Colext/Macondo Cantina virtual de los COLombianos en el EXTerior -------------------------------------------------- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 23:54:59 +0100 From: golem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: r-caldas: U'wa Colombian Military Invades U'wa Tribe's Legal Territory to Protect Oxy's Oil Project --------------------------------------------------------------------- U'WA DEFENSE WORKING GROUP For Immediate Release: January 25, 2000 Contacts: Shannon Wright: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Today's meeting between President Clinton and Colombian President Andr�s Pastrana in Washington to discuss increased US military funding drew criticisms from international human rights groups concerned about the recent militarization of the U'wa people's legal, traditional lands. Just days ago, the Colombian armed forces were sent to the U'wa land in order to secure the area for oil drilling by US oil giant Occidental Petroleum (OXY). The U'wa fear that the current stand-off on their land could lead to violence against their tribe by the US-supported Colombian military. According to a communiqu� issued by the U'wa people and information from the Colombian military, since January 19, at least 500 --and as many as several thousand-- Colombian soldiers have been occupying an area of the traditional territory to which the U'wa have recently gained legal title. The soldiers have encircled the 250-plus U'wa people who since mid-November have maintained a peaceful encampment at the site in order to block the planned oil drilling by Occidental. Known as Gibraltar 1, this site just borders the newly expanded Unified U'wa Reserve. The U'wa recently obtained title to the 2 farms directly where Occidental hopes to drill. Under the Colombian Constitution, indigenous lands cannot be expropriated. "We prefer genocide at the hands of the Colombian government over relinquishing our Mother Earth to the oil companies," states the U'wa communiqu�. According to additional U'wa field reports yesterday, Occidental is planning to use armed military personnel to construct the drill site. The U'wa also report that Occidental has directly instructed the military brigade to block members of the U'wa tribe from entering or leaving the occupation site, isolating community members from their tribal leaders. The company and the military have also reportedly prohibited the use cameras in the area. "The truth here in Colombia is that the military is being used to suppress peaceful Indians and protect US oil companies," stated a spokesperson by the U'wa tribe by phone. The U'wa people's campaign to protect their land from oil exploration has once again reached international headlines this week in the Financial Times and Time magazine as Vice President Gore's $500,000 stocks in and extensive campaign contributions from Occidental have come under public scrutiny. "Gore can make the difference. He can save the U'wa and avert a public relations disaster for himself by intervening now," said Atossa Soltani of Amazon Watch. Protests are planned at Gore campaign stops in New Hampshire later this week. U'WA DEFENSE WORKING GROUP is endorsed by the following organizations: Action Resource Center, Amazon Watch, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, EarthWays Foundation, Indigenous Environmental Network, Project Underground, Rainforest Action Network, Sol Communications, U'wa Defense Project, International Law Project for Human Environmental and Economic Defense. -------------- Fot aditional information please visit: http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/beyond_oil/oxy/index.html ____________________________________________________________________ ============================================================================= Si necesita retirarse de la lista envie un mensaje a: [EMAIL PROTECTED] con una unica linea : unsubscribe r-caldas Para inscribirse en la lista envie un mensaje a [EMAIL PROTECTED] con una unica linea : subscribe r-caldas Los mensajes que circulan en la lista los puede consultar en : http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with UNSUBSCRIBE COLEXT as the BODY of the message. Un archivo de colext puede encontrarse en: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ cortesia de Anibal Monsalve Salazar
