On May 12, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “PBI is accompanying NOMADESC in Cali where the Indigenous Minga begins its caravan to mobilization points and continues from Cauca in the national strike and national minga.”

El Pais has explained that minga is “a word synonymous with resistance or mobilization.”

To get a sense of what this mobilization looks like, please see this short video posted on Instagram by Secwepec land defender Kanahus Manuel.

Significantly, the Alliance for a Colombia Free of Fracking has commented: “Surrounding the Minga is an ethical duty of the Colombian social movement, because it has been the first to stand in solidarity with other struggles, including ours to defend water, territory and life. The peaceful authority of the Indigenous Guard has given us a protection that has never come from the State. That’s why Minga is in Cali: to back up the youth that has been massacred on consecutive days by the law enforcement.”

Context

At the time of a previous Minga in October 2020, Joe Sauca from the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC) said: “The risks of the territory have been raised, guarantees are required to be able to be calm and free from the issue of mega-mining, ‘fracking’, from all that situation that affects our peoples.”

And Nelson Lemus, one of the spokespeople for the mobilization at that time, said: “We are inviting, firstly Colombian society and secondly the president, to hold a debate on structural issues of the country : the issue of ‘fracking’, of prior consultation, and that we can express our feelings and the construction of our rights: territory, life, peace, work and all that we have constitutionally as Colombians.”

Extractivism violating Indigenous rights

The American business magazine Forbes has reported: “Nearly a third of Colombia is designated indigenous territory… Often, that land sits atop natural riches that have made it the envy of prospectors. Conflicts abound in Colombia between indigenous communities and extractive industries clawing for oil, gold or lumber.”

And with respect to fracking in Colombia (that three Canadian corporations have expressed support for), Petroleum Economist has reported: “Unconventional assets are also often near indigenous lands, which could pose further headaches.”

NOMADESC on Indigenous rights

NOMADESC (the Association for Research and Social Action) is a human rights organization that advises and accompanies organizations working on social, trade union, civic, Indigenous, Afro-descendant, agricultural and women’s issues.

NOMADESC president Berenice Celeita has stated: “The southwest has been the stage for large-scale megaprojects, particularly mining and energy, megaprojects where the Colombian state has violated free, prior and informed consent.”

She highlighted: “Let’s remember that [there has been a] wave of violence against the Indigenous Guard who are territorial authorities who perform very important protection activities, defending life and the territory.”

Violence against Indigenous peoples during this Minga

On May 9, twelve Indigenous activists participating in the minga were wounded in a shooting that happened in the city of Cali.

Following that armed attack, the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) tweeted: “WE DEMAND RESPECT FOR LIFE for those who mobilize in Minga in the national strike: Peasants, Afro, indigenous people, students, teachers and popular sectors continue to fight for life and peace.”

PBI-Colombia continues to accompany human rights groups during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.

PBI-Colombia has accompanied NOMADESC since 2011.

On May 11, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “PBI accompanied the Justice and Peace Commission in the Portal Americas humanitarian space in Bogota within the framework of the national strike where last night 7 people were injured and 10 people detained by ESMAD [riot police] in the middle of a peaceful protest.”

Portal de las Americas Kennedy is a transit station in Ciudad Kennedy, a predominantly poor and working-class locality in Bogotá.

PBI-Colombia has previously noted it’s “where youth and grassroots organizations in the area have created a humanitarian space for participation in the social protests.”

Teusaradio further explains: “The proclaimed Humanitarian Space on the Americas Portal in the town of Kennedy in Bogotá has already been configured for several days in a place of artistic, cultural and political debate that resists constant police repression.”

Ana Teresa Bernal notes: “Here at Portal Américas we are able to establish the participation of young people in their public space. There is music, a community pot, bicycles and microfootball because the strike is lived with joy.”

Contagio Radio says: “Various artistic and cultural activities are registered to form a ‘collective resistance’ and make the area a space free of confrontations and violence that mainly affects the inhabitants of the sector.”

And Conexion Capital explains: “Given the arrests and concern for fellow protesters, protesters and residents of the sector have made community pots in order to take care of all the days of peaceful sit-ins that take place in the area daily in the mornings and nights.”

The full account by the Justice and Peace Commission of the arrests and injuries that happened on May 10 can be read here.

PBI-Colombia had also accompanied the Justice and Peace Commission at the Portal Americas humanitarian space on May 6.

