Urgent Action on La Guajira: Tell Glencore to Respect Protestors at Cerrejón Coal!

On 1 September demonstrators from several communities harmed by Glecore’s Cerrejón coal mine began a peaceful blockade of the mine’s southern entrance. Their demand was to negotiate with delegates from government institutions and from Glencore for a solution to unfulfilled promises to displaced communities. Glencore, however, decided not to send delegates to the negotiations on 7 September and instead issued eviction notices to the blockade.

Add your voice to the demand that Glencore respects the protestors, sends delegates to meet with them, and meets its promises to communities!

La Guajira Urgent Action

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We call on Glencore, Cerrejón and the Colombian government to respect the blockade of the communities and re-start conversations again at the roundtable.
 
Background
 
Wayuú and African descent communities, resettled and historically affected by the Cerrejón opencast coal mine, decided to blockade the southern part of the mining operation in La Guajira, Colombia, because of Cerrejón’s failure to comply with its obligations towards them. The blockade began on 1 September, 2022.
 
Some of the resettled communities and other communities present in the area of influence of the mine, including Barrancón, Manantialito, the San Francisco Wayuu Indigenous Reserve, Papayal, Roche, Patilla, Chancleta, the Tamaquito II Wayuu Indigenous Reserve, Las Casitas, Sierra Azul and Sabana al Medio, all historically affected by Cerrejón, took the decision to block the south of the Cerrejón coal mining operation because the company had not complied with the agreements made with the resettled communities on issues such as access to water, as well as issues related to the violation of ethnic rights in the municipality of Barrancas and the department of La Guajira due to the impacts of coal mining. The communities also argue lack of compliance with two orders from the Constitutional Colombian Court, T-704 and T-256.
 
We are concerned about the safety of the protesting communities because defenders of territory and life are often threatened in Colombia. We ask the Colombian authorities to ensure the integrity of the protesters and Glencore to establish a path of dialogue to resolve the communities’ claims.

We ask the representatives of Glencore, Cerrejón and the government authorities to respect the blockade and begin the conversations again at the roundtable in order to analyse compliance with the previous agreements.

Current situation

On 7 September, 2022, in Barrancas, La Guajira, a space for dialogue was opened with the communities promoting the blockade at different points in the municipalities of Hatonuevo and Barrancas La Guajira, in the area of influence of the Cerrejón Company project. The Cerrejón Company, the national government entities ANLA (the environmental agency), the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of the Interior’s Directorate of Indigenous Affairs participated in this meeting, the latter acting as facilitator and guarantor. Local authorities such as the Department of La Guajira, through its Secretary of Indigenous Affairs, and the Mayor's Office of Barrancas and the Municipal Personería, also participated.

After discussions began, facilitated by the Ministry of the Interior, the protesting indigenous and African-Colombian communities presented an agenda, but it could not be followed because of the approach of the Cerrejón Company, which reiterated its willingness to dialogue, but demanded the lifting of the blockades before following the proposed agenda. Its representative said that the dialogue must be based on principles of good faith and free from pressure, and that the blockades constituted a form of pressure against the Company. The communities, through their representatives, repeatedly stated that they had submitted a proposal to Cerrejón several months ago, to which there had been no response from the company. They also alleged material and spiritual damage due to resettlement and environmental impacts.

After some reflection among themselves, the communities proposed to lift two of the four blockades as a goodwill gesture to open the dialogue and begin the agenda, pointing out that as they made progress on the issues, the other blockades could be lifted.

The Cerrejón Company reiterated its initial position of not advancing on the agenda and in the dialogue until all the blockades were lifted. It reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue and find a way forward once all the blockades were lifted.

Although the national and regional government entities insisted on the need to bring the positions of the parties closer together, it was not possible to pursue the agenda, and the decision was made to end the meeting.

The communities hold the company responsible for the damage that is being caused. They are protesting peacefully, and some blockades are within their own reservations.

- Given the trust generated with government institutions on 7 September, and the management of the space, the communities request their presence at a renewed dialogue, headed by the officials who attended.
- The communities request that the dialogue with the owners of the Glencore company be continued, and that people with decision-making capacity on behalf of the company attend.

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