Tras la triste noticia del asesinato del padre José Reinel Restrepo, párroco del municipio de Marmato, conocido públicamente como oponente al proyecto minero de las empresas canadienses Medoro Ressources y Gran Colombia Gold, las organizaciones canadienses han firmado un comunicado para expresar profunda preocupación sobre la posibilidad de que las empresas mineras canadienses estén agravando la violencia política en la zona o, por lo menos, aprovechándose de ella. En este comunicado, se solicita a la Embajada de Canadá que coopere en las investigaciones a fin de garantizar que los hechos relacionados con el asesinato de Restrepo se esclarezcan y que se establezcan mecanismos de imputabilidad para asegurar que las empresas mineras canadienses que operan en Colombia no provoquen, agraven o se aprovechen de la violencia política y de las violaciones a los derechos humanos.
El asesinato del padre Restrepo se da poco más de dos semanas después de que el Primer Ministro Harper festejara en Bogotá la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Libre Comercio entre Canadá y Colombia. Si bien quienes anteponen los derechos humanos al libre comercio han sido acusados de “proteccionismo”, este asesinato plantea de nuevo la pregunta de quién requiere mayor protección: las empresas canadienses o los defensores de los derechos humanos de Colombia que defienden los intereses colectivos de sus comunidades.
El PASC les invita a difundir ampliamente este comunicado y a escribir al Primer Ministro canadiense así como a la GranColombia Gold con el fine de expresar su apoyo a éste comunicado y sus preocupaciones en cuanto a las actuaciones de las empresas canadienses quienes aprovechan y alimentan la violencia política en Colombia.
Peter Volk, Gran Colombia Gold General Counsel and VP : pvolk@grancolombiagold.com
Stephen Jose ph Harper, Primer Ministro de Canadá : pm@pm.gc.ca
En linea :
Comunicado de organizaciones canadienses tras el asesinato del padre José Reinel Restrepo de Marmato, oponente a las firmas canadienses, 15 de junio del 2011
Firmado por : Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT Colombia, Coalition québécoise sur les impacts socio-environnmentaux des transnationales en Amérique latine, CoDevelopment Canada , Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA), International Council of Latin American and Caribbean Women in Canada, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network, Members of the Extractive Industries Research Group (EIRG), York University, Members of the Executive Committee of The Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean at York University (CERLAC), MiningWatch Canada , Muslim Unity group Toronto, Partners in Mission Unit, The United Church of Canada, Projet Accompagnement Solidarité Colombie (PASC), Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) , The Steelworkers Humanity Fund, Toronto Haiti Action Committee.
Más informaciones sobre el caso :
Asesinado el párroco Reinel Restrepo de Marmato, líder de la oposición a empresas mineras canadienses que amenazan con destrozar su pueblo, 3 de septiembre 2011.
Contexto : proyecto minero canadiense y resistencia del pueblo de Marmato
La Fiebre del oro : El caso de Marmato, 12 de agosto 2011
Marmato: la resistencia contra las transnacionalesmineras avanza sin pausa, 24 de mayo, 2011
El comportamiento del gobierno nacional en Marmato ylas declaraciones del primo del presidente Santos, 12 de agosto del 2011
Compañia canadiense anuncia que necesita tumbar todoel pueblo de Marmato, 17 de junio 2011
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Projet accompagnement solidarité Colombie
info@pasc.ca - 514-966-8421
www.pasc.ca
En réponse à l'assassinat du prêtre José Restrepo Reinel opposant notoire au projet de mine à ciel ouvert développé par les entreprises canadiennes Medoro Ressources et GranColombia Gold, plusieurs organisations canadiennes ont signé une déclaration conjointe pour exiger que l'ambassade canadienne en Colombie exerce de son influence pour s'assurer qu'une enquête éclaircisse les motifs de cet assassinat, lequel survient quelques jours après les déclarations publiques du prêtre à l'encontre des minières canadiennes qui entendent détruire son village (Marmato, département de Caldas). Les organisations signataires demandent également que des mécanismes d'imputabilité soient mise en place pour garantir que les sociétés minières canadiennes investissant en Colombie n'alimentent pas la violence politique et ne profitent pas du climat d'impunité pour faire taire les opposant-es à leurs projets économiques. Soulignons que cet assassinat survient deux semaines après la visite du Premier ministre canadien en Colombie destinée à célébrer l'entrée en vigueur de l'Accord de libre-échange Canada-Colombie.
Le PASC vous encourage à diffuser largement ce communiqué au sein de vos réseaux.
