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A march for hope in the Chocó

Published: February 2012
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In February 2012, the communities of Curbarado, Jiguamiando, and Cacarica commemorated the 15th anniversary of their forced displacement. Two-hundred people participated in a four-day Walk to show support for the resistance of these communities in the midst armed conflict.<br /> Photo: PBI Colombia
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In February 2012, the communities of Curbarado, Jiguamiando, and Cacarica commemorated the 15th anniversary of their forced displacement. Two-hundred people participated in a four-day Walk to show support for the resistance of these communities in the midst armed conflict.
Photo: PBI Colombia

  • In February 2012, the communities of Curbarado, Jiguamiando, and Cacarica commemorated the 15th anniversary of their forced displacement. Two-hundred people participated in a four-day Walk to show support for the resistance of these communities in the midst armed conflict.<br /> Photo: PBI Colombia
  • There are few roads like these in this region that permit a view from the rooftop of a jeep. For most of the route the participants—Colombians, international delegates and community members—walked on muddy trails to get from one Humanitarian Zone to the next. Fortunately, we enjoyed sunny days in one of the rainiest regions of the world.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • The Humanitarian Zones are an important initiative that permits the communities to continue resisting on their land despite the constant siege of the armed conflict. In order to achieve this, the communities establish visible markers of where they are living and prohibit the entrance of armed actors of any kind.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • Two visitors from Ecuador participated in the Walk. There were also people from the United States, Canada, and Germany among other countries.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • These communities live in the department of Choco in North-eastern Colombia. The land is exceptionally fertile. However, today most of this territory has been reduced to large-scale monocropping, extensive cattle farming and vast timber exploitation.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • Despite its natural wealth, Choco is one of the poorest departments in Colombia.<br /> Photo: PBI Colombia
  • The community recalls that until 1996 this land was jungle and tropical hills. They remember growing rice, maize, and plantain for their subsistence on several hectares of land which they would then lay fallow for a number of years. In Curbarado, there is no longer any jungle. As a consequence of massive logging, the biodiversity, water resources, and jungle have all been diminished.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • One of the most emotional and saddening moments of the Walk was when members of the communities, with lit candles in hand, spoke out the names of loved ones who have died due to the armed conflict over the course of the last 15 years. It took over a half-hour to mention the name of each of the deceased.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • The delegation arrived by river to the Embera indigenous peoples’ Humanitarian Reserve in a place known as Alto Guayabal. <br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • These communities have also been affected by the armed conflict and economic interests. In 2005, the Government granted a mining title to company based in the United States to extract gold, copper, and molybdenum. Since then the community has initiated a process of resistance to halt the exploitation of these resources in their territory.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • It was a unique experience with Afro-descendant, indigenous and ethnically mixed communities. They have not lost their sense of rootedness to their land and they move forward with the hope to make their land productive according to their ancestral practices—with maize as well as rice, and in developing autonomous productive projects. They also continue to dream of a day when there is no longer violence in their region.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
  • The Inter-Church Commission on Justice and Peace accompanies and advises the communities living within the Humanitarian Zones in Curbarado, Jiguamiando, and Cacarica. PBI, in turn, accompanies the Inter-Church Commission so that they may continue to carry out their work.<br /> Photo: Pauline Liss/PBI Colombia
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