred and fourteen social organizations took over the streets, holding protest marches, community kitchens and cultural festivals, effectively shutting down Colombia’s most important trading hub.”
In June 2017, WOLA highlighted: “The initial response of the government was to violently repress and attack protestors, who were non-violent and included women, the elderly, and children. The Civic Strike Committee reported multiple instances of excessive use of force by the anti-riot police ESMAD. Numerous videos and photos support these claims. The ombudsman’s office reported 91 complaints of excessive use of force by ESMAD, of which 39 were reported to the Attorney General’s Office due to their severity.”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has also noted: “The strike forced the Colombian government to negotiate an agreement to provide critical public services that would serve the entire community. Organizers agreed to suspend the strike in exchange for a list of demands that included safe drinking water and basic sanitation infrastructure, health care coverage for medical procedures and traditional medicine, access to quality public education, justice and reparations for victims of the conflict, and a community consultation process for land use planning.”
The nine thematic working groups
The social media post from Nomadesc noted at the top of this article says that the assembly “brought together communities to discuss the progress made in the movement’s nine thematic working groups.”
On April 1, 2025, Semana reported: “The Civic Strike Social Movement of Buenaventura sent a letter to President Gustavo Petro…”
Semana notes that the letter stated: “In the midst of the country’s current fiscal conditions, send a message of continuity in the operation of the nine thematic tables of the civic strike agreements, through face-to-face and virtual sessions, according to the requirements. …Buenaventura cannot stand any more indifference.”
Recent news reports
From Canada, we continue to follow news and updates about the situation in Buenaventura and the work of the Civic Strike Committee.
The Civic Strike Committee is noted in an article by Radio Nacional Colombia that notes Ministry of Health will make an investment of more than $143,000 million for the construction of health centers in Buenaventura (August 26, 2025); in El Tiempo reporting on continued displacements and the construction of new homes commenting the “process has been fragile” (August 15, 2025); ; ConsultorSalud noting “the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reported that the National Government has allocated $265,005 million pesos to strengthen the health system in the special district between 2022 and 2025” (July 21, 2025); Soy de Buenaventura reporting on participation in the “Buenaventura Siempre Viva” Peace Festival that was held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, as well as reporting on “the inauguration of the Multimodal Center…, a space aimed at providing comprehensive care to victims of the armed conflict and people in vulnerable situations”; and EMCALI noting that 1345 homes will benefit from electrification “through the Fund for the Development of the Plan We Are All PEACEcifico, (FTSP) [that] was formed as a result of the civic strike that occurred in Buenaventura” (in 2024).
Accompaniment
Peace Brigades International has accompanied the Association for Social Research and Action (Nomadesc) since 2011 and its president Berenice Celeita since 1999. PBI-Canada and PBI-Colombia, alongside a delegation of Canadian labour activists, visited Buenaventura on July 3-4, 2022.
Video: Nomadesc president Berenice Celeita speaks about state violence against the Civic Strike in 2017 and PBI accompaniment.
0 Comments