CAM Tower Occupation Report 2
Cali, Friday 28th May, 2004
Sixty-two hours into the third occupation of the CAM tower and the government is maintaining a hard line. As yet no food has been allowed into to the building and negotiations are deadlocked. Uribe is still refusing to negotiate under pressure and has stated that if the workers will not leave voluntarily then they will be removed by military force. As such it’s now up to the people of the Cali and the international community to make clear that this peaceful occupation in defence of the right to public services has our support and vigilation.
After a quiet first two days the solidarity movement is now building with a voracious pace. This morning during a conference the University of Valle run by the Social and Political Front the workers arrived en masse to inform the packed auditorium that today at 3pm they would begin the permanent vigil outside the CAM tower. The response was one of spontaneous cheers and chants of solidarity in emphatic support for the workers. At the end of the talks buses took people from the conference into town to support the workers inside the CAM Tower. A small sound-system had been set up on the Avenida Sexta in front of the building from which speeches of solidarity, messages to the occupants and music was broadcast. While the powerful and inspiring messages of resistance of the traditional Cancion Social (music with socio political lyrics) filled the air, calming nerves with hope, at this early stage a deep apprehension still permeates.
At the moment police are not allowing the supporters to block the road for any length of time creating a situation by which large numbers of heavily protected ESMAD officers routinely force the supporters from the public highway. This will change as numbers build and it no longer becomes possible to contain the people. As EMCALI have guaranteed the provision of services during the permanent assembly many workers have to work over- time while their companions take other actions to protect the company, but tomorrow is Saturday. Until then such police action is creating a tense and volatile atmosphere, messages of peace and to not let ourselves become aggravated ring out over the loudspeakers while aggressive police push and shove people onto the pavement. It is a tribute to the nerves of the people outside that as yet they remain peaceful.
A group of women sat in the bus stop exchange turns on a pair of old binoculars trying to catch a glimpse of their husbands up in the tower. I ask one of the women if she is worried for them, "no" she replies, "he can look after himself, what worries me is a government that has forced us into this situation and what the future holds" As Friday night draws in numbers grow along side a camaraderie that dampens fears.
From here on in the workers inside will be accompanied by the vigil outside 24 hours a day until a resolution is reached.
Sixty-two hours into the third occupation of the CAM tower and the government is maintaining a hard line. As yet no food has been allowed into to the building and negotiations are deadlocked. Uribe is still refusing to negotiate under pressure and has stated that if the workers will not leave voluntarily then they will be removed by military force. As such it’s now up to the people of the Cali and the international community to make clear that this peaceful occupation in defence of the right to public services has our support and vigilation.
After a quiet first two days the solidarity movement is now building with a voracious pace. This morning during a conference the University of Valle run by the Social and Political Front the workers arrived en masse to inform the packed auditorium that today at 3pm they would begin the permanent vigil outside the CAM tower. The response was one of spontaneous cheers and chants of solidarity in emphatic support for the workers. At the end of the talks buses took people from the conference into town to support the workers inside the CAM Tower. A small sound-system had been set up on the Avenida Sexta in front of the building from which speeches of solidarity, messages to the occupants and music was broadcast. While the powerful and inspiring messages of resistance of the traditional Cancion Social (music with socio political lyrics) filled the air, calming nerves with hope, at this early stage a deep apprehension still permeates.
At the moment police are not allowing the supporters to block the road for any length of time creating a situation by which large numbers of heavily protected ESMAD officers routinely force the supporters from the public highway. This will change as numbers build and it no longer becomes possible to contain the people. As EMCALI have guaranteed the provision of services during the permanent assembly many workers have to work over- time while their companions take other actions to protect the company, but tomorrow is Saturday. Until then such police action is creating a tense and volatile atmosphere, messages of peace and to not let ourselves become aggravated ring out over the loudspeakers while aggressive police push and shove people onto the pavement. It is a tribute to the nerves of the people outside that as yet they remain peaceful.
A group of women sat in the bus stop exchange turns on a pair of old binoculars trying to catch a glimpse of their husbands up in the tower. I ask one of the women if she is worried for them, "no" she replies, "he can look after himself, what worries me is a government that has forced us into this situation and what the future holds" As Friday night draws in numbers grow along side a camaraderie that dampens fears.
From here on in the workers inside will be accompanied by the vigil outside 24 hours a day until a resolution is reached.
