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Run, Fight or Die in Colombia

Interesting article!!!!!!

Run, Fight or Die in Colombia

The Paramilitaries Burned Wayuu Children Alive and Killed Others With Chainsaws

By JAMES J. BRITTAIN

Colombia's civil war is a conflict between two and only two principle groups; the people struggling for change and the Colombian state. No greater example of this can be realized than the recent massacre of several inhabitants of the Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó (Peace Community of San José in the Apartadó municipality of the Antioquia department).

The Comunidad de Paz was established as the first organically constructed and established peace community within Colombia that sought the existence of an alternative autonomous society surrounded by a raging four decade old war. San José's goal was to be a progressive community independent from violence existing apart from the armed activities and actors presented throughout the country. One of the principal founders of the historically significant community was a man named Luis Eduardo Guerra. Guerra, like all too many social justice-minded personalities within the Andean country, was brutally murdered on February 21st. His remains were found alongside Deyanira Areiza Guzman (Guerra's partner), Deiner Andres Guerra, (Guerra's son), Luis Eduardo Guerra, (Guerra's half-brother), Alfonso Bolivar Tuberquia Graciano (a leader/member of the Peace Council of the Mulatos humanitarian zone), Sandra Milena Munoz Pozo (Graciano's partner), Santiago Tuberquia Munoz and Natalia Andrea Tuberquia Munoz (Graciano and Munoz's children). The murderers, according to several eye-witnesses, were members belonging to the 17th Brigade of the Colombian army.

It should be noted however that this article does not seek to expound the atrocious events carried out by the coercive arm of the Colombian ruling-class but rather seeks to illustrate how, as according to Father Javier Giraldo, "there is no place for neutrality" within Colombia. As the Catholic priest states, "peasants who live where there are guerrillas are killed or displaced". On March 8th the Comunidad de Paz released a statement which stated that the community had been the recipients of "many attacks" such as "harassments, threats, beatings, bombings, murders" and now, "massacres". Nevertheless, the people of San José presented that "the will of the community is firm" and they are determined to maintain their "position of pacifist coexistence".

While many may applaud such a position, what in actuality does this moral outlook mean? As Giraldo (a devout non-violent liberation theologian who has been struggling on the front lines within Colombia for decades) stated, Colombians live in a black and white world, a society which is not blurred with grey undertones of reality. He imparts that there are two truths for people living alongside the guerrilla; death or displacement. In the March 8th release, the Comunidad de Paz argued that "we are not going to coexist with our victims"; therefore, subtracting death from the categorical realm of possibilities, thus leaving only one outcome according to Giraldo's premise; displacement. The Comunidad de Paz recently wrote that if the state imposes its militarized forces against them than they "are determined to move on" with their ideals in hand, thus giving rise to the latter of Giraldo's bilateral outcomes. However, is this all that is left? Is this all that the people in Colombia seeking social justice can do? Merely run or die?

Since 2001, the 2nd Brigade of the Colombian army (and members of the AUC) organized numerous devastating attacks, similar to that which took place in San José de Apartadó, against members of the Wayuu indigenous nation. On April 18th, 2004 paramilitaries (and soldiers) entered into the village of Bahía de Portete where a large majority of Wayuu peoples inhabited. On this date the state forces systematically "burned two children alive and killed others with chain saws". Jhony Valetta ("Wayuu Indians go to war against Colombian government: May 27, 2004 On-Line http://www.anncol.org/side/587) wrote of one Wayuu father's experience.

You can not imagine how it is to have to escape on the run so that they won't kill you, and then hear the cries of the kids, of my two little sons who they burned alive with out me being able to do anything. . . . They burned them alive inside my pick up. Also, they beheaded my mother and cut my nephews to pieces. They didn't shoot them, they tortured them so we would hear their screams, and they cut them up alive with a chain saw.

Following this monstrous act, Wayuu representatives made a domestic and international announcement which declared that they have reached a decision war has been declared. We are going to respond in such a forceful manner that they will have no desire to return to our lands. We will apply our own law, because the justice of the courts only serves to help them, the assassins.

