For years, the Peace Community has been denouncing paramilitary presence, and irregular and illegal practices in building and construction throughout the settlements of San José de Apartadó. These practices affect the collective farmlands of the Peace Community, especially in the settlement of La Esperanza. Due to recent concerns, we would like to share the following URGENT ACTION of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó.
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URGENT ACTION IN THE PEACE COMMUNITY OF SAN JOSÉ DE APARTADÓ
The Community Action Board and the United Pente Costal Church of Colombia from the community of La Esperanza led by Cesar Jaramillo, amongst other dark forces, entered our private property in “Las Delicias”. There, they destroyed our gates and cut the wire of our fences, ignoring our requests for restricting the passage of vehicles through our property.
This is the fifth time this week when we have had to support damages to our property. To clarify, we have never blocked paths for horse travel. On the contrary, in order to guarantee free passage for people and their animals carrying crops and products, we have preserved the fencing that has always existed.
We are not responsible for any type of forced displacement that might happen, as we have not confined anyone, as was reported in news and social media outlets. People have been able to transit normally in motorcycles and horses without obstacles.
We refuse to be used by the Community Action Board as an excuse to demand government projects for the region.
We must also publicly clarify that we are opposed to the transit of cars through our private properties, which are operating illegal routes and constructing roads without legal permission to do so. Those who invaded, entered, and damaged our property are also the same people who are promoting said illegal roads, stigmatizing and accusing our Peace Community as being part of guerrilla forces. These accusations were announced by the president of the Community Action Board, Anival Higuita.
We want to make it clear that, if anything were to happen to a member of our Community, the Community Action Board, Cesar Jaramillo and the XVII Army Brigade will be responsible, as leaders of the Community Action Board have announced on social media that they are jointly working together with the army.
Cesar Jaramillo, in an act of mockery and blackmail, galloped by our fences on horse while the Community Action Board was destroying our fences.
Yesterday, the Public Defender, Mayor of Apartadó, and government officials came to visit the community of La Esperanza in attempts to find a peaceful solution to the problem. However, the response of the Community Action Board was to continue destroying our communal space and, once again, destroy fences that were installed after five days of community work.
In this video, you can see how they destroyed our fences in order to forcibly enter cars driving illegal public transportation routes.