Las Pavas Wins
the National
Peace Prize
Last
night, members
from the
community of
Las Pavas
stood in the
national
spotlight at
the National
Museum in
Bogotá where
they won the
the National
Peace Prize.
Holding the
prize,
community
leader Misael
Payeres,
announced,
“Our primary
hope is in
God—that one
day we would
see justice.
We hope is
that this
prize will
continue to
plant seeds of
peace and
reconciliation
for all
Colombians.
That is the
biggest prize
I ask for all
Colombians.”
The
three thousand
hectares of land
on which the
farm of Las
Pavas is located
has been in
legal contention
for seven years.
The community
has experienced
displacement,
eviction,
victimization
and today
continues to
face threats and
violent attacks
from armed
private security
guards of palm
oil company,
Aportes San
Isisdro.
In
the last year,
hundreds of
crops -
plantains,
yuca, corn and
rice - were
destroyed,
either axed
down or
poisoned. At
least thirteen
houses have
been burned.
Livestock were
stolen and
their access
to pastureland
restricted.
Community
members have
been beaten,
shot at and,
most recently,
the community
gathering
house was
burned down.
In spite of
the violence,
the local
police have
not been
responsive to
the security
needs of the
community.
We
have accompanied
the community of
Las Pavas since
2009 and
witnessed the
unwavering
nonviolent
spirit and
persistence of
the people. They
inspire us to
the ways of
peace and
courage. We are
extremely
delighted and
celebrate with
the community in
their
recognition as a
leading force
for peace in a
country poised
at the crux of a
peace process.
Juliana Vargas
of the National
Peace Prize
selection
committee
recently visited
the community;
she told them,
“You were
selected by a
committee from
89 nominated
national
processes who
are also doing
amazing work for
peace. But we
chose you
because you
showed us a
nonviolent way
forward. You are
our example.”
"This
recognition
means that the
time is right.
We were
victims to
start and now
the State
recognizes
that we were
victimized
again,”
continued
Misael. On
November 12,
Unidad de
Victimas, the
government
body that
recognizes and
investigates
claims of
forced
displacement,
affirmed that
the farmers
from Las Pavas
are in fact
victims of
forced
displacement,
and are
included
without
reservation in
the national
registry of
victims. In
late 2011, the
community was
accused of
lying - that
they were not
forcefully
displaced;
this
accusation has
now been
refuted. This
recognition
guarantees
them
protection and
humanitarian
aid under the
Victims Law.
“With all
that, we do
not hold
grudges
against the
perpetrators
or the state.
Today we give
them the hand
of
forgiveness,”
said Misael.
The
Las Pavas case
file now lies on
the desk of the
Consejo de
Estado, the
highest court in
the land that
deals with
government
administrative
disputes. This
ruling will be
the final step
to land
ownership for
each of the 123
families.
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