Colombia en lucha

Farmers Denounce Militarization of Colombian Catatumbo
Bogota, July 16 (Prensa Latina) Farmers in Colombian Catatumbo, in protests for 37 days now, expressed today their concern about the arrival of another 5,000 troops to the area amid government pressure for them to clear totally the roads. “The mobilization will remain until the State reach real, effective agreements to solve social and economic emergency of Catatumbo,” insisted growers, who demand guarantees in case the militaries try to evict them forcibly.
Tension continues intensifying in Tibu municipality, the epicenter of the protests. In a public speech today, President Juan Manuel Santos urged the farmers again to clear roads. “I will never allow them to impose on me the establishment of farmer reservation zones,” he said. The issue of the Reservation Zone has been maintained by the government in the agenda of three failed talks with the farmers, who demand that declaration to prevent the advance of the division of land into large estates, deepened in that region through militarism.
According to Telesur channel, the public force was waiting for a president’s order to storm the area while the farmers indicate their concern about the use of firearms again by the troops. In recent remarks to Telesur, Gilma Tellez, a leader of the protest, said they are tired of so many promises only in paper. “If we clear the roads I’m certain the Government will fail to comply with their promises again. The protest has left four farmers dead and more than 50 seriously wounded.


Colombian Government and Catatumbo Farmers Disagree
Bogota,Jul 16 (Prensa Latina) The negotiations between the Colombian Government and the farmers of the Catatumbo region, on strike for seven weeks, reached a deadlock after a long meeting where none of the parts agreed on the subject. Deputy president Angelino Garzon seemed capable of untangling the situation, but the hopes vanished again. The government insists that farmers must clear the roads but they reply, as they have done from the beginning of the strike, that they will do it after the achievement of their demands
. In a communique published by Agencia de Prensa Rural (Rural Press Agency), the demonstrators pointed out that they decided to reject president Juan Manuel Santos’ claim of clearing the Cucuta-Tibu road. “The demonstration will be carried out until the State agrees real and effective solutions to sort out the social and economic emergency of Catacumbo region” said the farmers who expressed they were willing to clear the roads to let the humanitarian caravans pass by. The farmers expected the government to agree at least on two issues, a way to declare a Reserve Zone, the main refusal of the government, and pensions for the victims of the violent eradication of illegal growing.
In statements to the press, Garzon said that the government strived for the solution but “the farmers lost their chance and for that reason there will not hold any other conversations about Catatumbo”. “That is all for the deputy president”, said Garzon referring to his role as mediator in the resumption of negotiations, said El Tiempo newspaper. As before, the demonstrators fear that the police, the army and the riot squads take reprisals and they ask for protection in case they try to move them away. “If violent solution is chosen, we reiterate that the life and integrity of farmers is a responsibility of the president and his management. Santos must ban public forces from shooting fire weapons against the civilian population” said farmers.