San Luis

Local Zones of Peace: General Survey and Map.
 
                                            San  Luis
                                                                                                                                              
Official Title: Consejo de Conciliacion de San Luis.
Departamento: Antioquia.
Region: Oriente Antioqueno.
Population: c16,000.
Location: 125 miles east of Medellin.
Ethnic mix:
IDP population:
Date of establishment: 1997.
Traditional political affiliation:
Trigger event[s]: October 1996 local guerrillas attacked Rio Claro Cement Co., motivating local population to initiate a process of negotation & neutralisation of the conflict.
Persons/organisations involved in establishment:
Leadership:
 
Supporters:
 
Declared objectives: To find solutions for local socio-economic problems, create a space for conciliation and develop a culture of “convivencia pacifica”.
 
Relations with local government bodies:
 Mayor’s office:
 
Governor’s office:
 
Memberships of regional organisations: Became an active member of the Asemblea Provincial del Oriente Antioqueno in 2000.
Organisational structure:
 Community meetings:
 Decision making bodies
 Functional committees.
 
Valued goods produced in region:
 
Local armed actors in the region:
 Armed forces:   
  Paramilitaries: Bloque “Metro” de las AUC y ACMM  
  Guerrillas: FARC-EP –Frentes 9 & 47; Bloque “Jose Maria de Cordob”.  ELN – Frentes “Carlos Alirio Buitrago” y “Bernardo Lopez Arroyave”; Compania “Jose Maria de Cordoba” del area industrial.                                            
                     
Arrangements with L.A.A.s
 
Significant events: Conflict has involved attacks on the municipio & the population; threats against the alcalde & public officials; selective murders; economic blockades [especially of the Medellin-Bogota autopista]; & destruction of bridges &electrical infrastructure. A significant resurgence of violence in 2000 linked to the activities of the Asamblea & the founding of Antioquia’s “Laboratory of Peace”.
 
Further comments: Long term problems in the region involve finding a route for the autopista, ensuing industrial/commercial development [e.g exploitation of timber], & immigration into region. The development of the armed conflict turned municipio into a strategic centre, militarily, economically & politically.
Contacts:
 
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