Since this time an increasing number of Wayuu have become members of the FARC-EP, while others have organized indigenous-based self-defense movements working in a cooperative manner with other objectively devoted social movements seeking emancipatory conditions for their people. As a result, attacks against the Wayuu (who have chosen to defend themselves) have dropped precipitously since the spring of 2004.

Discussing the Wayuu is important for it brings to light another method of responding to state repression. It also brings one to ask why the Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó seeks to remain an open target for state-induced coercion by remaining a pacifist-based autonomous society. The Wayuu have in the past year demonstrated that material measures of security are a positive response to state expansionist and reactionary goals. Conversely, the Comunidad de Paz has stated that they are committed to their principle of one-sided non-violence.

As the Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó tries to cope with their tremendous loss and regain some sense of peace and positive memory they must decide if death or displacement is all they have to look forward to. Are they going to stay 'vigilant' in their morals and run every time the state instills its military prowess or will they head the words that are only too prevalent and truthful within Colombia; "there is no place for neutrality". In order to do more than merely subsist, the people of San José must respond to their oppression with more than immaterial ideals. They must abide by their morality and know that they can materially respond to oppression and, like the Wayuu, defend their morality through objective justice.

James J. Brittain is a Ph.D. candidate and Lecturer of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Recent publications include; "The Agrarian Question and Agrarian Struggle in Colombia" (with Igor Ampuero) In Reclaiming the Land: The Resurgence of Rural Movements in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Sam Moyo and Paris Yeros (Eds.). (2005, Zed Books); "How Young Canadians Can Respond To Political Impotence: Reexamining the Importance of Marxism" In A Place at the Table: Canada's Youth Raise Their Voice. Charlie MacDougall (Ed.). (2006, Fernwood Publishers); "The State/Paramilitary Configuration: Contextual Realities of Human Rights Abuse in Contemporary Colombia" Socialist Studies (2005, under peer-review); "The Economics of Violence: Uribe's Plan to Increase Military Spending" People's Voice (2004) 12:16, 5. He can be reached at: james.brittain at unb.ca

By Qubo on Mar 17, 2005, 05:39 in Politics & the war.

Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 17, 2005, 06:37:

this is in the wrong section Qubo, you should have posted this in the politics and the war section. It's not appropriate for this section.

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elmodefoque says on Mar 17, 2005, 08:02:

While in Colombia, I spent most of my time in Sur de Barranquilla, where I used to live and a few of my mother’s family still live. Many refer to that area “donde esta la gente monda!” or where the broke ass modefoques live. Let me tell what they think. They have no great love for Uribe and his government, and refer to him and the likes of him or the ruling wealthy class as “La Mafia Blanca”. They blame “La Mafia Blanca” for inflicting more pain and misery than any other arm group, whether be guerrillas or narcos. They (La Mafia Blanca) do this by stealing everything in sight. I saw no great patriotism, nothing like you see from middleclass and wealthy Colombians living there or here in the good ol USA. I did see great regional pride, posters of “Junior” the local soccer team was displayed in just about every run down, crooked un painted wall of dusty tiendas (stores) in neighborhoods with unpaved streets, kids with basketball size stomach, yellow hair (lack of vitamins) and groups of skinny dirty dogs licking their unwashed balls for lack of anything to eat. I did see a dog chewing on a rock, that poor bastard must have been desperate. In those neighborhoods, when you have a problem there’s no 911 to call police for assistance, that’s if you‘re lucky enough to have a phone. There, problems are resolved with guns, machete and occasional brick. The guy with the biggest and most guns and biggest bricks usually wins.
That my friends is not anywhere near la Zona Rosa or 82 st Barranquilla, that in fact is most of Colombia! The natives or Indios feel absolutely no ties what so ever to Colombia.
With all that, let me tell you, I had the best time there and I’m now thinking about getting a place in estrato 1 or 2.
Hey, I, not only share my drunken women chasing adventures but I also like to share places many here don’t get to experience.

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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Qubo says on Mar 17, 2005, 08:51:

Oops Sorry about posting in the wrong section...

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Miguel says on Mar 17, 2005, 10:31:

Escuche a Elmo He nailed it, and has made some valid points. From my perspective, I see more and more higher strata (3-4) barranquilleros feeling the same way about La Mafia Blanco.

