Barrancabermeja
July 27, 1998

Friends
Sister Cities
Madison, Wisconsin

Cordial greetings,

In the name of the communities of the Magdalena Medio, and especially the 
campesinos of the municipalities of San Pablo, Cantagallo, Arenal, Regidor, 
Yondo, and Morales, we thank you for your message of solidarity.  

At this time, five thousand campesinos, from the above mentioned 
municipalities, are on the move to Barrancabermeja, of those some four 
thousand five hundred found shelter in Puerto Wilches while they regroup 
to move to Barranca.  The municipality has given them basic assistance but 
their resources are limited.

Since July 21st, eight hundred campesinos from Yondo, Remedios, and 
Cantagallo have been living in Barranca.  These people were joined by 
another 500 who succeeded in arriving yesterday, July 26th, from Puerto 
Wilches.

Today we expect the arrival of many of the campesinos we encountered in 
Wilches, and from other mobilizations from Yond— and Remedios, due to 
the continual kidnappings.  The goal of their movement, united together, is 
to ask that: 

¥	The paramilitaries remove themselves from the region and end their 
	terrorism of the people

¥	The judicial processes, and the firing of the officials of the military 
	forces implicated in the massacres carried out in the region begin.

¥	The government comply with the agreements of the marches of the 
	Sur de Bolivar and the Valle del Cimitarra, made in 1996.

¥	The multinationals that have interests in entering the Sur de Bolivar 
	first make an agreement with the miners in order to protect their lives 
	and autonomy, justice, and the environment.

We share this information with you in the hopes of promoting solidarity and 
with immense gratitude for your interest and support.

Sincerely,
Francisco de Roux
Director
Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio 
(Development and Peace Project)