Peace Brigades International functions as a decentralized, non-hierarchical, consensus-based organization that provides, upon request, unarmed protective accompaniment and visibilization to at-risk activists and human rights defenders.

The banner reads: Humanitarian Space “To Heat the Pot”.

PBI-Colombia continues to accompany human rights groups during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.

Photo by Radio-Canada.

The Canadian House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR) will be briefed on the current situation in Colombia tonight at 7:30 pm EDT.

It can be watched live on ParlVU by clicking here.

Among the concerns being raised at this time:

1- Violence against the National Strike

The Colombian non-governmental organizations Temblores and Indepaz reported yesterday that there have been at least 1,876 recorded cases of violence by the Public Force (police and military) against the national strike over the past 11 days. That includes 963 arbitrary arrests and 356 violent interventions in the context of peaceful protests.

2- The right to peaceful protest

This statement from the Canadian Labour Congress highlights: “Canadian unions condemn this violence and support the legitimate demands of the Colombian people for: the dismantling of the Colombian national police riot control unit (known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD); and guarantees for the right of peaceful protest.”

3- The ESMAD riot police

On October 30, 2017, the Canadian Press reported on a “bilateral police initiative” between Canada and Colombia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “This effort will support post-conflict policing efforts in Colombia and will see Canadian police providing training, capacity building and strategic advice to our Colombian friends.” There are concerns about this given the police violence against peaceful protests.

4- Military exports to Colombia

Canada has exported military goods to Colombia in the following amounts: $310,576 (2018), $114,688 (2017), $215,066 (2016), $522,203 (2015) and $44,754,393 (2014). Canadian exports to Colombia have included Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to the army and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the national police. There are concerns about the use of these vehicles in relation to the national strike.

5- Fracking and environmental defenders

One of the demands that the national strike is making is an end to the fracking pilot projects that have been authorized in Colombia. An Oil Barometer poll found that 73 per cent of Colombians are opposed to fracking. There are concerns that fracking puts at risk the precarious peace process and further endangers already at-risk environmental defenders. Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world for environmental defenders. Last year, 177 human rights defenders were killed in Colombia.

To watch the briefing on ParlVU, click here.

For more, please see the statements by:

Canadian Labour Congress

United Steelworkers

Public Service Alliance of Canada

Amnesty International Canada

International civil society statement endorsed by Oxfam Colombia

The most recently released numbers:

Twitter video of ESMAD police truck firing at protest.

On May 11, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project tweeted: “The Justice and Peace Commission reports that another night of repression and abuse of National Strike protesters by the ESMAD [riot police] in the Americas Portal humanitarian space in Bogota leaves 7 people injured and 10 arrested.”

Portal de las Americas Kennedy is a transit station in Ciudad Kennedy, a predominantly poor and working-class locality in Bogotá.

This Justice and Peace Commission article notes that on the afternoon of May 10 there was an expanded humanitarian assembly in the area.

They continue: “After the end of an assembly meeting in the Humanitarian Area involving four councillors of the Bogota Council Peace Commission, around 7 p.m., in the midst of a peaceful demonstration some four, apparently infiltrated, attacked a bus, generating the reaction of national police units and ESMAD surrounding the Humanitarian Area.”

Infobae further reports: “Among those affected is a journalist from the ‘Colombia Informa’ medium, Diego Palma, who made the cover during the protests and was transferred to a hospital after being wounded, apparently by a truck of the public force.”

And Colombia Informa has tweeted: “They wounded our correspondent in the leg. ESMAD tank fires indiscriminately towards where members of the press were. We have a very bad connection, and we fear possible censorship.”

In 2014-15, Canada exported armoured personnel carriers to the Colombian national police. It is not known if they are being used against the national strike.

The Canadian Labour Congress, which represents more than 3 million workers in Canada, has issued this statement condemning the repression against the national strike and has backed the demand of the Colombian people for: “The dismantling of the Colombian national police riot control unit (known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD).”

PBI-Canada continues to monitor the situation with concern.

On May 6, PBI-Colombia posted: “Today PBI accompanied the Justice and Peace Commission in mobilizations at Portal de las Americas Kennedy where youth and grassroots organizations in the area have created a humanitarian space for participation in the social protests.”

PBI-Colombia continues to accompany human rights groups during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.

Daniela Soto was wounded in yesterday’s attack. Photo by Erika Prieto.