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utopiacowboy says on Mar 17, 2005, 12:22:

I agree. Of course when I suggested that most Colombians do not see the Colombian army as "their" army, several posters scoffed at this notion. To me it explains why the Colombian army will never win in this conflict.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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juancegomez says on Mar 17, 2005, 14:59:

The more things change, the more they stay the same... That's one thing to say.

But on the other hand...so basically an article by a person whose entire bibliography on Colombia, and this particular article, tries to address many different and complex problems from ONE SINGLE PERSPECTIVE (Uribe is evil, the Military is evil the Paramilitaries are evil, the U.S. government is evil...everyone else is at least "less evil") is actually supposed to be the "Be-all, end-all" word on the subject?

See the very first line up there:

"Colombia's civil war is a conflict between two and only two principle groups; the people struggling for change and the Colombian state."

So basically, it's the GOOD PEOPLE (and the "PEOPLE'S ARMY, the FARC-EP", I I guess, from what the rest of the article says?)
VS. the EVIL STATE.

Really now?

Sorry, I don't believe so, personally or intellectually.

For what it matters, the FARC-EP have also done horrible things to the Wayuu, the Apartado community and others, but apparently all that can be almost entirely forgotten or minimized to near-irrelevance.

UC:
"I agree. Of course when I suggested that most Colombians do not see the Colombian army as "their" army, several posters scoffed at this notion. To me it explains why the Colombian army will never win in this conflict."

Here we go again...

1. See above.

2. Wayuus or those in Apartado aren't most Colombians (not even most of the people in their respective areas).

3. Once again I'll have to point out that most Colombians don't see any of the armies in the conflict as their "army", if that's what you want to say.

But apparently it isn't because you are surprisingly uncritical of the article posted.

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juancegomez says on Mar 17, 2005, 15:56:

The issue of the killing is not clear yet, at all.

Some people say it's the Army, some say it's the paras, and some say that the FARC was involved.

Knowing how Colombia's become today, almost anyone can be right, and almost anyone can be lying.

Still, it does seem that the Army can be considered, at least, to be criminally guilt of negligence. But anything more than that requires a legal investigation to be made and lots evidence has to be collected, if not in Colombia then through international organisms (like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which has become involved in the case and manifested concern, BTW...I'm waiting to see what else they decide) or courts (unlikely until the "7-year exemption" runs out ).

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adrimm says on Mar 17, 2005, 16:18:

Curious Interesting piece, can you provide the Journal source for the article?

Thanks!

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platano says on Mar 17, 2005, 16:24:

Doesn't eyewitness testimony count for anything? "The murderers, according to several eye-witnesses, were members belonging to the 17th Brigade of the Colombian army." I have also seen other article, I think in El Tiempo, that quotes a local priest as saying it was the army. Why is everyone so resistant to the idea that the Colombian army may be working "horas extras," and may BE the paras in question? Why is testimony collected by NGO's discounted? Why is testimony of human rights groups discounted? Why are all these eyewitnesses, priests, survivors of masacres, former paras themselves, journalists, NGO's, and human rights workers presumed to be ideologically leftist and therefore not objective. Could it be they are simply telling the truth as they have witnessed or experienced it first-hand? An unconvenient truth, perhaps? One that could endanger USA funding of Plan Colombia, perhaps? One that must be discredited at all costs, perhaps?

plátano

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platano says on Mar 17, 2005, 16:45:

"The army is getting more professional over time"
Tinto, your post reminds me of a Colombian joke I heard"

How do you distinguish a guerillero from a member of the regular Colombian army?

Well, if they have new uniforms, the latest model of firearms, then they are guerrillas!

By the way, I was kidnapped by the guerrrillas and I had first-hand experience of being on the other end of the barrels of those firearms. Some of the rural guerrillas had weapons from the Colombian army. I asked if they had stolen them, or taken them from people they had murdered in battle. No, they replied, there were corrupt military sources and they could buy them directly from the Colombian military.

plátano

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juancegomez says on Mar 17, 2005, 17:50:

"Why is everyone so resistant to the idea that the Colombian army may be working "horas extras," and may BE the paras in question?

