Jiguamiando

                                                               Jiguamiando.

                                                                                                                                              
Official Title: Comunidades del Jiguamiando: Nueva Esperanza, Bellaflor Remacho, Pueblo Nuevo.
Departamento: Choco
Region: Communities are on the opposite bank of the Jiguamiando River from their first settlements re-established in 2000 and from which they were ejected in 2002.
Population:
Location: 
Ethnic mix: Metis and Afo-Colombian.
IDP population:
Date of establishment: Communities returned in 2000, declared themselves Humanitarian Zones 2004
Traditional political affiliation:
Trigger event[s]: 
 
Persons/organisations involved in establishment:
Leadership:
 
Supporters: Permanently accompanied by Justicia y Paz resulting in death threats to that organisation [March 2005] and the kidnapping of 5 of its accompaniers, April 2005. Visited [Aug 2005] by an international [Italy, Germany, Spain] delegation [inc. PASC] as part of “El Planton” solidarity project.
Declared objectives:
 
Relations with local government bodies:
 Mayor’s office:
 
Governor’s office:
 
Memberships of regional organisations:
 
Organisational structure: As in Curvarado the local indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are governed by [11] elected councils and there is a regional council for the whole area. Elections for these councils were due in 2008 amid many disputes about who among a confusing variety of "repopulators" were elegible to vote in such elections.

 Community meetings: 
 Decision making bodies; 11 minor councils; Community Council for Jiguamiando.
 Functional committees: A Youth Committee responsible for sport and cultural events
 
Valued goods produced in region: Much of communities traditional territory has been taken over and used illegally for the growing of oil palm by over 13 companies, some of which have been linked to paramilitary leaders Vincente Castano and Freddy Rendon.. Community is attempting to get this land returned and to establish title. Although serious the problem of getting land returned is less than in the Curvarado basin as there are only an estimated 200 hectares under palm oil culticvation in the Jiguamiando region.

[There are over 20 arrest orders for community leaders accused of being "members of FARC"]  

     Starting around 2008 there have been efforts by mining companies to explore and survey for gold, copper and molybdenum deposits in the region, particularly around Mt. Careperro.The mining companies [particularly the Colorado based Muriel Mining] obtain permission from local authorities and consent from some local individuals whio claim to be leaders, but are strenuouusly opposed by most indigenous and Afro-Colombian communiyties who are concerned about the likely effects of mining on water supplies and the environment. The companies are protected by the local Colombian military units.

Local armed actors in the region:
Armed forces:  15th and 17th Brigades  
Paramilitaries:  Currently [2011] the Autodefensas Gaitanistas are active in the region.
Guerrillas: Frente 57 of FARC.                                              
                     
Arrangements with L.A.A.s
 
 
Significant events: March 2005 the I-ACHR demanded the Government take special measures to protect the Community of Jiguamiando. Oct. 2005 Orlando Valencia a community leader was kidnapped by paramilitaries en route to a “Partnering for Peace” conference in Chicago, in spite of being accompanied by international observers.
 
Further comments: Originally, the people in these settlements fled from their homes on the River Curvarado as part of the 4000 campesinos displaced by Operation Genesis in 1997.
 
Contacts:
 
Last Updated: