The FARC are an armed force with revolutionary ideals, but ideals and actions are two separate things that do not always meet. We do not denounce the ideals of the FARC, the good intensions of Marulanda and the poor peoples struggle for justice, but we feel disappointed by the actions of the 49th front of the FARC.
We are English in support of the Colombian campesinos, and are writing this as an open letter to the FARC. We wish to explain the terrible and unjust situation that has led to the expulsion of a shamanic community of indigenous and mixed-race campesinos from their land in Yurayaco, Caquetá. We ourselves have visited this community, who are doing very positive work for themselves and the campesinos and are an example of people living and working together in harmony and communal organisation.
After many years of hard work, the community created an ecologically based farm, built houses and completed many other projects. They also collaborated with local social and building projects and helped the campesinos with their practical knowledge of natural medicine.
It was sad to see that in Yurayaco the people outside the community prefer an individualistic lifestyle, with more interest in making money than in communal work. Some of these people, especially a local group of indigenous, took a dislike to the community. These indians began to spread black rumours and rob from the communal farm and houses.
The guerrillas heard of what was happening and over two years ago Comandante Asdrual of the 49th front of the FARC investigated the situation and spoke personally with the community and those involved. He discovered that these events were the result of jealousies on the part of the indians and other peasants who disliked this type of communal group.
Around this time, Sandra Milena Aristizabal and Alirio Giraldo joined the community and as they revealed later by their actions, secretly planned to rob the communal land, with supported from the indigenous individuals Mojomboy and Natividad Mutumbajoy. Comandante Asdrual told these people that if they continued thieving and making problems for the community they would be severely punished.
A year ago Asdrual was replaced by Comandante Marcial, an indigenous man who spoke with the Indians and Sandra Milena. Sandra, who was married, slept with guerrillas from Marcial’s front and in this way won their favour to act against the community. Now the guerrillas have given their support to these people and, based on false rumours, have expulsed the entire community without any investigation, disallowing them from selling anything or even from collecting their possessions from their land.
We feel it is unjust that Sandra Milena, Alirio Giraldo and the indians received the guerrillas’ backing, while a socialists-orientated community has been literally driven from their land at gunpoint. What is more, Alirio dislikes the guerrillas and socialism and Sandra has relations with police. The local indians may have dark skins but it is sad to see that these people have degenerated from their ancient customs and prefer the culture of the white man, with prostitutes, alcohol, illicit crops and a capitalist mentality. In spite of this it seems that comandante Marcial, due to his race, saw it as an easier option to attack the communal organisation and defend these indians.
We ask: Is this part of the FARC’s philosophy?
Is this how the FARC treat those that have been of use to them? The community were always intelligent, and were knowledgeable and studied in socialism and supported the cause.
Is it correct that the FARC are traitors like this?
Can something be done or should we all consider ourselves robbed of the only hope of revolution in Colombia?
As the FARC have treasoned a community of socialist orientation, would they also treason the Colombian people if they were to win?
We, socialists of England, denounce this act and see it as corrupt and a bad example on the part of the FARC. We want justice.
WE AWAIT YOUR REPLY.
We are English in support of the Colombian campesinos, and are writing this as an open letter to the FARC. We wish to explain the terrible and unjust situation that has led to the expulsion of a shamanic community of indigenous and mixed-race campesinos from their land in Yurayaco, Caquetá. We ourselves have visited this community, who are doing very positive work for themselves and the campesinos and are an example of people living and working together in harmony and communal organisation.
After many years of hard work, the community created an ecologically based farm, built houses and completed many other projects. They also collaborated with local social and building projects and helped the campesinos with their practical knowledge of natural medicine.
It was sad to see that in Yurayaco the people outside the community prefer an individualistic lifestyle, with more interest in making money than in communal work. Some of these people, especially a local group of indigenous, took a dislike to the community. These indians began to spread black rumours and rob from the communal farm and houses.
