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| Please: Act to oppose Globalization consequenses in Colombian mining Urgent Action For The South Of Bolivar The Colombian Army has been carrying out joint maneuvers with paramilitary forces in the gold-mining regions in the south of Bolivar department. These maneuvers are designet to force small-scale miners off their lands and make them available to foreign mining companies, among which are Canadian, English and South African enterprises. These mineral-rich lands have been coveted for years by foreign mining companies dating back to 1996 when the Canadian company Corona Goldfields, a subsidiary of Conquistador mines, soughy to have a mining code implemented which would give the company rights to gold mines which small-scale miners living in the area have worked for many years. Although the proposed mining code was tabled in the Colombian Congress in response to protests from area residents, the multinational companies have again sought to obtain these lands. The Anglogold Ashanti Company began exploration in the South of Bolivar last year, under the protection of the Colombian Armed Forces which supposedly are providing "security" to this multinational company and others by forcing area residents off theri lands. This actions fail to recognize a committment the Colombian government made to area residents to respect Humanitarian Zones and to carry on a dialogue with them through a working group. Instead, the military/paramilitary sweep through the mining area has resulted in the murder of more than 1,200 persons, the forced displacement of more than 25,000 persons, and the "disappearance" of two leaders of the miners. In addition, Army soldiers have taken 17 mules from small-scale miners; have impeded the entry into the area of food and other supplies which the residents need in order to survive; and through their military activities have prevented area residents from working in the mines or in their fields. Please write to the listed Colombian government officials asking that the military-paramilitary operations be haulted at once; that the government guarantee the lives and personal security of inhabitants of the region; and that the Colombian state refrain from "guaranteeing" foreign investment, seriously violating the human rights of the population and facilitating the theft of natural resources: Also write to the Parliaments of Canada, England and South Africa to urge them 1) To prohibit their countries' businesses from investing in these areas where serious human rights violations are occurring; 2) To cut off all military aid used to protect the interest of these businesses to the detriment of the fundamental rights of the civilian population; 3) To withdraw the mercenary businesses which are advising the foreign companies on security matters; and 4) To prohibit any action which puts in danger the lives of miners and their families. Request that the Parliaments name Commissions in each country to visit the regions where the mining companies are operating and to investigate the effects of their presence President Alvaro Uribe-Velez: Procuraduría General de la Nación Fiscalía General de la Nación British Parliament South African Parliament Colombia Support Network |