Land Displacement, Resistance
and Territory Rights in Colombia:
A Discussion with Afro-Colombian Activist, Francia Elena Marquez

this FRIDAY, February 26, 2010
at 2 p.m.
Room 758, Schermerhorn Extension Conference Room
at the Institute for Research in African American Studies, Columbia University

Since October 2009, the Afro-Colombian organization, the Black Communities’ Process (PCN) and other human rights, labor, and Indigenous organizations have been declared “military targets” by the paramilitary group, “Aguilas Negras-Nueva Generación.” The PCN has been targeted for defending their territorial, cultural, and economic rights. These rights have been violated by the imposition of large-scale mineral exploitation, and infrastructure projects.

Francia Elena Marquez is one of these community leaders who is facing imminent risks in defending her community as they resist internal displacement, expropriation, and harassment by economic and political forces interested in their ancestral lands.

Francia’s strong roots in the land and the community, which was built by her ancestors in 1636, has made of her a courageous and strong community leader. Francia is the vice-president of the Community Council of La Toma, in the municipality of Suarez, department of Norte del Cauca. She is the coordinator of the youth activities within the Community Council, founder of the Association of Afro-Colombian women of the Yolombó village, representative before the Inter-Ethnic Commission, and member of PCN. As member of the Community Council, Francia is responsible for monitoring the formulation process of the hydroelectric project Salvajina, and the “Rio Ovejas project” (which consists of deviating the river to increase the Salvajina dam’s volume). Francia also monitors mining projects and concessions in the municipalities of Suarez and Buenos Aires. Thirty mining concessions to the multinational Anglo Gold Ashanti and some of its contractors have been granted by Colombian government in the municipalities of Suarez and Buenos Aires, in violation of the right to previous consultation of the communities affected. 1500 families face expropriation and displacement from their ancestral lands. The position of the community and leaders in defense of their rights has made them target of paramilitary persecution.

At this workshop, Francia will talk about how the PCN is taking bold steps to denounce the plight of the communities, state their determination to continue struggling, and mobilize effective solidarity actions across the international community to raise the issue and make Colombian government accountable for Afro-Colombian rights violations.

*Event hosted by the Workshop on Critical Approaches to Race and Ethnicity at Columbia University.

Directions for the event:

*The event is located in Room 758 in the Schermerhorn Extension.
*This map below shows you where the Schermerhorn Extension is located…please enter from the Schermerhorn Building, take the stairs or elevator to the 7th floor, and the room will be at the end of the hallway!