Tierralta

 
                                                                               Tierralta
                                                               
Official Title:

Departamento: Cordoba
Region: Corregimientos of Batatas, La Ossa, Callejas and Villa Providencia. 
Population:  26,240 within Tierralta overall.

Location:  Contains about 60% of Paramillo National Park.

Ethnic mix: Includes about 3,000 members of the Embera Katio indigenous people.

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IDP population: In 2008, CODHES reported that 85,000 people had been displaced within Cordoba and in 2012 this estimate had risen to 140,000

Date of establishment: 4 July 2002, inc. announcement by press release.
Traditional political affiliation:
Trigger event[s]:
 
Persons/organisations involved in establishment:
Leadership:
 
Supporters: REDEPAZ; ONIC.
 
Declared objectives:
 
Relations with local government bodies:
 Mayor’s office:
 
Governor’s office:
 
Memberships of regional organisations:
 
Organisational structure:
 Community meetings:
 Decision making bodies
 Functional committees.
Valued goods produced in region: Region affected by development of hydro-electric power.
 
 
Local armed actors in the region:
 Armed forces:  11th Brigade   
  Paramilitaries: Autodefensas of Cordoba & Uraba [ACCU] active in region since at least 1997    
  Guerrillas: FARC 58th Frente                                             
                     
Arrangements with L.A.A.s

 
Significant events: From 1996, conflict between local indigenous groups and URRA SA power company over construction of dams and hydro-electric plant in indigenous region which would disrupt local fisheries & livelihood for c10,000. Compensation agreement reneged on by company in December.1996, suit filed Feb 1998 and later that year Constitutional Court ordered halt to filling of dams. Indigenous leaders threatened and assassinated and advisers from ONIC threatened by paras. 

     Tierralta came into the news in 2003 when it became the site for negotiations between the Government and AUC leaders regarding a possible cease fire and demobilisation of paramilitary units. On 15th June that year a preliminary agreement [Santa Fe de Ralito I] was signed that set out a framework for substantive negotiation. This was followed on May 13th 2004 by Ralito II, which set out terms for para demobilisation and reinsertion of AUC and other bloque members on generous conditions of amnesty.

    The site then became the center of a 350 square km. "zona de ubicacion" [ZDU], to which demobilising paras came in order to be processed back into civilian life, and in which leaders  charged with major crimes enjoyed a large degree of luxury and freedom, protected by 400 of their own fighters within the zone and by army units outside. The OAS  maintains a peace support mision within the zona [MAPP-OEA} which makes regular reports on progress. 

     It is estimated that aound 30,000 para fighters were disarmed, but there were few opportunities for them to make a living. Many subsequently joined recreated - often rival - armed groups, usually set up by mid-level officials of the old AUC. These were and remained directly involved in drug trafficking and other crimiinal activities and were called by the Government "bandas criminales" ["bacrims"]. Most prominent of these - and engaged in rival activitities and fighting to exploit rich coca producing areas in Tierrralta, were the "Black Eagles" and the  "Paisas". [Another pair of rivals involved in the struggle for control are the Urabenos and the Restropos.] These organisations have been active in frustrating displaced campesinos' efforts to reclaim land  and have caused new waves of IDPs within the municipio and the region as a whole.

 
Further comments: The Embera Katio indigenous community has been under IACHR “precautionary measures” since 4 June 2001, following the killing of a leader, Kime Pernia Domico, in spite of which killings and incursions continued. An IACHR delegation visited region in July 2003, urging local authorities to implement an appropriate and effective protection plan.
 
Contact details:

 
Last Updated:  September 2012

  
Further Reading: 

See Press Release by REDEPAZ, 4 July 2002.