Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2001
June 13 Day of Solidarity with Kidnapped Embera Katio Leader

JUNE 13TH
EMERGENCY SOLIDARITY ACTIONS FOR KIMI PERNIA DOMICO AND 
COLOMBIA'S EMBERA KATIO PEOPLE! 

In this post : 
#1 June 13th Day of Solidarity
#2 Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign Action Alert
#3 Crisis for the Embera Katio People of Colombia Fact Summary
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#1 

TAKE ACTION! 
On June 13th show the Colombian government that they must take action to 
free kidnapped Embera Katio leader Kimi Pernia Domico. Organize a 
solidarity event at a Colombian consulate/embassy or at your local 
community. All of us who care about peace and justice in Colombia will 
show our support by acting on the same day as the Embera people begin 
their march in Colombia for his release to be carried out on Wednesday, 
13 June. 

BACKGROUND
On 2 June 2001, three armed gunmen --thought to be army-backed 
paramilitaries belonging to the United Self-Defence Groups of Cordoba 
and Uraba (ACCU)-- abducted Colombian indigenous leader Kimi Pernia 
Domico, in the municipality of Tierralta, department of Córdoba.

Kimi Pernia Domico is a leader of the Embera-Katío indigenous people, 
who live along the rivers Sinú and Verde in the department of Córdoba. 
He has played a leading role in the indigenous communities' campaign 
against construction of the Urrá dam. In recent years, several 
Embera-Katío indigenous communities campaigning against the construction 
of the Urrá Dam --which has destroyed much of their ancestral lands-- 
have been targeted by paramilitary forces working in alliance with the 
security forces. Community leaders have also been killed by guerilla 
forces, who have accused them of siding with the paramilitary or 
security forces.

The March
Starting on Wednesday, 13 June, a group of Embera people will leave 
Tierralta to march toward Montería, the capitol city of the department 
of Córdoba. They will be protesting Kimi's abduction and demanding that 
he be released. The organizers of this march have sent out a request for 
international solidarity, in the form of funds to cover their projected 
costs, physical presence on the march, and other forms of accompaniment 
and solidarity.

International Response
To date, the international response to Kimi's abduction has been 
overwhelming. Actions taken in Canada, the United States, and Europe
include a letter sent by 50 Canadian Parliamentarians to President 
Pastrana on this case. But the pressure must continue to grow until Kimi 
is released alive!

WHAT YOU CAN DO
We propose three days of coordinated actions across the United States 
(and hopefully across the world) in solidarity with next week's march 
for Kimi. Already there are plans underway for events in San Francisco 
and Washington DC. We need core groups to start organizing in other 
localities, however. These actions could be demonstrations at Colombian 
consulates, vigils, fund-raising drives, media work, petitioning, among 
others.

Cities in the US with Colombian consulates : Boston, New York, 
Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago, Houston, San 
Francisco, Los Angeles

For more information, contact : 
Sandra Alvarez (Global Exchange) 415.255.7296 x228 or 
sandra@globalexchange.org
Monti Aguirre (International Rivers Network) 510.848.1155 or 
monti@irn.org
Andrew Miller (Amnesty International USA) 202.544.0200 x251 or 
amiller@aiusa.org 


#2

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URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!! 
********************************************************** 
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SOLIDARITY! 

MOVE SKY AND EARTH TO SAVE THE LIFE OF KIMY PERNIA DOMICO! 

The Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign has just been informed that Kimy 
Pernia Domico, friend and respected leader of the Embera Katio Nation of 
Colombia has just been kidnapped. 


MUNICIPALITY OF TIERRALTA, CORDOBA PROVINCE, COLOMBIA: 
The Autonomous Governments (Cabildo Mayor) the Alto Sinu and Rio Verde 
inform that: on Saturday, June 2, 2001 at approximately 6:20pm, Embera 
Katio leader KIMY PERNIA DOMICO was taken by force by armed men on 
motorcycles. KIMY was forced onto a motorcycle by three armed men who 
then forced him onto a white motorcycle. Kimy then stepped off the 
motocyle to be later forced back on with a pistol to his head. Two of 
the armed men rode with him on one motorcyle and a third followed behind 
on another. According to witnesses, KIMY was yelled out "They have me!" 
as the motocycles left Tierralta heading towards the city of Monteria, 
Cordoba. Close to a gasoline station, KIMY threw himself from the 
motorcycle to be later forced back on by the amered men who continued 
their route towards Monteria. 


The manner in which the kidnapping was carried out indicates that the 
act was perpetrated by paramilitaries. 

For those reading this letter who live in Canada, you may have met Kimy 
Pernia Domico, when he came to Canada a few years ago to denounce the 
violations of his people's rights in reaction to their resistance to the 
Urra dam mega project, financed in part by the Canadian government. 


The Urra dam project was protested by the Embera Katio people of 
Colombia as the mega project threatened their very survival. For 
demanding their rights, several leaders were assassinated, community 
members were kidnapped, others dissappeared. 


