CASA: Who are we?
Texto en español abajo.
The Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA), founded in 2004, is a group of community and union activists based in Toronto, Canada. Our solidarity work is based on a direct relationship with Colombian grassroots, communities and social organizations that struggle for peace, human rights and social justice. We regard the "Life Projects" of these communities/organizations as a form of resistance to the dominant militaristic economic model implemented by the Colombian state and multinational corporations. An important priority of our work is to give greater visibility to Colombian social movement struggles in Canada and strengthen solidarity ties between social movements in both countries.
Since 2004 CASA has undertaken multiple initiatives in support of Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and trade union struggles. We highlight our participation in the International campaign against Coca-Cola and the campaign that opposed the implementation of the Canada-Colombia FTA lead by community organizations, unions, NGOs and opposition Members of Parliament. More recently CASA’s work has focused on denouncing the negative social and environmental impact of large-scale Canadian mining and extractive industry companies in Colombia; as well, as the active support and complicity of the Colombian and Canadian states and elites in promoting this destructive corporate agenda.
In the past five years, CASA participated in the creation and consolidation of the Toronto-based Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN). This network, which brings together fourteen (14) solidarity committees, has promoted coordination and action among member groups.
CASA: ¿Quienes somos?
La Alianza de Solidaridad y Acción por Colombia (CASA, sigla en Inglés), fundada en 2004, es un grupo conformado por activistas comunitarios y sindicalistas con sede en Toronto, Canadá. Nuestro trabajo solidario está basado en la relación directa con comunidades y organizaciones sociales de base colombianas, que luchan por la paz, los derechos humanos y la justicia social. Consideramos que los "proyectos de vida" de estas comunidades y organizaciones constituyen una forma de resistencia al modelo económico y militarista dominante, implementado por el Estado Colombiano y los intereses de las grandes corporaciones multinacionales. Por consiguiente, es prioridad de nuestro trabajo darle mayor visibilidad en Canadá a las luchas del movimiento social colombiano y fortalecer los lazos de solidaridad entre los movimientos sociales en ambos países.
Desde 2004, CASA ha emprendido múltiples iniciativas en apoyo de las luchas de las comunidades indígenas, afrocolombianas y organizaciones sindicales. Destacamos nuestra participación en la campaña Internacional de denuncia a Coca-Cola, así mismo, la campaña en oposición a la implementación del TLC entre Colombia y Canadá impulsada por organizaciones comunitarias y sindicales ONGs y parlamentarios de oposición. Más recientemente el trabajo de CASA se ha centrado en denunciar el impacto negativo, social y ambiental de la minería canadiense a gran escala y de su industria extractiva en Colombia, así como el apoyo activo y cómplice de los gobiernos canadiense y colombiano y las élites que promueven la agenda destructiva de dichas corporaciones.
En los últimos cinco años, CASA ha participado en la creación y consolidación de Red Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Solidaridad (LACSN, sigla en Inglés). Esta red, que congrega 14 comités de solidaridad, le ha permitido a sus organizaciones integrantes encontrar espacios y objetivos comunes, logrando una coordinación y acción mas efectiva.
Call-out for participation in
Canadian delegation
The Brotherhood and Solidarity Network with Colombia (Redher)
in Bogotá was attacked!!
During the early hours of today, Saturday 20 July, the house of the Brotherhood and Solidarity Network with Colombia (Redher) in Bogotá was attacked. Strangers came into the place and took away computers, sound recorders and cameras used in the organization of the pre-hearing of the Ethical and Political Judgement of Pacific Rubiales; and of the delegation from Canada- the multinational’s country of origin -that witnessed the complaints by the oilworkers union USO and social organizations in Colombia.
This incident is the culmination of a series of circumstances of extreme gravity, including death threats received after the hearing by community leader and union member Hector Sanchez and his family; to the campaign against USO and cyber attacks on the websites of the Congress of Peoples, the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee and the news agency Colombia Informa, all of whom made a special monitoring of hearing and previous complaints.
FACTS
Tuesday: "Our condolences on the loss of your wife and child"
On Tuesday 16 July, just two days after completion of the hearing in Puerto Gaitan, strangers came by night to the home of Hector Sanchez and left on the dining table of the house, a brief prepared with newspaper letters to the following death threat:
“Rest in peace. Juan David and costeña [female from Caribbean coast].
We know every step you take with your family. It's good to get help but it will be of no avail. We also know that you will work do not find a death asshole the same for your wife and your son. Our condolences on the loss of your wife and child. Do not leave then fatherless and widowed and don’t be a widower"
Hector Sanchez had organized community meetings leading up to the full Hearing against Pacific Rubiales.
