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Eyewitness from Sintraemcali Occupation #7
River of Resistance Rising

SINTRAEMCALI OCCUPATION: EYEWITNESS UPDATE NUMBER 7

From the CAM tower in Cali, Colombia
Sunday 20th December [?]

The River of Resistance is Rising 
---------------------------------

The struggle in the defence of EMCALI E.I.C.E. is transforming peoples
lives both inside and outside the occupation.  Collectivity and
solidarity, supposedly dead and buried in our materialist world have
again been reborn, and as the imagination of the people begins to be set
free, questions of power move beyond public services and into the domain
of democracy, equality, and freedom.  

Inside CAM tower the newly formed women's group is formulating proposals
to address male attitudes to their female comrades.  To raise questions
as to why no woman has ever been a member of the Executive Board of the
union, and to challenge the sexism that exists in the union and beyond.
"We are in the frontline of the struggle to defend EMCALI, and male
attitudes inside the Tower are changing towards us.  When we leave we
want to change the attitudes of those outside as well," said Aydee, one
of the spokeswomen from the group.  She had entered the occupation to
join her comrades three days after it had begun, disguised as a nurse. 

Inside the Tower they are organising a range of initiatives:
educational, political, and social to keep both women and men busy and
united.  "Tomorrow we have computer classes, and English classes, and we
are organising a cleaning party, jointly with the men, to keep the tower
clean. We are also circulating the words of the Internationale and the
anthem of SINTRAEMCALI to every floor, so that everyone can learn the
songs by heart.  Tomorrow we will have a competition with a prize for
the floor that sings them the best."  Whilst I was there they were
planning the exit parade, and discussing ideas.  Every detail is
considered as they decide on the image that they wish to present to the
community and the wider world when they eventually leave the tower,
heads held high in dignity and solidarity. 

Outside the tower, people are gathered around the stage watching a dance
group from Agua Blanca, the poorest district in Cali, and the crowd
sways in time with the music.  A local rap band from the same area,
chant their tribute to social protest and their chorus of "SINTRAEMCALI,
present... SINTRAEMCALI present."  On the roof of the two-storey
building attached to the tower, occupying workers clad in Balaclavas
dance together in this carnival of the people.  Workers and communities
experiencing new things, forging new friendships, and debating new ideas
as this new popular front of diversity begins to solidify into a solid
block of popular resistance. 

I think of what my friend Berenice, a popular leader and human rights
activist, told me she had heard from a campesino in the South of Bolivar
describing the popular movement.  He had said that the social struggles
in Colombia are like the Magdalena River; in the morning the level of
the river is shallow, but by the evening the river can become
uncontrollable.  The river of resistance in Cali is indeed rising and
tomorrow the Municipal Strike Command meet to raise that level even
higher. 



PHOTOS
------
We have a library of photos from the occupation, including personalities
like Martha and Alexander in Mario's reports, of the video links and
campaigning activities. This can be e-mailed on request.  


EYEWITNESS REPORT BACK
----------------------
Mario Novelli will be speaking immediately on his return from Colombia
at 4pm Saturday 2nd February, CORAS Centre, 161 Lambeth Walk, SE11.
(nearest tubes Vauxhall or North Lambeth), the monthly meeting of the
Colombia Solidarity Campaign.


FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS URGENTLY NEEDED
---------------------------------------
Please make a contribution to support the occupation. We cxan send out
collection sheets. Donations can be made by sending cheques payable to
the "Colombia Solidarity Campaign". Write "SINTRAEMCALI" on the back,
and send to: Colombia Solidarity Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ.  

For more information e-mail: colombia_sc@hotmail.com 
Tel: 07950 923448


LONDON PUBLIC MEETING - THIS TUESDAY!
-------------------------------------

SUPPORT THE SINTRAEMCALI WORKERS OCCUPATION TO STOP PRIVATISATION

University London Union , Malet Street, London WC1 
(nearest tubes Goodge Street or Warren Street) 
6.30-8.30pm Tuesday 22nd January

Speakers from the Colombian Community, UNISON and the 
Colombia Solidarity Campaign

Video from SINTRAEMCALI

SINTRAEMCALI works with the community and has massive support for:
* No to the privatisation of EMCALI!
* No to price increases for water, electricity and telephones!
* Defend the occupation! No to the criminalisation of social protest!


SPECIAL MASS PICKET OF COLOMBIAN EMBASSY - THIS FRIDAY!
-------------------------------------------------------

4.00 - 6.00pm Friday 25th January
3 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, London (back of Harrods)
nearest tube Knightsbridge

The Colombian Solidarity Campaign has picketed the embassy for the last
three Fridays. This Friday we will be joined by several public sector
unions, the TUC and the "Justice for Colombia" initiative. 

All who support SINTRAEMCALI are welcome. Bring your banners to show the
broad support for the occupation against privatisation.

Eyewitness from Sintraemcali Occupation | Noticias sobre Colombia | Plan Colombia | AGP