It's not impossible. But I said that because one has to WAIT and SEE a greater amount of evidence, no?

I'm resistant to the idea of eliminating investigations, formal accusations and trials.

"Why is testimony collected by NGO's discounted Why is testimony of human rights groups discounted? "

It's not discounted, but it's not automatically and fully true. It's not the Word of God, just as what Uribe says isn't either.

"Why are all these eyewitnesses, priests, survivors of masacres, former paras themselves, journalists, NGO's, and human rights workers presumed to be ideologically leftist and therefore not objective."

Not necessarily. You're speaking generally here, btw, and not about this particular case, because that list of witnesses doesn't match
with the current circumstances. Don't confuse the two, please.

"Could it be they are simply telling the truth as they have witnessed or experienced it first-hand? An unconvenient truth, perhaps?"

It could be. Unfortunately, however, sometimes they are also lying or at least exaggerating.

A LOT of people lie and exaggerate in Colombia. From ALL sides. ALL.

"One that could endanger USA funding of Plan Colombia, perhaps?"

Possible, but not too probable. Sounds too much like a conspiracy theory.

Then why can't I say that, for example, sometimes some people are exaggerating and lying in order to stop that aid and, as a consequence, indirectly aid the guerrillas?

That's also possible, just not too probable either.

Not to mention that you're a bit out of date as far as Plan Colombia goes...

"One that must be discredited at all costs, perhaps?"

One that must be analyzed and put into context, in my opinion.

--------------

Does the Colombian Army kill innocent people? Yes. But increasingly much less than the paras and the guerrillas.

Do many *elements* within the Colombian Army cooperate with paras? Yes. Mostly by omission, but also some by direct action. Things are improving, but this still happens. That's undeniable.

Does the Colombian Army always cooperate with paras and always kill people, automatically and without question, in EVERY SINGLE CASE? No.

Is that too hard to understand?

"No, they replied, there were corrupt military sources and they could buy them directly from the Colombian military."

Obviously that also happens, but it has not been proven to happen on a wider scale (say, that can account for a significant amount of arms, like a quarter or more).

They also buy weapons from corrupt soldiers and officials in Ecuador and Venezuela. And they bought weapons from Vladimiro Montesinos in Peru.

But then again, there are also guerrillas that betray their group for money (but not always) and become "informants", don't forget that. And their number is increasing.

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platano says on Mar 17, 2005, 18:02:

Mr. Dualist (?) G5,
Which system of logic do you subscribe to? Aristotelian? Are you one of those people who believes it is either A or NOT A? Or do you use a different system of logic, one where A and NOT A can both be true? Just curious... : at

Plátano, IN EVERY SINGLE CASE

plátano

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kikiortiz11 says on Mar 17, 2005, 19:57:

Our Army For every corrupt militar, there are thousands who are putting their life on the line to defend us and our freedom!

Credit is deserved where its due. We cannot deny that everyday Colombia's armed forces are getting better. In DH and in the fight against corruption from within. Uribe is actually turing out to be one of the few governments that we could even recognize as ligitimate and hard working. No matter what some of really poor people say.. "Mafia blanca", Thats rediculous! Because it is those people who are make up most of the mafias.. they are the ones who are part of the guerrillas and paramilitaries and their extortionating groups. Of course the government should do more in the social aspect but then again what good is a government if the people are not willing to play by the rules, to give a government a chance to make up for the many corrupt past governments.. I truely believe that Uribe is doing a good job serving the people , and not just the upper class but all the people. There is not one group to blame here.. not the army, not the guerrillas, nor the paramilitaries.. Each one has their faults.. We cannot blame one or the other for the past.. But now that we seem to have a credible government it seems that the Guerrillas are not willing to make peace. They are their just for the business. They are just terrorists... They need to be defeated. And If we cant support our armed forces as "our army" than there will never be an end to this conflict. El Ejercito Nacional Guiado Por Dios Alcanzara la Victoria Para El Pueblo Colombiano! Dios Y Victoria!