Between 11 and 16 July, a delegation of 17 Canadian civil society and parliament representatives carried out a mission of observation in Colombia, to evaluate the consequences of the intense oil production activities of the Canadian registered Pacific Rubiales Energy(PRE) in Puerto Gaitan, in the province of Meta. The delegation attended the Public Hearing held in Puerto Gaitan 13 and 14 July.
Send your own letter: http://lacsn.weebly.com/letter---urgent-action.html
Wednesday: "We are going on the offensive against USO"
Alex Ivan Ortiz is a leader of the Electricity Industry Workers Union, UTEN, that seeks to replace USO in the oil companies. The days after the hearing, he announced in the media his union’s good relations with Pacific Rubiales. In an interview with W Radio, he made a direct warning. After referring to national and international reports, Ortiz went further when he declared: "now we are tired of this quiet action on our part, we will go on the offensive against the USO." This is a threat that, given the history of disappearances and killings of leaders of the USO and in the current context of harassment, should be taken into account.
Friday: Cyber attacks, without information
On Friday, the new agency Colombia Reports released a special report with complaints against Pacific Rubiales documented in Puerto Gaitan. The report included an interview with Canadian deputy Amir Khadir, who announced actions in his country against the multinational company. Pacific Rubiales has strong interests in the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The campaign of solidarity against the threat of death to Hector Sanchez was also spreading, led internationally by the Canadian Foundation PASC, Projet Acompagnemént Solidarité Colombie A few hours after the broadcast of a special report, there was a cyber attack on the news agency’s web site, preventing access to information. Likewise other sites disseminating information were attacked, those of the Congress of Peoples and the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee. The Congress of the Peoples is a convergence space of social movements and unions that promote Ethical and Political Judgment.
Saturday: assault on the Brotherhood and Solidarity Network with Colombia (Redher)
Finally, during the early hours of Saturday the headquarters of Redher was attacked. Redher is one of the international organizations which convened the organization of the hearing with USO, and that housed the Canadian delegation overseeing the process against the multinational. Strangers entered the Redher office and took several desktop and laptop computers, camcorders and recorders of the team who had been conducting research in Puerto Gaitan. The intruders left money in a cash box, as well the credit cards of residents at the office and other documentation, and focussed on stealing any equipment that may contain information or have documented the information collected by the research team referring to complaints against Pacific Rubiales.
Redher is responsible for much of the organization of final Hearing judging the multinationals to be held on 16, 17 and 18 August in Bogotá, by agreement of the Congress of the Peoples.
The organizations that are part of the Network of Brotherhood and Solidarity with Colombia, Redher denounce this series of events that have a common motivation and a clear objective of intimidation. We demand guarantees for our legitimate exercise as human rights defenders and as social processes. We call on the solidarity of all social movements in Colombia and internationally, and redouble the commitment to move forward amplifying complaints arising from the communities and workers' organizations. We reaffirm that we will go forward with the completion of ETHICAL AND POLITICAL JUDGEMENT AGAINST THE DESPOILATION OF COLOMBIA to be held in Bogotá on 16, 17 and 18 August.
This incident is the culmination of a series of circumstances of extreme gravity, including death threats received after the hearing by community leader and union member Hector Sanchez and his family; to the campaign against USO and cyber attacks on the websites of the Congress of Peoples, the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee and the news agency Colombia Informa, all of whom made a special monitoring of hearing and previous complaints.
FACTS
Tuesday: "Our condolences on the loss of your wife and child"
On Tuesday 16 July, just two days after completion of the hearing in Puerto Gaitan, strangers came by night to the home of Hector Sanchez and left on the dining table of the house, a brief prepared with newspaper letters to the following death threat:
“Rest in peace. Juan David and costeña [female from Caribbean coast].
We know every step you take with your family. It's good to get help but it will be of no avail. We also know that you will work do not find a death asshole the same for your wife and your son. Our condolences on the loss of your wife and child. Do not leave then fatherless and widowed and don’t be a widower"
Hector Sanchez had organized community meetings leading up to the full Hearing against Pacific Rubiales.
Between 11 and 16 July, a delegation of 17 Canadian civil society and parliament representatives carried out a mission of observation in Colombia, to evaluate the consequences of the intense oil production activities of the Canadian registered Pacific Rubiales Energy(PRE) in Puerto Gaitan, in the province of Meta. The delegation attended the Public Hearing held in Puerto Gaitan 13 and 14 July.
