An alliance of unions and grassroots organizations in the northern Colombian department (province) of La Guajira is calling for strike action next month if their demands are not met. La Guajira is home to the massive Cerrejon coal mine, owned by London-listed Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Glencore Xstrata. Much of the discontent is linked to the impacts of the mine.
We call on the organized sectors of La Guajira department, on the mayors, council members, on the political, business and civic leadership, on the personalities and people of La Guajira in general to support and join the call to carry out an indefinite civic strike across the whole department.
The convening and carrying out of the indefinite civic stoppage is a process with the following steps:
1. Stage of dialogue and joint consultation between the various organized sectors in the department to define a Statement of Demands which must contain most heartfelt aspirations of these sectors and general population. This stage must end on 27 August.
2. Discussion of the Statement of Demands with government, with Ecopetrol [state oil corporation], and with the multinationals Chevron, Texaco and Cerrejon Coal, through negotiating tables. On 29 August the demands will be presented to the national government, by a committee composed of spokespeople from the Wayuu indigenous people. There will be 15 days to answer us, if not we will decree a zero hour from which the indefinite strike will be launched.
3. Social Mobilization stage, which will consist of marches, Yanama departamental (indigenous march), temporary road blocks, starting from 29 August 29 with a march in Riohacha to deliver the Statement of Demands; with a duration depending on the rhythm of the negotiations.
4. The decision on Zero Hour and carrying out the civic strike depends on how the discussion advances in the negotiating tables.
La Guajira Platform of Unity and Coordination:
COMITÉ CIVICO EN DEFENSA DEL RIO RANCHERIA Y EL MANANTIAL DE CAÑAVERALES, ASAMBLEA DEPARTAMENTAL, SINTRACARBON, RECLAME GUAJIRA, ASODEGUA, SINDESS, CUT-GUAJIRA, SINTRABIENESTAR, SINDESENA, LA MANE GUAJIRA, CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS DEL CARBON, FIMDECOL, FECODEMIGUA, AACIWASUG, FUERZA DE MUJERES WAYUU, RESGUARDO INDIGENA ZENU, CODEPAZ, LIGA DE USUARIOS DE LOS SERVICIOS PUBLICOS DE LA GUAJIRA, CEDETRABAJO.
MESA DE UNIDAD Y CONCERTACION POR LA GUAJIRA http://rio-rancheria.blogspot.com/ riorancheriaguajira@gmail.com
Issued: Friday 2 August 2013