UOAFROC

After the experience of the Trueque and the cold weather of Thursday, we were back in summer and Popayan the next day.  We spent the day with many representatives, male, female and youth, from UOAFROC, the Union of African Caucan People.  When first arriving in Colombia we met with members of CNOA, the Afro-Colombian umbrella group.  UOAFROC is the member of CNOA from Cauca and Valle Cauca departments. 

UOAFROC represents 200 organizations and was formed in 1999 and legally constituted in 2002.  It was formed to give a national voice to Afro-Caucans and their goals include:

1) Democracy, Peace and Participation 2) Culture and the Ancestors 3) Social Welfare and 4) Territory. 

Speakers described the present situation.  Afro-Caucan experience racial discrimination, lack of participation, little government attention, armed conflict and displacement. Youth are formed in violence, lack access to higher education, have no space for recreation, suffer forced recruitment by paras, guerillas, narco-traffickers and the army.  Between 1998 and 2002, 1120 youth were killed by the violence.  Children as young as 10-11 are taking drugs.

Women are marginalized or invisible.  UOAFROC is helping to build capacity so women can be heard.  One of the projects is the establishment of a women’s school in Puerto Tajeda where empowerment, sensitization to human and legal rights, awareness of abuse, and identity building is taught.  In March/April 2010, 120 women participated in the first public demonstration in Puerto Tajeda, where women from the school shared their knowledge and problems with other women.  The results were very positive and the women are now planning regional demonstrations.

Agricultural projects are another goal of UOAFROC.  There is a lack of food resources now although many years ago they were land owners and produced their own food.  Beginning in the 1970’s, they were forced off their lands, legally by governments giving their land to multinationals and illegally by the armed conflict and narco-traffickers.  For example big companies grow sugar cane but the chemicals burn the small farmers’ crops.  In the mountains, many farmers grow coca either for economic purposes or because they are forced by paras or guerillas to do so or be killed.  The government then seizes the land because coca is being grown and sprays the plants.  UOAFROC tries to teach farmers to grow other crops in land that has rich soil.

Government policy on mining is also a problem.  Afro-Caucans have been artisanal miners but the government is giving mining licenses to foreign companies in these areas. This has resulted in much violence, displacement and loss of land and income.

One man explained the situation in his 100 year-old Afro-Caucan community of 683 families, 7000 people, on the banks of the Cauca River in Cali.  They have made a living from bamboo, sand from the river, markets, collective farms and fishing.  A Spanish TNC wants to build a tourist port there. The government evicted the people but this has been stopped because of the protests of the community, the mayor of Cali and others.  Law 70 which prohibits the taking of traditional lands from an established community has been used to halt this eviction.

UOAFROC has also created a Peace School that teaches conflict resolution, social analysis, detection and clearing of land mines.  Another initiative is the creation of peace communities where women and youth in danger can live.

Many other issues were addressed throughout the day, giving us a clearer picture of the complexity of problems facing this community but also its goals illustrating the strength, hope and commitment of its members.