The reasons for the displacement are the assassinations, disappearances threats, hostilities, the activities of the paramilitaries, and the consequences of the confrontation between the army and the guerrillas, that the peasants suffer daily and for this reason the peasants demand the authorities to take measures to protect their lives.
On June 19th, two peasants who participated in the exodus, Rafael Gutierrez and Dimas Piedrahita, left the mayor's office in Apartado heading towards their farms, which were located in the rural community of Arcua associated with the municipality of Turbo. They were surprised by a paramilitary group, that tied them up, beat them and finally killed them. After this the paramilitaries ransacked their homes.
Until now the local government, under the direction of Omar Alonso Largo Penilla, acting mayor of Apartado, has not offered any proposals to solve the problem, saying that because the situation is so serious that a response should come from the national authorities.
Six hundred and three peasants peacefully occupied the municipal building of Apartado. They were transferred to the Stadium of Apartado and are suffering the effects of their displacement, because they don't have food, medicine, bedding etc. Several children are sick and we are afraid that this will turn into a public health crisis. At this moment the peasants are being "protected" by members of the army and the police, a fact that has created a serious concern, given the relationship that these organizations enjoy with paramilitary groups. Along the same lines, the peasants are worried about "civilian personnel" (which they believe may be secret service agents from the state) who are taking down information about the leaders of the exodus. Inspite of the peasant's requests for these "civilian personnel" to leave, this has not occurred.
2. The ANDAS chapter of Medellin publicized on June 19th the existence of serious rumors about an operation called " the social cleansing of the displaced people of Uraba." This is a serious threat to the lives and the integrity of more than 1500 people. The exodus and the rumors of "social cleansing" (extra judicial killings) should not be seen as separate matters, rather part of the same of violent expulsion and total destruction of the population of Uraba.
3. On June 21, in the afternoon, in Villavicencio,a member of the House of Representatives and party member of the Union Patriotica (Patriotic Union Party), Pedro Malagon and his 18 year old daughter were assassinated in front of their own house.
4. On June 22, in downtown Apartado, Arcenio Cordoba was assassinated and an 11 year old child Deiber Ciro Mayo, son of one of the families that participated in the exodus, was wounded. Both had gone to solicit help for the displaced people. At this time the number of people who have been displaced is approximately 800.
5. On June 25th, inspite of the numerous calls for help made to the Colombian national authorities by non-governmental organizations, the government has not taken action on this serious situation which is plaguing the civilian population of Uraba. It has been impossible to talk to the Minister of the Interior for the purpose of establishing a negotiation commission that would begin to solve this problematic situation.
6. On June 25th, on the other hand, the Governor of the State of Antioquia, decreed a "Zone of Public Order" for the municipalities of Apartado, Carepa, Chigorodo, and Turbo. This makes the situation more serious instead of solving the problem, because the main victims of this action are the civilian population. This decree openly violates the International Accord on Human Rights