Leader of Colombian peace movement visits Tufts

Before a small but interested audience on Nov. 24, Alfredo Acosto discussed his role as leader and coordinator of the unarmed, nonviolent Indigenous Guard of the Cauca region of Colombia.

Over the past 50 years, Colombia has endured an ongoing civil war caused by deep-rooted economic, social, and political upheaval. Acosta's organization advocates non-violent alternatives to fighting and military action.

Acosta also addressed the fraudulent view many Americans have of Colombia. "Colombia is not just about drug trafficking, coffee, or terrorism," he explained in Spanish, his words conveyed in English through a translator. "It is about fighting [for peace] and against this war."

Acosta stressed that current media coverage of Colombia tends to concentrate solely on the drug trade and violence among guerilla troops, Colombian armed forces, and collaborating military groups. As a reaction to these widely-covered problems, however, an extensive but media-ignored Colombian peace movement has developed.

"Since Colombia has now become a part of the 'axis of evil' according to George Bush, it is now on the 'terrorist list.' This is giving us more space to talk about the problems of the Colombian people," Acosta said.

Acosta explained that the Indigenous Guard has many responsibilities and strategies in combating the war. The Guard reflects the conviction that responding violently to violence only deepens conflict. Its members seek unarmed defense of life, livelihood and community rights as well as the protection of indigenous people from the violence of Colombia's internal conflict.

Acosta characterized his work as a leader of the Indigenous Guard as involving "sowing the nests of hope to confront violence... we have opted not to take sides in the war, not with the army of the government or the guerrillas... we are for the social, economic, cultural and fundamental rights of life."

The territories over which indigenous communities have legal collective titles are rich in resources. Paramilitaries, guerrillas, and Colombian armed forces fight to control these lands and the natural wealth that they contain. As a result, the ethnic minorities who live on these territories bear the brunt of the conflict; they are often killed, forcefully recruited by soldiers, or displaced from their land.

"The war is [about] the economy. They want to get rid of us because they want our land," Acosta said.

Acosta spoke about why the indigenous people have chosen to remain and protect their territory in the face of such violence: "For us territory, our land, is like our mother. We have to take care of and protect her so she make the fruits and produce... for us land is not for exploitation. Land is life," he said.

Although the government and the guerrillas have attempted to displace the indigenous people and force them into the cities, Acosta said that "[in our community], if you lose your land, you lose your identity and hunger for life." According to him, many people become homeless because of this. "We prefer to die [from the violence] in our territory than be displaced, because we will die anyway if we leave our territory."

As a result of the resistance of the indigenous people, paramilitaries and guerrillas often use violence against the unprotected civilians. One job of Acosta's Indigenous Guards is to defend the lives and the rights of such vulnerable people.

When asked what type of attacks the Indigenous Guard is forced to deal with from paramilitary and guerrilla groups, Acosta answered "many indigenous people have disappeared over the years. I myself was trapped and threatened. Of course, when there is fighting, many civilians die. And when there is bombing, [it often] destroys houses and whole communities."

Another student, confused by the fact that the Indigenous Guard is unarmed, asked how its members defend themselves and the civilians. "We use the organization and intelligence of the group... we act as a team," Acosta said. "The only weapon we use is a long [spear-like] stick. But we always analyze the situation and try to act peacefully."

Acosta concluded by saying that neither the guerrillas nor the Paramilitaries will win the conflict. He declared that they "will have to negotiate because of pressure from civilians." In the meantime, the Indigenous Guard continues to develop strategies to educate the rest of the world about the violence, murder, and civil unrest in Colombia.

The discussion was hosted by the Coalition for Social Justice and Non-Violence, the Department of Peace and Justice Studies, and the American Friends Service Committee.