Media

Anglo American AGM - Truth!

2020-05-07T10:11:57Z

On Tuesday 5th May Anglo American (AA) conducted a closed AGM. AA owns equal shares (with BHP and Glancore) in Cerrejon an enormous open cast coal mine. We want to remind AA of a small part of the consequences of their exploitation to nature and humans.

The following are two stories that Indigenous Wayuu and African-descent communities living in La Guajira Colombia, have shared with us about their experience of having the Cerrejon open-cast coal Mine in their territories for more than 30 years.

The first one is about the Afro-descent Community of Tabaco, which was violently displaced 19 years ago and is still waiting for comprehensive compensation. The second story relates to the devastation of water sources in this dry area of Colombia due to the expansion of Cerrejon mine.

https://www.facebook.com/168664289837542/videos/2311590122476823/

https://www.facebook.com/168664289837542/videos/553841238651263/

#AngloAmericanAGM

#LiberenAlBruno

#TabacoResiste

Victims of March 21st: a massacre of prisoners for protesting in the Modelo prison in Bogotá

2020-03-31T09:21:16Z

Victims of March 21st: a massacre of prisoners for protesting in the Modelo prison in Bogotá

By: Equipo Jurídico Pueblos and Gearóid Ó Loingsigh (goloing@gmail.com)

(25/03/2020)

An escape plan in question

On the night of March 21st and the early morning of the 22nd, the forces of the Colombian state forcibly erupted into the Modelo prison in Bogotá, murdering 23 prisoners and injuring 83 in response to the protests and demands of the prisoners regarding the appalling sanitary conditions that reign in the prisons and are objectively a matter of concern regarding a future outbreak of Covid-19. The director of the INPEC (Colombian Prison Service) and the Minister for Justice, Margarita Cabello tried to justify the massacre alleging that they hadn't sought to put down the protests but rather to prevent a mass escape plan they had uncovered some days previously.

This lie was unquestioningly repeated by the entire media. Caracol (TV and Radio channel) even published recordings of prisoners speaking by phone. But anyone, with any knowledge of the dynamics in prison who listens to the fragmented conversations filtered to the press would notice that one couldn't reach the conclusion from them that there was an escape plan being hatched. But even if it were true, more questions arise than answers given.

Colombia Killings - a Dirty War

2020-03-31T09:18:05Z

In response to the Guardian's article on 23rd March (see link below) Dr Andy Higginbottom, Secretary Colombia Solidarity Campaign wrote this letter:

Dear Guardian Letters

The sad thing about the constant assassination of social leaders and human rights defenders is that it has been normalised and no longer seen as newsworthy, so your report “Colombian death squads exploiting coronavirus lockdown to kill activists” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/colombian-groups-exploiting-coronavirus-lockdown-to-kill-activists is welcome for returning the spotlight on this ongoing nightmare. Three such killings occur every week, and have been since the signing of the peace agreement between the FARC guerrillas and the government on 26 November 2016.

The principal responsibility lies with right-wing paramilitaries targeting presumed leftists; according to allegations cited in the UN’s 2018 report, five times more so. https://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/40/3/Add.3 Moreover, the latest UN mission records that 173 demobilised FARC combatants have been assassinated, alongside the ‘303 killings of human rights defenders and social leaders’, up to the end of 2019. https://colombia.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/n1942147.pdf

There is a further Covid-19 twist to the appalling human rights situation in Colombia. In the early hours of Sunday morning, at La Modelo prison in Bogotá, state forces killed at least 23 prisoners and injured another 80 or so. The inmates were protesting “against overcrowding and poor health services during the coronavirus outbreak”. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-51999594

This is not peace, it is a very dirty war.

Yours

Dr. Andy Higginbottom

Secretary Colombia Solidarity Campaign

Open Letter from Violeta Arango Ramirez

2017-07-25T10:02:24Z

OPEN LETTER FROM VIOLETA ARANGO RAMIREZ to the PUBLIC 13 July 2017

(Hello friends, I am sending you a letter by one of the girls who has been imprisoned in the case of the bombing in the Andino Shopping Centre, Bogota. It explains well the whole case and the absurd show surrounding her and her peers.)

My name is Violeta Arango Ramirez, I am a sociologist, graduate of the National University of Colombia. On Saturday 24th June my life changed dramatically with a warrant for my arrest and a raid. Agents from the police intelligence department (SIJIN) and the police arrived at my house in the Chapinero district. Without understanding what had happened, in the anxiety and stress of the moment, my parents asked what was it about: I was wanted in relation to the terrible attack on the Andino shopping mall, accused of terrorism, homicide, conspiracy to commit a crime.

