INDEFINITE CIVIL STRIKE FOR THE DIGNITY OF LA GUAJIRA STARTING ON AUGUST 28

INDEFINITE CIVIL STRIKE FOR THE DIGNITY OF LA GUAJIRA STARTING ON AUGUST 28 

As a result of the implementation of a mining and energy model of extraction of natural resources through multinational companies, the peasants and different sectors in La Guajira live a crisis whose most sinister aspects include the enormous and ever growing social inequality, which measured through the Gini coefficient, has risen from 047 in 2002 to 061 in 2010; the low coverage of aqueduct (51.64%) and sewerage (38.96%); the Index Unsatisfied Basic Needs (UBN) of 65.23%; and the chronic malnutrition of 27% making it one of the highest rates in the country.

Given the above, the Civic Committee for the Dignity of La Guajira, at its meeting today, July 22, made ​​the following determinations: 

1. to request the National Government, the departmental government, and multinational companies to form a single table for negotiation to discuss the demands that includes the aspirations of the people of La Guajira. 

2. To invite the Guajiro people to join for an indefinite general departmental strike starting on August 28 of this year

3. The following Tuesday July 29, a meeting will discuss the organizational aspects for the development of a plan leading to link large sections and sectors in this strike.

CENTRAL POINTS OF THE LIST OF REQUESTS FOR THE SALVATION AND DIGNITY OF LA GUAJIRA TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND MULTINATIONAL COMPANY CERREJON

1. The creation of a fund for development and Compensation for the dignity of the Guajira, by which the Colombian state and the multinational companies exploiting natural resources in La Guajira will pay the huge social debt to the different social and ethnic groups in La Guajira as a result of the immense and irreversible environmental, social, economic and cultural impacts. This fund will also ensure the compensation of future impacts on the Guajira people, as it should be done with the social responsibility programs arising from the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources. 

2.- The creation of a plan for management of natural resources to ensure sustainable development (its conservation, restoration or replacement) and, thus, preventing and controlling environmental deterioration by being able to impose legal sanctions and claims when demages have occurred.

3.- Plan and fund for the promotion of productive projects based on agriculture, industry, water management, and tourism in order to generate productive employment and ensure food sovereignty in the department. 

4. Improve the quality of life of the communities in La Guajira so that the wealth generated by the exploitation of natural resources be shared with all those social sectors through jobs, quality public services, food, health, education and housing 

5. To request thr Colombian State to guarantee democracy and the full use of public rights and freedoms for peasants and other social and ethnic sectors in La Guajira