There are media reports of an armed attack against Indigenous peoples who have mobilized in the city of Cali in the context of the ongoing national strike in Colombia:

El Pais reports: “Groups of armed civilians fired this Sunday [May 9] at protesters taking part in the indigenous minga— a word synonymous with resistance or mobilization — that has gathered in the city of Cali.”

Bloomberg reports: “Indigenous leaders said unidentified shooters in civilian clothes opened fire on buses on which they were traveling on a highway south of the city.”

France 24 reports: “Several civilians, most dressed in white and traveling in high-end vans, fired at the minga vehicles on Sunday afternoon, in an incident that left 12 wounded, four of them seriously according to indigenous authorities. Videos of the attack, recorded by journalists, witnesses and both indigenous groups and attackers, quickly went viral on Colombian networks and shocked the country.”

Infobae reports: “This May 9, the Indigenous Guard in Cali and other Cauca Valley Territories supporting and caring for the peaceful demonstration was the target of a gunshot attack. …In the video [embedded in the article] you can hear the shots fired at the Indigenous people, who run after those who make the shots.”

And The Guardian reports: “On Sunday, a blockade set up by indigenous protesters outside the wealthy Ciudad Jardín neighbourhood was attacked by men in civilian clothes. Disturbing videos appear to show members of the police allowing the gunmen through. Other clips show vigilantes wielding handguns and assault rifles in broad daylight.”

That article adds: “On Sunday night, Colombia’s president, Iván Duque, announced that more soldiers and police officers would be dispatched to the city to lift blockades. Chillingly, he also instructed indigenous protesters to ‘return to their reservations’ in order to ‘avoid violent confrontations with citizens’.”

Statements from ONIC, ACIN and CRIC

Following this armed attack, the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) tweeted: “WE DEMAND RESPECT FOR LIFE for those who mobilize in Minga in the national strike: Peasants, Afro, indigenous people, students, teachers and popular sectors continue to fight for life and peace.”

The Indigenous organization ACIN has also tweeted: “We denounce the complicity of members of the public force [policy and military], with armed civilians who shot against the Indigenous community in via Cali – Jamundi.”

And the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC) issued this statement to the international community that highlights: “The government’s response to social protest has been military treatment, through war it aims to resolve social conflicts, this strategy leaves today more than 30 people killed, others missing, judicialized, people with eye injuries, acts of sexual violence towards women; in addition to militarization of the territories and a dirty war developed by paramilitary and state groups.”

Daniela Soto

Colombian artist Lido Pimienta has tweeted: “Daniela was gathering with a group of indigenous people who were in ceremony, she was deliberately shot and is now fighting for her life at hospital. The shooter was a civilian-backed up by police.”

France 24 also reports: “UN Women joined in the complaints [against the attack] especially because one of the serious injuries to the indigenous minga, the young Daniela Soto, was part of the Prodefensoras program, an initiative focused on protecting the lives of women human rights defenders.”

This tweet says: “She was shot twice in the abdomen, she is in critical condition at the Valle del Lili clinic. Daniela, is from Cauca, belongs to CRIC.”

PBI-Colombia continues to accompany human rights groups during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.

Photo by Andrés Valencia.

The PBI-Colombia accompanied Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS) is calling on Canada to stop any technical assistance, aid, logistical or financial support to the Colombian army and police.

CREDHOS intervention

CREDHOS representatives have stated:

“The military and the police are interfering with peaceful social protest. The army is patrolling different urban areas of the cities. We are calling on the international community to ensure that logistical or financial support to the police and national army is stopped because right now they are attacking the people and we don’t want that to continue.”

“The world is seeing the repression that is happening in Colombia. We call on Canada and other countries to please talk about the violence in Colombia. If there is any sort of military support or technical assistance, please abstain from providing that military aid because they are attacking the civilian population.”

“With due respect to the Canadian government we are asking that through your different actions and mechanisms, diplomatic channels that you have with the Colombian state, that you can speak to the national government and express your concern about systematic human rights violations in the context of the social protests.”

“Hopefully from the actions of the Canadian government and other countries we will be able to deescalate the violence we are facing today in our country.”

Bilateral police initiative with Colombia

On October 30, 2017, the Canadian Press reported on a “bilateral police initiative” between Canada and Colombia.

At that time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “This effort will support post-conflict policing efforts in Colombia and will see Canadian police providing training, capacity building and strategic advice to our Colombian friends.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also noted that they maintain a “liaison officer” in Bogota. The RCMP says their role is to “act as the link between law enforcement agencies in Canada and in their host country.”

