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dam-l (Fwd) Action Alert-Colombia dam killings/LS
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date sent: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 09:37:58 -0800 (PST)
From: lori@irn.org (Lori Pottinger)
Subject: Action Alert-Colombia dam killings/LS
>February 9, 1999
>
>LIVES OF INDIGENOUS ACTIVISTS OPPOSING URRA DAM THREATENED
>
>Global Response joins Amnesty International and Survival International in
>Urgent campaign to safeguard lives of indigenous Embera Katio people
>who oppose construction of the Urra hydroelectric dam on Colombia's Sinu
>river.
>
>On February 4, Amnesty International-USA released an Urgent Action (UA
>21/99) that states:
> - - - -
>Paramilitary groups have reportedly killed several members of the
>indigenous Embera Katio community, and abducted 10 others.
>Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of the community.
>'Disappeared' - Gabriel Domico, Solangel Arias Domico, Eugenio
>Domico, Lubertin Cabrera, Luz Marina Domico (female), Antonio
>Domico, William Domico, Libardo Domico, Micaela Domico (female),
>Ana Luz Guasaruca (female).
>
>Killed: Alejandro Domico, Argemiro Domico, Euclides Domico,
>Abelardo Bailarin. Deliberate and arbitrary killing by guerrilla: Pedro
>Luis Bailarin and Guillermo Bailarin
>
>On 29 January 1999 a paramilitary force reportedly operating with the
>support or acquiescence of the security forces entered the Embera
>Katio community of Kipardo in the Resguardo Karagabi, Karagabi
>indigenous reserve, forcing families to leave their homes and warning
>that the region could no longer escape the counter-insurgency war.
>
>On 31 January the paramilitary group set up a checkpoint on the river
>Sinu, which runs through the reserve, in Cordoba department, and
>apparently abducted 10 members of the community, whose
>whereabouts are now unknown. On 2 February community leaders in
>the Karagabi indigenous reserve denounced the reported
>extrajudicial execution by paramilitaries of Alejandro Domico, who the
>paramilitary forces accused of having collaborated with guerrillas
>operating in the area.
>
>Also on 29 January, a paramilitary force reportedly entered the
>locality of Chigorodocito, outside the Karagabi reserve in
>neighbouring Antioquia Department, killing Embera Katio community
>leader, Argemiro Domico and his son, Euclides Domico, and
>wounding three others. On 24 December 1998 a paramilitary group
>reportedly killed Abelardo Bailarin, community leader of Jiguamando,
>Choco Department.
>
>These abductions and killings have occurred in the context of
>opposition to a hydro-electric project being developed in the reserve.
> - - -
>Survival International gives this background to the assault on the Embera
>Katio people (Dec. 1998):
> - - -
>The Embera's problems began in 1993 with the construction of the Urra
>hydroelectric dam on the Sinu river. The work already done has devastated
>the river's fish population -- one of the Indians' main sources of food --
>and if the dam were to be completed, much of their land would be flooded
>and their livelihood destroyed.
>
>The company behind the hydroelectric project
>is the state-owned Urra S.a., who have contracted the Swedish company Skanska
>and the Russian firm Energomachiexport to build the dam.
>Although Urra S.A. had agreed compensation with the Embera, the company
>subsequently reneged on the arrangement. The Indians therefore went to
>court to try to halt the project, and succeeded in getting an injunction
>preventing the completion of the dam. Alarmed by this success, local
>land-owners (who stand to gain financially from the dam) brought in a
>paramilitary group, "Cordoba and Uraba Self-Defence," with the tacit
>support of the provincial authorities and the army.
>
>This group soon made its presence felt. One of the most important Embera
>leaders, the 60 year old Alonso Dominco Jarupia, was shot dead outside his
>house on August 25th.
>
>...On 10 Novemeber the Colombian Supreme Court ruled in the Indians'
>favour,
>meaning that the project can now only be completed with the Indians'
>consent. The paramilitaries have threatened to carry out a massacre should
>the dam not go ahead.
> - - -
>Global Response Quick Response Network Members are asked to send letters or
>faxes to:
>His Excellency Sr. Andres Pastrana
>Presidente de la Republica
>Palacio de Narino
>Santafe de Bogota
>Carrera 8 No. 7-26
>Colombia
>Fax: international code + 57 1 284 2186 or 289 3377 or 286 7434
>
>In your letter:
>- condemn the killings of members of the Embera Katio community
>in Antioquia and Cordoba Departments by paramilitary forces and
>armed opposition groups;
>
>- express concern for the safety of the 10 members of the
>community who reportedly 'disappeared' after they were abducted by
>paramilitary forces on 31 January 1999, and call on the authorities
>to take steps to secure their release;
>
>- express concern for the safety for all the Embera Katio community
>in Antioquia and Cordoba and call on the authorities to take all
>appropriate steps, agreed by the community, to guarantee their safety;
>
>- call for full, prompt and impartial investigations into the abduction
>of the 10 and the killing of Alejandro Domico, Argemiro Domico,
>Euclides Domico, Abelardo Bailarin, Pedro Luis Bailarin and Guillermo
>Bailarin, for the results to be made public and for those responsible to
>be brought to justice;
>
>- call for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
>security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the area, and
>urge that those responsible for supporting and participating in such
>groups be brought to justice;
>
>- urge that the authorities take immediate action to dismantle
>paramilitary groups, in line with government commitments.
>
>Please send a copy of your letter to:
>National Non-governmental Indigenous Organization:
>Organizacion Nacional Indigena de Colombia (ONIC)
>Apartado Aereo 32395
>Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
>
>THANK YOU!
>
>GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
>activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace and
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>
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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