The March
This week I’ve been back at the Lagoon on numerous occasion attending the outdoor community meetings in the run-up to the march. The aim is to demand negotiations for a relocation proposal for the 1500 families faced with military eviction from the illegal settlement around the Lagoon. The past few meetings have been tense, animated with excitement, anticipation and fear. Excitement for the approach of enacting something much talked about, for leaving the neighborhood which for many almost never happens, apprehension in view of all that is riding on the march - having a place to live or not, and fear for the knowledge of how police treat protesters in this country especially if few in number.
The meeting point was the church at 11am, I was dropped off by my taxi driver who gave me the usual warnings about the neighborhood before wishing me luck. I searched for people but no one was about and disheartened I made my way towards the lake to see what had happend. We had been saying all week that if not enough people showed up then the march would have to be abandoned as it would be both unsafe and a weak statement with too few people. On arrival at the lagoon some hundred or so people were milling around the dust football pitch which has been the site of previous meetings. Two buses had been scheduled to arrive at the church to take the residents into town to begin the march to the Mayor’s office. They didn’t show up and hence the meeting point changed, we made some unanswered phone calls as to the whereabouts of the buses and collectively decided to walk the five miles into town as faced with no other option. As we started off more people emerged from their homes and joined along until we were some 500 marching with banners, Colombian and the Cali city flags. A few of the men those normally vociferous in the meetings, took to the task of directing traffic in and out of side streets on their bikes so as not to be hold up motorists while a rickety horse and cart took up the rear carrying the youngest and oldest members of the community.
Around the military base we joined up with a further 500-700 people and kept marching
our legs growing tired but the chants getting louder. More people joined up along the way and by the time we reached the centre the march was some 1500-2000 strong. For many people it was their first demonstration, for many of the children, their first time into the centre of town. We arrived at the CAM Tower, the central municipal administration building and Mayor’s office. A delegation of residents, myself as international observer, and regional human rights officers spoke with the police who had cordoned off the building to arrange to speak with the Mayor regarding the planned eviction. Initially it was claimed that he was not present. With legs weary we waited the crowd not allowing silence to prevail continued chanting for respect, fair treatment and a dignfied space to live. It’s unusual, at least in the UK, that the things we march for or against direct affect our lives: a war in another country, trade justice, an end to the arms trade do not directly affect us. Here for almost everyone excluding myself the case was different. Shelter is one of the most fundamental necessities, a social right which if denied the effect is direct and serious.
We waited. It emerged that mayor was actually inside. On the ground we negotiated with functionaries. We waited some more. As the populace was beginning to flag TV arrived, reanimating all and conducting impassioned interviews with residents. We waited some more. Peaceful demonstration is a recognised legitimate democratic process and demands an official response even if to deny the demands of the people. We waited. The tactic it seemed was to weaken the people through the wait or to aggravate them to take desperate measures in frustration which would then discredit the original peaceful action. In anticipation of this ESMAD arrived (the heavily armored police Anti [civil] Disturbance Squadron) but the people kept shouting and remained peaceful. The mayor did not appear, nor give a message. As the evening began to draw in it became clear that the possibility of spending the night there was not feasible, the vast majority had not the money for a bus home let alone food and no one had eaten lunch, people had to work the next day and moreover we were unprepared to camp out and unsure of its benefits. The decision was taken to retreat and weary we phoned some buses to get the people home. I was pretty disheartened, it had been an emotional day speaking to people along the route and walking so far to be ignored. The people were more optimistic, accustomed to harder challenges. We have come out and made our point, a woman commented, and they know that from here on we will only grow stronger. The fight continues.
The meeting point was the church at 11am, I was dropped off by my taxi driver who gave me the usual warnings about the neighborhood before wishing me luck. I searched for people but no one was about and disheartened I made my way towards the lake to see what had happend. We had been saying all week that if not enough people showed up then the march would have to be abandoned as it would be both unsafe and a weak statement with too few people. On arrival at the lagoon some hundred or so people were milling around the dust football pitch which has been the site of previous meetings. Two buses had been scheduled to arrive at the church to take the residents into town to begin the march to the Mayor’s office. They didn’t show up and hence the meeting point changed, we made some unanswered phone calls as to the whereabouts of the buses and collectively decided to walk the five miles into town as faced with no other option. As we started off more people emerged from their homes and joined along until we were some 500 marching with banners, Colombian and the Cali city flags. A few of the men those normally vociferous in the meetings, took to the task of directing traffic in and out of side streets on their bikes so as not to be hold up motorists while a rickety horse and cart took up the rear carrying the youngest and oldest members of the community.
Around the military base we joined up with a further 500-700 people and kept marching
our legs growing tired but the chants getting louder. More people joined up along the way and by the time we reached the centre the march was some 1500-2000 strong. For many people it was their first demonstration, for many of the children, their first time into the centre of town. We arrived at the CAM Tower, the central municipal administration building and Mayor’s office. A delegation of residents, myself as international observer, and regional human rights officers spoke with the police who had cordoned off the building to arrange to speak with the Mayor regarding the planned eviction. Initially it was claimed that he was not present. With legs weary we waited the crowd not allowing silence to prevail continued chanting for respect, fair treatment and a dignfied space to live. It’s unusual, at least in the UK, that the things we march for or against direct affect our lives: a war in another country, trade justice, an end to the arms trade do not directly affect us. Here for almost everyone excluding myself the case was different. Shelter is one of the most fundamental necessities, a social right which if denied the effect is direct and serious.
We waited. It emerged that mayor was actually inside. On the ground we negotiated with functionaries. We waited some more. As the populace was beginning to flag TV arrived, reanimating all and conducting impassioned interviews with residents. We waited some more. Peaceful demonstration is a recognised legitimate democratic process and demands an official response even if to deny the demands of the people. We waited. The tactic it seemed was to weaken the people through the wait or to aggravate them to take desperate measures in frustration which would then discredit the original peaceful action. In anticipation of this ESMAD arrived (the heavily armored police Anti [civil] Disturbance Squadron) but the people kept shouting and remained peaceful. The mayor did not appear, nor give a message. As the evening began to draw in it became clear that the possibility of spending the night there was not feasible, the vast majority had not the money for a bus home let alone food and no one had eaten lunch, people had to work the next day and moreover we were unprepared to camp out and unsure of its benefits. The decision was taken to retreat and weary we phoned some buses to get the people home. I was pretty disheartened, it had been an emotional day speaking to people along the route and walking so far to be ignored. The people were more optimistic, accustomed to harder challenges. We have come out and made our point, a woman commented, and they know that from here on we will only grow stronger. The fight continues.