$45 million of Canadian military exports to Colombia

In 2018, Canada exported $310,576.25 of military goods to Colombia. In 2017, it was $114,688.85. In 2016, it was $215,066.11. And it 2015 it was $522,203.

In 2014, it was $44,754,393.

That was the year that the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a federal government owned Crown corporation, stated it toured the exhibition floor at CANSEC arms show in Ottawa with a delegation from Colombia. That was also the year that Canada sold 24 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to the Colombian Army and at least 4 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the National Police of Colombia.

The precedent for stopping military exports

Canada has previously taken action to stop military exports when there have been serious concerns about human rights violations.

In July 2020, The Globe and Mail reported that Canada “will block the export of sensitive military goods” and further noted that “a Canadian government official familiar said Ottawa wants to prevent equipment being shipped to Hong Kong that could be used by the local police to suppress protests.”

Next steps

On May 4, the Canadian Ambassador to Colombia Marcel Lebleu tweeted: “I deeply regret all the deaths, injuries and violence in Colombia. We defend the right to peaceful demonstration and we are concerned about the excessive use of force against protesters. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased.”

And on May 9, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau stated: “Canada condemns the violence, including the disproportionate use of force by security forces, and urges that the violence cease. The right to peaceful assembly and association are the bedrock of democracy and must be promoted and protected at all times.”

We ask that the Ambassador and Minister now hear the plea from CREDHOS to help deescalate the violence and support the call to stop providing military aid, technical assistance, and logistical and financial support to the police and national army.

PBI-Colombia has accompanied CREDHOS since 1994.

Ivan Madero, the president of CREDHOS, travelled across Canada on a PBI organized advocacy tour in November 2019.

There are also concerns being expressed about the current use and whereabouts of what appear to be Canadian-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, derived from the LAV III, as seen on city streets in this video and this video. The Twitter posts suggest they are in Cali, but other comments suggest Valledupar.

Photo: Rally in Ottawa in solidarity with the social protests in Colombia.

There have been rallies in several cities in Canada over the past few days against the police violence that has been inflicted against the social protests in Colombia.

Ottawa

Radio-Canada reports: “In support of the Colombian community, a demonstration was held in front of parliament in Ottawa late Friday afternoon to denounce the police crackdown on protesters in Colombia. The organizer of the demonstration also called for the Canadian government to take a stand, recalling that the response to the crisis in Venezuela had been strong and rapid.”

Winnipeg

CBC reports: Colombians living in Winnipeg are standing in solidarity with those caught up in deadly, anti-government protests happening in their home country. …Vehicles flying the Colombian flag drove around the Manitoba legislative building and drove by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, while small groups of people carried signs that said ‘SOS Colombia’, ‘Stop Police Brutality’ and ‘We Stand with You’.”

Saskatoon

CTV reports: “Saskatoon’s Colombian community came together Saturday to raise awareness about the unrest gripping their home country. The protests have turned deadly, with at least 26 deaths. In response, a group of Colombians living in Saskatoon walked from City Hall to the Saskatoon Police Service headquarter Saturday evening holding up signs and a Colombian flag.”

Edmonton

CityTV News reports: “A rally was held in Edmonton on Saturday to show solidarity for the people of Colombia. The Colombian government responded with force and now the country is in uproar. Colombians in Edmonton are asking Prime Minister Trudeau to help bring international awareness to the current conflict happening in their country.”

Toronto

BlogTO reports: “In Toronto, hundreds of Colombians gathered in Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday evening to stand in solidarity with protesters at home.”

London

The London Free Press reports: “Hundreds of members of London’s Colombian community rallied peacefully Sunday to show support for friends and family back home, where anti-government protests have started turning violent. …Numerous videos posted on social media have documented Colombian police using excessive force in order to quell the unrest. For ex-patriates now living here, it’s an untenable situation.”

Montreal

Radio Canada International has also reported: “In Montreal a demonstration in front of the CBC/Radio-Canada facilities organized by 21N Somos Todos – Montreal (new window) on Thursday, May 6 and was very busy.”

Statement from Marc Garneau

By Sunday, Canada’s Foreign Minister Marc Garneau issued this statement that highlighted: “Canada condemns the violence, including the disproportionate use of force by security forces, and urges that the violence cease. The right to peaceful assembly and association are the bedrock of democracy and must be promoted and protected at all times.”

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project continues to provide physical and political accompaniment to human rights defenders during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.

Winnipeg

Saskatoon

Edmonton

Toronto

London

Montreal