The guerrillas heard of what was happening and over two years ago Comandante Asdrual of the 49th front of the FARC investigated the situation and spoke personally with the community and those involved. He discovered that these events were the result of jealousies on the part of the indians and other peasants who disliked this type of communal group.
Around this time, Sandra Milena Aristizabal and Alirio Giraldo joined the community and as they revealed later by their actions, secretly planned to rob the communal land, with supported from the indigenous individuals Mojomboy and Natividad Mutumbajoy. Comandante Asdrual told these people that if they continued thieving and making problems for the community they would be severely punished.
A year ago Asdrual was replaced by Comandante Marcial, an indigenous man who spoke with the Indians and Sandra Milena. Sandra, who was married, slept with guerrillas from Marcial’s front and in this way won their favour to act against the community. Now the guerrillas have given their support to these people and, based on false rumours, have expulsed the entire community without any investigation, disallowing them from selling anything or even from collecting their possessions from their land.
We feel it is unjust that Sandra Milena, Alirio Giraldo and the indians received the guerrillas’ backing, while a socialists-orientated community has been literally driven from their land at gunpoint. What is more, Alirio dislikes the guerrillas and socialism and Sandra has relations with police. The local indians may have dark skins but it is sad to see that these people have degenerated from their ancient customs and prefer the culture of the white man, with prostitutes, alcohol, illicit crops and a capitalist mentality. In spite of this it seems that comandante Marcial, due to his race, saw it as an easier option to attack the communal organisation and defend these indians.
We ask: Is this part of the FARC’s philosophy?
Is this how the FARC treat those that have been of use to them? The community were always intelligent, and were knowledgeable and studied in socialism and supported the cause.
Is it correct that the FARC are traitors like this?
Can something be done or should we all consider ourselves robbed of the only hope of revolution in Colombia?
As the FARC have treasoned a community of socialist orientation, would they also treason the Colombian people if they were to win?
We, socialists of England, denounce this act and see it as corrupt and a bad example on the part of the FARC. We want justice.
WE AWAIT YOUR REPLY.
e-mail:
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Quizás ocúpese de sus propias ovejas.
29.01.2004 23:21
Cuando usted puede organizar la libertad de la gente indígena irlandesa quizás usted puede tener una opinión en otros asuntos de la gente.
¿Puede usted comentar respecto a la población de Roma en su propio país? ¿Qué usted está haciendo para apoyarlos?
Un observador en cuestión.
Fabio Montoya
obvious spook nonsense
30.01.2004 11:44
-
More info wanted
31.01.2004 09:45
Terrible things do happen in a war situation, but is this a simple case of local male chauvinist piggery against feminism? Not really anything to do with FARC?
Ilyan
RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE COMMENTS
05.02.2004 15:17
Firstly, I would be fighting for the rights of the indigenous of the United Kingdom if they existed! It was a long time ago when the true celts, the real cultures of our Brittish Isles was wiped out, and now only their shadow remains.
I have written this article because I feel strongly about what has happened to a community of good people in Colombia, not because I am a nosy gringo, who has nothing better to do in my own land. Why have I not just left it to the Colombians to complain for themselves? Because they are there in the midst of the war with children and women and people to look after, and I am here in England, because they dont have the money to pay a phone bill - let alone be connected to the internet, and I do have an internet connection. Does that justify the article? Also I am not part of the SWP nor any other official group.
To the person who did not put their name: It has never been my wish to aid the divide and rule process! I know that for those in this world who want change the key is unity. Nor do I want to spook anyone! I want justice, not injustice, what more can I say?
To Ilyan: No it is nothing to do with the commune from Ireland that you speak of, it is just a group of indigenous and mixed-race campesinos who lived together in Yurayaco.
Nor does this situation have anything to do with feminism or machoism, it is the result of an obviously corrupt FARC comandante.
Mathew Blake
e-mail:
campesinojustice@yahoo.co.uk