Kiki Ortiz-Matallana

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juancegomez says on Mar 17, 2005, 19:59:

For what it matters (very little), I'll give my opinion on that question...I personally subscribe to any system of logic that allows for its conclusions to be considered merely preeliminary, and which allows for them to be proven wrong or to be confirmed by new information.

"Plátano, IN EVERY SINGLE CASE"

That's nice, I guess. Do you sleep with a shotgun beside your bed?

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juanalejo says on Mar 17, 2005, 20:15:

Army I would not surprise me if the army did this massacre, they have done it before. But I do not agree that it is an institutionalized idea to go an massacre people. This conflict is out of control in some areas and things lead one to the other. This obviously does NOT excuse this horror under any circumstance, but as long as some members of the national and international community continue to see the guerrillas as a valid option, then for those who do not agree this kind of actions are seen to them as the only way out.

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adrimm says on Mar 18, 2005, 17:45:

Reminder for Qubo - Journal ref? ....

:)

....

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ws244 says on Mar 19, 2005, 20:24:

colombia Of course when the common people win, a non elected Colombian ruler will arise to form a "Colombia utopia", along the same lines of the "Castro Cuba utopia". Yet all the anti uribe, social equality advocates, always speak from within the protected boundary's of free speech societies, yet not one of these proponets seem to be lining up to live in places such as the peoples republic of Cuba.

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Sr Tertius says on Mar 20, 2005, 10:53:

Back your statements, please. "Does anyone think maybe it is possible that those uniforms were taken by FARC or that the soldiers rolled over to FARC for this mission?"

This would be quite a novel m.o., or have you heard of any previous examples of this procedure? It is certainly possible, but without a previous exemplar, it wouldn't be my first guess. On the other hand, there are plenty of ("isolated") cases of paramilitaries attacking civilians with implicit or explicit collaboration of the police and armed forces.

"Not the only time the Colombian Army has found FARC in it's ranks."

Any examples?

ws244: Interesting post. Are you thinking of anyone in particular when speaking of a "non elected ruler"? If not, where do you get this idea from? Also, if ALL the critics of Uribe ALWAYS speak from outside Colombia, what are the local NGOs and labor unionists doing in Colombia? Did they miss their ticket to Sweden? Oh, no, I forgot, they are, according to GiB, manipulated "poor ignorant bastards" that do the protesting for the FARC (and it wouldn't be that much fun doing the protesting from Stockholm, wouldn't it? And who would miss the joy of getting continuously harrassed, threatened, dissapeared and shot at!). Quite a bit of foam and hatred for "just a little observation".

"yet not one of these proponets seem to be lining up to live in places such as the peoples republic of Cuba" Maybe because (and this is a wild wild guess) they would rather remain in Colombia risking their lives for a better Colombia?

"El que a hierro mata..."

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

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kamilo says on Mar 26, 2005, 19:44:

so your saying that becuase in one occasion Fidel let that a northamerican president critize Cuba has more freedom than Colombia?
thats just stupid.

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dwmte says on Apr 23, 2005, 11:06:

kiki, sr tertius, et al.... boy, i don't know whether i'd trust a para, a guerilla, or the military for any reason... for myself, having lived an extended period in eastern antioquia, where i've had an opportunity to witness them all on less than honorable behavior i wouldn't trust a one of them in a hard moment to carry out the trash.

unfortunately all sides in this miserable situation are deeply compromised and the solution is not easy. the amount of money involved is staggering and when were looking at who's guilty, all we need to do, is follow the money. when we do that, we run into all of these groups huddled together and for some odd reason, they all look the same....and they all quack like ducks.

as for 'our'mr. uribe, well if you think he represents legitimate government, what, sir, constitutes illigetimate government? no logic here aristotelian or colombian will alter facts. i find the present regime as corrupt as the previous three. it's all about the money.

anybody beleiving in altruism is in for a big shock at the end of the day. the bank accounts speak to the contrary. once in office in latin america, criminality is legal it's the law of doublespeak.

if you didn't see it, DON'T believe it. period.

dw

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lpdiver says on Apr 28, 2005, 06:54:

Entonces Eliminate the root cause (money) and the problem will move on or change.
T

"cook some rice!"

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