Colombia Mobilization

Tens of Thousands of Peasants Currently Mobilizing All Over Colombia
Beginning the 10th of October, rural popular organizations will mobilize in particular places in Colombia. Going from their streets and villages, they aim to arrive in the capitals of their departamentos. They seek to launch a repeal of the anti-popular laws recently approved by the Congress; for example, the ill-fated Rural Statute and the reduction of transfers, that place equally in danger the campesinos and all Colombians.

These groups reject TLC (Tratado de Libre Comercio, or Free Trade Agreements) as well as the state politics of annihilation of the peasant economy and of the indigenous people. Furthermore, they propose to heighten the consciousness of the Colombian people concerning the necessity of demanding the resignation of President Uribe and his Vice-President Santos and to fight for a popular, democratic government.

The answer from the régime regarding the call to mobilization has been a brutal repression ever since the detention of four leaders of the ACVC (Asociación Campesina del Valle del río Cimitarra, or Peasant Association of the Cimitarra River Valley). That was preceded by a campaign of black propaganda against the mobilization and the organizations that motivate it, brought to the most serious level, physical threats and attacks. The low point was reached with the execution of the local communal leader of Miranda (Cauca), Carlos Alberto Urbano, and the assassination of Yovanny Pillimue, of the Association of Coffee Producers of East Caucano, acts which the peasant groups have actively denounced.