Colombia: displacement of rural families, Bolívar region

On July 14, 2009, 120 families were forcibly displaced. They are from the estate of Las Pavas, located in the administrative district of Buenos Aires in the municipality of El Peñón in the southern Bolívar province. Members of the National Police and the Anti-disturbance squads entered into the community, destroying 7 houses, sacking their belongings and removing the families, including 100 children, from their houses.

These families are currently without access to their livelihood or assistance. The forced displacement and the lack of secure access to land are a violation of the right to food of these families. Please send letters to the President of the Republic of Colombia calling on him to guarantee the immediate return of these families to their homes, to assist them and to pay compensation for the damage suffered. Please send a copy of your letter to the Ombudsman’s Office of Colombia, to the Farmer’s Association of Buenos Aires (ASOCAB), and to the legal advisers of the Land Programme of the Magdalena Medio Development and Peace Program.