Nous vous invitons également à envoyer ce communiqué au Gouvernement canadien et à la Gran Colombia Gold en mentionnant votre appui envers ce communiqué et en exprimant vos préoccupations quant à l'agissement des entreprises canadiennes qui profitent du climat de violence politique en Colombie pour engranger des profits.
Peter Volk, Gran Colombia Gold General Counsel and VP : pvolk@grancolombiagold.com
Stephen Jose ph Harper, Premier ministre du Canada : pm@pm.gc.ca
VOIR EN LIGNE :
Communiqué conjoint suite à l'assassinat du père Reinel Restrepo à Marmato, opposant aux minières canadiennes, 15 juin 2011.
Ce communiqué est endossé par : Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT Colombia, Coalition québécoise sur les impacts socio-environnmentaux des transnationales en Amérique latine, CoDevelopment Canada , Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA), International Council of Latin American and Caribbean Women in Canada, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network, Members of the Extractive Industries Research Group (EIRG), York University, Members of the Executive Committee of The Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean at York University (CERLAC), MiningWatch Canada , Muslim Unity group Toronto, Partners in Mission Unit, The United Church of Canada, Projet Accompagnement Solidarité Colombie (PASC), Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) , The Steelworkers Humanity Fund, Toronto Haiti Action Committee.
Informations de contexte : La canadienne Medoro Ressources rase un village pour ouvrir une mine d'or à ciel ouvert, PASC, juin 2011.
Plus d'informations en espagnol et anglais.
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In response to murder of priest in Colombia, Canadian civil society calls for stronger protection for human rights defenders Canadian labour, faith, social justice, and solidarity organizations have sent a letter to the Canadian Embassy in Colombia expressing concern that Canadian mining companies may well be aggravating or benefiting from violence. Civil society groups are troubled by recent news of the murder of Father José Reinel Restrepo, an outspoken advocate against the displacement of the urban centre of Marmato in the department of Caldas to make way for an open-pit gold mine project owned by Toronto-based Gran Colombia Gold.
Father Restrepo’s murder comes little more than two weeks after Prime Minister Harper celebrated the coming into effect of the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement in Bogotá. Harper accused those who put human rights before free trade of “protectionism.” This tragedy, however, raises the question about who needs greater protection: Canadian corporations or human rights defenders in Colombia standing up for collective interests in their communities.
On September 2nd, the body of Father Restrepo was found shot dead near his motorcycle on a road between the municipality of Belén de Umbría, Departamento of Risaralda and the municipality of Viterbo, department of Caldas, south of the municipality of Marmato. The 36 year-old priest had served for two years in the parish church of Marmato. No perpetrators in this crime have yet been identified, nor has a motive for Father Restrepo’s killing been determined.
Shortly before he was killed, Father Restrepo gave declarations to the Colombian press, stating that the church is a defender of the poor, and that “this Canadian multinational company wants to take advantage of the population; they want to drive them out.” “They have even gone so far as to want to relocate the parish church,” he said, “…they’ve come and asked me if I agree with the relocation of the town […] I’ve openly told them that I’m not in agreement with this.”
Canadian social organizations are asking that the Embassy to cooperate with investigations, to urge the company to do the same, and to provide stronger guarantees and mechanisms to hold companies to account, particularly in the context of Colombia’s armed conflict.
MiningWatch Canada, September 15th
PASC invite you to widely disseminate this joint letter in your network and to also send it to the Canadian Prime Minister and to Gran Colombia Gold to show your support to this declaration and express your concerns regarding the actuation of the canadian company investing in Colombia who are aggravating the political violence in this country.
Peter Volk, Gran Colombia Gold General Counsel and VP : pvolk@grancolombiagold.com
Stephen Jose ph Harper, Prime minister of Canada : pm@pm.gc.ca
SEE IN LINE :
Joint letter urging protection for human rights defenders following murder of Father Reinel Restrepo of Marmato, Colombia, September 15th
Endorsed by : Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT Colombia, Coalition québécoise sur les impacts socio-environnmentaux des transnationales en Amérique latine, CoDevelopment Canada , Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA), International Council of Latin American and Caribbean Women in Canada, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network, Members of the Extractive Industries Research Group (EIRG), York University, Members of the Executive Committee of The Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean at York University (CERLAC), MiningWatch Canada , Muslim Unity group Toronto, Partners in Mission Unit, The United Church of Canada, Projet Accompagnement Solidarité Colombie (PASC), Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) , The Steelworkers Humanity Fund, Toronto Haiti Action Committee.
More informations about this case :
Colombia: priest shot dead in mining town where canadian company lead the mining project, September 3th 2011
More informations about the mining canadian project in Marmato :
Colombia's Gold Rush : The Marmato's Case, July 4th
What the President's cousin says on Marmato is whatthe government does , July 12th 2011