Send your own letter: http://lacsn.weebly.com/letter---urgent-action.html
Wednesday: "We are going on the offensive against USO"
Alex Ivan Ortiz is a leader of the Electricity Industry Workers Union, UTEN, that seeks to replace USO in the oil companies. The days after the hearing, he announced in the media his union’s good relations with Pacific Rubiales. In an interview with W Radio, he made a direct warning. After referring to national and international reports, Ortiz went further when he declared: "now we are tired of this quiet action on our part, we will go on the offensive against the USO." This is a threat that, given the history of disappearances and killings of leaders of the USO and in the current context of harassment, should be taken into account.
Friday: Cyber attacks, without information
On Friday, the new agency Colombia Reports released a special report with complaints against Pacific Rubiales documented in Puerto Gaitan. The report included an interview with Canadian deputy Amir Khadir, who announced actions in his country against the multinational company. Pacific Rubiales has strong interests in the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The campaign of solidarity against the threat of death to Hector Sanchez was also spreading, led internationally by the Canadian Foundation PASC, Projet Acompagnemént Solidarité Colombie A few hours after the broadcast of a special report, there was a cyber attack on the news agency’s web site, preventing access to information. Likewise other sites disseminating information were attacked, those of the Congress of Peoples and the Political Prisoners Solidarity Committee. The Congress of the Peoples is a convergence space of social movements and unions that promote Ethical and Political Judgment.
Saturday: assault on the Brotherhood and Solidarity Network with Colombia (Redher)
Finally, during the early hours of Saturday the headquarters of Redher was attacked. Redher is one of the international organizations which convened the organization of the hearing with USO, and that housed the Canadian delegation overseeing the process against the multinational. Strangers entered the Redher office and took several desktop and laptop computers, camcorders and recorders of the team who had been conducting research in Puerto Gaitan. The intruders left money in a cash box, as well the credit cards of residents at the office and other documentation, and focussed on stealing any equipment that may contain information or have documented the information collected by the research team referring to complaints against Pacific Rubiales.
Redher is responsible for much of the organization of final Hearing judging the multinationals to be held on 16, 17 and 18 August in Bogotá, by agreement of the Congress of the Peoples.
The organizations that are part of the Network of Brotherhood and Solidarity with Colombia, Redher denounce this series of events that have a common motivation and a clear objective of intimidation. We demand guarantees for our legitimate exercise as human rights defenders and as social processes. We call on the solidarity of all social movements in Colombia and internationally, and redouble the commitment to move forward amplifying complaints arising from the communities and workers' organizations. We reaffirm that we will go forward with the completion of ETHICAL AND POLITICAL JUDGEMENT AGAINST THE DESPOILATION OF COLOMBIA to be held in Bogotá on 16, 17 and 18 August.
USO managed to organize a meeting with the personal of
the Canadian Embassy and Hector Sanchez who recently received
life threats related to his work in Puerto Gaitan
Here is the report sent by Freddy Pulecio from the USO national Wednesday, July 24, 2013 1:19 PM
(sorry, just in Spanish, text currently being translated to English)
Nos reunimos con Juan Camilo Munévar -asistente político- y Diana Muñoz -analista de desarrollo-, en la sede de la USO. A esta reunión asistimos con Héctor Sánchez.
Esbozamos la situación que vivimos Héctor y yo y, la decisión política de la USO para abrir una sede sindical en el campo petrolero de Rubiales.
Dejamos claro que nosotros no esperábamos nada del actual gobierno canadiense por la inclinación de mercado que lo alienta y, que por ello, nuestra esperanza la tenemos en la presión que el movimiento sindical y social canadiense puedan ejercer contra Pacific en Canadá y sobre la embajada canadiense en Colombia, para que esta a su vez presione a Pacific y desde luego al gobierno colombiano en el marco de los acuerdos que han establecido los dos gobiernos.
Así mismo precisamos que Colombia perdió la soberanía en el campo de operaciones de PRE y que es ella, la empresa, quien ejerce allí, el control militar, económico y político. Empresa que tiene una marcada xenofobia antisindical y antipopular. Que por estas razones responsabilizamos a PRE de lo que nos pueda suceder en sus zonas de influencia y al gobierno colombiano por negarnos la protección adecuada al nivel de riesgo que corremos para ejercer la actividad sindical y social.
Igualmente referenciamos el consejo de seguridad que sostuvimos, a finales del año pasado, con el comandante de la policía Meta, general Romero, a propósito de la ofensiva militar contra la USO en el marco de las negociaciones con CEPCOLSA, en la que fue asesinado el compañero Milton Rivas Parra. En esa reunión el comandante de la policía Meta trató de montar dos escenarios para limpiarse las manos.
Uno de ellos era que PUERTO GAITÁN era una zona de disputa entre dos bandas de paramilitares en la que nosotros podríamos ser victimas.
El segundo escenario fue una supuesta pugna de carácter sindical entre la USO y la UTEM, esto con el propósito de deslegitimarnos como sindicato y poder golpearnos.
