The African-descent community of Tabaco in La Guajira, Colombia, was brutally displaced from its town in 2001 to give way to the Cerrejón mine, the biggest coal open-cast mine in Latin America, owned by Glencore, the Swiss company. In 2001, the mine was jointly owned by Anglo American, BHP and Glencore. Since then, Tabaco has been working on its relocation.
On Monday 28 October 2024, the Junta Social Pro Reubicacion de Tabaco (The Social Board for Tabaco Relocation) blocked the railway Glencore uses to transport the coal from the mine to the port of Puerto Bolivar.
After 9 days of the railway blockade, the Junta Social Pro Reubicacion de Tabaco is today celebrating a new agreement signed between this organisation and the president of Cerrejón’s company, Claudia Bejarano. This new agreement aims to establish a first step to accomplish the fulfilment of the legal ruling T-329 2017. They ask the Colombian Ombudsman’s Office and international community to remain observant on the fulfilment of this agreement. Please join the Tabaco community in this call.
We are in solidarity with the Tabaco community and all the Wayuu and African-descent communities affected by Cerrejón in La Guajira and by Glencore worldwide.
Translation of their public statement:
The Social Board for Tabaco Relocation is celebrating! After nine arduous days of threats, mistreatment and manipulation by the Cerrejón company, local government, police, and the Dialogue and Order Maintenance Unit (UNDMO), the Social Board for Tabaco Relocation is celebrating! David won a first round against Goliath. Cerrejon will have to dialogue with us to comply with sentence T-329; they could not remove us with violence and maintain their non-compliance.
Tomorrow, we will start a discussion table for a bilateral compliance route between our Board and the Cerrejon mine for compliance with sentence T-329. The Ministry of the Interior will act as a facilitator, and local government bodies will participate. The Ombudsman’s Office will be a guarantor, as well as an international observation delegation.
On 6 November, another round begins, and it is hoped that this time it will be clean and that the Tabaqueros will soon receive the full reparation, compensation and relocation that Cerrejón has owed them legally since 2017 and morally since 2001.
Today, the comrades of our organisation have been outstanding due to their firmness and dignity. We congratulate everyone who participated in the blockade of the railway line, especially the elderly people who have set an example for us. To the local, national, and international social organisations that accompanied us in different ways, we thank you and ask you to continue accompanying us in this phase that begins tomorrow to make it a reality that Cerrejón will comply at this time.
People who fight triumph!
Tabaco Resists!
5 November 2024