Colombia Solidarity Campaign Launches Report "LA COLOSA: A Death Foretold"

2013-12-07T00:00:00Z

Alternative Report on the controversial gold mining project in Colombia
Press Release // London // 8 December 2013

Demonstration in Ibagué - Tolima. June 2013. The sign reads: "Yes to Life, No to the Mine". Photo credit: Viviana Sánchez.

London-based human rights organisation Colombia Solidarity Campaign has published an Alternative Report about La Colosa, the AngloGold Ashanti gold mining project in Colombia’s municipality of Cajamarca (Tolima), entitled La Colosa: A Death Foretold.

The report unveils, for the first time, findings which clearly show that if the production phase of the La Colosa gold mine goes ahead, its implications to local communities would be much graver than previously anticipated. Community leaders and human rights defenders are already paying the highest price - their lives - for their opposition to the large-scale corporate mining project.

This report is a result of extensive research that included more than 100 interviews on the ground, legal document analysis, and technical assessment by Dr. Mark Muller, a highly respected international expert on mining.

AngloGold Ashanti is a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Colombia Solidarity Campaign Lanza Informe "LA COLOSA: Una Muerte Anunciada"

2013-11-26T19:56:32Z

Comunicado de Prensa. 26 11 2013

Marcha Carnaval en Ibagué - Tolima. Junio 2013. Fotógrafa: Viviana Sánchez

Colombia Solidarity Campaign (Campaña de Solidaridad por Colombia), organización de derechos humanos basada en Londres, ha publicado un Informe Alternativo acerca del proyecto de Minería de Oro de AngloGold Ashanti en Cajamarca, Tolima, intitulado La Colosa: Una Muerte Anunciada. Este informe es resultado de una investigación que abarca 108 entrevistas, análisis de documentos, y asesoría técnica del Dr. Mark Muller, reconocido experto internacional en minería.

El reporte desvela hechos que no han sido revelados antes por investigadores o medios que han trabajado en el tema. Demuestra además, que los impactos de una eventual fase de explotación minera serían mucho mayores a los anunciados e imaginados por los tolimenses y por la nación misma.

Corto documental de la visita del presidente juan manuel santos a londres

2011-12-18T21:45:48Z

Climate Camp Radio, Wed 06 Aug 2008 Daytime - Latin America segment

2008-08-29T15:43:11Z

Climate Camp Radio interviews Andy from Colombia Solidarity Campaign and Fidel from Movimiento Ecuador UK http://www.movimientoecuador.co.uk/ as part of the Latin America day at the Camp for Climate Action in 2008. http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/radio

Audio is clipped at the beginning, the interviewer asks - Why are you here at the Climate Camp?

Download MP3

Recording by Climate Camp Radio

Latin American Revolution under Threat

2008-08-28T16:58:02Z

Public meeting with Latin American campaign groups following the violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty by the Colombian Uribe government in March 2008

Colombian segment:

Andy Higginbottom (from Colombia Solidarity Campaign) and Juan, London 15 March 2008

Download MP3

Recording by Nadim Mahjoub

Media Talk: Is This the End for FARC?

2008-07-09T14:14:05Z

Will the release of Ingrid Bettancourt - arguably the world's most famous hostage, and FARC's main bargaining chip - along with 14 other hostages - mean the end of FARC and the beginning of serious peace negotiations with the Colombian government?

10th July 2008

The talk is viewable online here:

View in Ustream website

Media

Anglo American AGM - Truth!

Victims of March 21st: a massacre of prisoners for protesting in the Modelo prison in Bogotá

Colombia Killings - a Dirty War

Open Letter from Violeta Arango Ramirez

Colombia Solidarity Campaign Launches Report "LA COLOSA: A Death Foretold"

Alternative Report on the controversial gold mining project in ColombiaPress Release // London // 8 December 2013

Colombia Solidarity Campaign Lanza Informe "LA COLOSA: Una Muerte Anunciada"

Comunicado de Prensa. 26 11 2013

Corto documental de la visita del presidente juan manuel santos a londres

Climate Camp Radio, Wed 06 Aug 2008 Daytime - Latin America segment

Latin American Revolution under Threat

Media Talk: Is This the End for FARC?

Alternative Report on the controversial gold mining project in Colombia
Press Release // London // 8 December 2013