Ante el primer escenario respondimos que en primer lugar PACIFIC y la fuerza publica ejercen un férreo control militar del área y que la presencia de paramilitares en su área de control era responsabilidad de ellos y, que ademas, dentro de los trabajadores de las empresas que laboran para PRE en el área hay mucho paramilitar desmovilizado quienes saben perfectamente que no existe una decisión paramilitar en contra de la USO en esa región y, de existirla los directos responsables son quienes teniendo el control, repito militar, político y económico de la región, lo consienten.
En cuanto a la segunda hipótesis, también aclaramos que aunque efectivamente una de las estrategias utilizadas contra la USO ha sido el paralelismo sindical, no es cierto que en este caso exista otro sindicato en el área pues la UTEM no es un sindicato, pareciera serlo pero esta mas encaminado a ser una intermediario laboral, es decir una bolsa de empleo y, ademas que PRE esta presionando a los 12.000 trabajadores del área a afiliarse a esta organización y a desafiliarse de la USO, so pena de vetarlos.
Los nombres del personal de seguridad de PRE que han venido amedrantando a Héctor Sánchez son:
Armando Medina y Ricardo Luqueta, quienes están al mando de Gustavo Avendaño, estos nombres fueron dados por personal de seguridad de PRE que seguían a Hector este 16 de julio de 2013.
(sorry, just in Spanish, text currently being translated to English)
Nos reunimos con Juan Camilo Munévar -asistente político- y Diana Muñoz -analista de desarrollo-, en la sede de la USO. A esta reunión asistimos con Héctor Sánchez.
Esbozamos la situación que vivimos Héctor y yo y, la decisión política de la USO para abrir una sede sindical en el campo petrolero de Rubiales.
Dejamos claro que nosotros no esperábamos nada del actual gobierno canadiense por la inclinación de mercado que lo alienta y, que por ello, nuestra esperanza la tenemos en la presión que el movimiento sindical y social canadiense puedan ejercer contra Pacific en Canadá y sobre la embajada canadiense en Colombia, para que esta a su vez presione a Pacific y desde luego al gobierno colombiano en el marco de los acuerdos que han establecido los dos gobiernos.
Así mismo precisamos que Colombia perdió la soberanía en el campo de operaciones de PRE y que es ella, la empresa, quien ejerce allí, el control militar, económico y político. Empresa que tiene una marcada xenofobia antisindical y antipopular. Que por estas razones responsabilizamos a PRE de lo que nos pueda suceder en sus zonas de influencia y al gobierno colombiano por negarnos la protección adecuada al nivel de riesgo que corremos para ejercer la actividad sindical y social.
Igualmente referenciamos el consejo de seguridad que sostuvimos, a finales del año pasado, con el comandante de la policía Meta, general Romero, a propósito de la ofensiva militar contra la USO en el marco de las negociaciones con CEPCOLSA, en la que fue asesinado el compañero Milton Rivas Parra. En esa reunión el comandante de la policía Meta trató de montar dos escenarios para limpiarse las manos.
Uno de ellos era que PUERTO GAITÁN era una zona de disputa entre dos bandas de paramilitares en la que nosotros podríamos ser victimas.
El segundo escenario fue una supuesta pugna de carácter sindical entre la USO y la UTEM, esto con el propósito de deslegitimarnos como sindicato y poder golpearnos.
Ante el primer escenario respondimos que en primer lugar PACIFIC y la fuerza publica ejercen un férreo control militar del área y que la presencia de paramilitares en su área de control era responsabilidad de ellos y, que ademas, dentro de los trabajadores de las empresas que laboran para PRE en el área hay mucho paramilitar desmovilizado quienes saben perfectamente que no existe una decisión paramilitar en contra de la USO en esa región y, de existirla los directos responsables son quienes teniendo el control, repito militar, político y económico de la región, lo consienten.
En cuanto a la segunda hipótesis, también aclaramos que aunque efectivamente una de las estrategias utilizadas contra la USO ha sido el paralelismo sindical, no es cierto que en este caso exista otro sindicato en el área pues la UTEM no es un sindicato, pareciera serlo pero esta mas encaminado a ser una intermediario laboral, es decir una bolsa de empleo y, ademas que PRE esta presionando a los 12.000 trabajadores del área a afiliarse a esta organización y a desafiliarse de la USO, so pena de vetarlos.
Los nombres del personal de seguridad de PRE que han venido amedrantando a Héctor Sánchez son:
Armando Medina y Ricardo Luqueta, quienes están al mando de Gustavo Avendaño, estos nombres fueron dados por personal de seguridad de PRE que seguían a Hector este 16 de julio de 2013.