Despite the barbarism used to break the resistance of the Embera Katio 
Nation, they continued their struggle with dignity in large measure to 
the courage and persistance of KIMY PERNIA DOMICO. 


Thanks to the relentless spirit of struggle fo the Embera people and 
their leaders, the Urra corporation and the Colombian government signed 
and agreement for compensation for and mitigation of Urra's damages to 
the Embera people and thier terrotorial integrity on April 19, 2000. 
Although it was expected that the violence would end after the singing 
of the agreement, it did not and the Emra continued to as targets of 
kidnappings and disappearances. 


The Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio -CAMAEMKA - asks of citizens of the world 
along with international humanitarian and human rights organizations to 
to pronounce themselves in solidarity with their demand for THE 
LIBERATION OF THEIR BROTHER, KIMY PERNIA DOMICO, respect for the Embera 
Nation, their culture and their Autonomy. 


CAMAEMKA also asks the world to join them in their demand to the 
Colombian government for the fulfillment of the April 19th Agreement 
concerning the PROTECTION OF THEIR LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES. 


Please direct your calls/letters/faxes to: 
Colombian Embassy in the U.S. 
2118 Leroy Place, NW Washington, DC, 20008 
(202) 387 8338 - Fax: (202) 232 8643 
emwas@colombiaemb.org 

Señor Presidente Andrés Pastrana Arango 
Presidente de la República 
Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-26 
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia 
Fax: + 571 287 7939, + 571 284 2186, + 571 289 3377 or + 571 337 1351 
Salutation: Dear President / Excmo. Sr. Presidente 

Señor Vicepresidente Gustavo Bell Lemus 
Alto Consejero Presidencial para asuntos de Derechos 
Humanos y lucha Contra la Corrupción 
Cra. 8 #7-26, Palacio de Nariño 
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia 
Fax: + 571 337 1351 
Salutation: Dear Vice-President / Excmo. Sr. Vicepresidente 

Dr. Humberto de la Calle 
Ministerio del Interior 
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2 
Santa Fe de Bogotá, COLOMBIA 
Fax: + 57 1 286 8025 / 281 5884 / 342 3201 
Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister 
COPIES TO: 

Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia ONIC 
Apartado Aéreo 32395 
onic@colnodo.apc.org 
Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio CAMAEMKA
camaemka@col3.telecom.com.co
The Canada Colombia Solidarity Campaign
colombiacrisis@latinmail.com

CENSAT AGUA VIVA
Amigos de la Tierra (FoE)
Diágonal 24 Nº 27a-42
Santafé de Bogotá
Colombia Sur América
Telfax: 57-1-244 05 81 y 244 24 65
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#3
Crisis for the Embera Katio People of Colombia
Fact Summary
1. The Embera Katío are members of a traditional Indigenous community or
tribe, and they have resided in rainforests of the upper Sinú River in
northern Colombia since the days of their ancestors, long preceding the
arrival of the Europeans. Their collective lands are legally recognized
and protected by the Colombian constitution. The main staples of their
diet are fish and plantains, both of which were plentiful until the
recent events described below.

2. Several years ago, the Embera Katío people became aware of the
government construction of a large hydroelectric dam (known as the "Urrá
Dam") on their river. The dam was built near their collective property
without notice and without the legally required collective consent of
the tribe.

3. The construction of the dam has had a disastrous and deadly impact 
upon the Embera Katío community. The fish supply has been destroyed and 
the most fertile and important portion of their lands for plantain crops 
is now under water. For the first time their peoples are suffering from 
malnutrition, as well as new diseases, including malaria from the newly 
created swamps, and dengue. The wildlife population is being seriously 
damaged as well. 

4. Faced with this crisis, the community sent their leadership to Bogotá 
to seek assistance and protection from the courts of law. After a 
lengthy legal struggle, a judgment was issued in favor of the Embera, 
requiring that a plan for compensation, as well as mitigation of their 
damages, be developed and carried out. 

5. In response to this resistance, the Colombian paramilitary forces 
began to enter the Embera Katío reserve for the first time. They 
threatened and intimidated the different tribal leaders. Three leaders 
were murdered and one has "disappeared" and never returned. Houses and 
boats have been burned. The paramilitary forces have also told the 
Embera people to grow coca, which the Embera have always prohibited. The 
campesino or peasant communities just outside the borders of the reserve
have been massacred and forced to flee. The Embera peoples have chosen 
not to flee. 

6. The paramilitary violence and repression is a direct response to the 
Embera Katío peoples' legal actions of resistance to the dam. Embera 
warriors guard and protect their borders, and coca cultivation has never 
been permitted. Nor have any guerilla enclaves or activities been 
permitted on their lands. Although there have been frictions with nearby 
guerilla groups, the guerillas have respected the Embera's right to 
independence and their right to life. 

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