Letter from Gloria Cuartas, November 1997

Department of Antioquia
Municipality of Apartadó
Municipal Mayor

Apartadó, Nov. 19, 1997

To the people of Madison, our sister city, friends of the international community:

Friends:

I want to thank you wholeheartedly for the support that you have given me during my administration, and I beg you to make known the extensive gratitude that I have for those who work at Colombia Support Network. At the same time, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to ask that you help me to diffuse the message that follows on the web page.

The last three years in Apartadó along with the active presence of different international entities constantly encouraged me to put my commitment as a citizen in dimenison, and as a leader from a vision of service that gave opportunities back to the citizens regarding their personal and collective lives. It was humanly very difficult, but Colombia demands us to unite our efforts in order to overcome the structural levels that facilitate the violence of all kinds. We are trying to do this at the local level.

I want to thank all the non-governmental organizations, the institutions, and the people who helped this process of life in the Municipality of Apartadó. I hope to be able to count on the accompnayment that has existed in the region, because we are conscience of the level of development that is being generated in our land, known today as the "Corner of America". Today, megaprojects are being planned such as the interoceanic canal, the PanAmerican Highway and the project of building a new port, all of which compete with the environment, the owners of the earth and international capital investment.

Accompanyment of the international community is urgent, so that the levels of poverty can be overcome along with recuperating the the consensus and opposition in the political and religious ideologies, and agree between the public and private in the midst of the riches of the region. During these three years you helped us think of the role of civil society and an environment interested in recreating the social weave of the municipality was achieved.

We believe that what was experienced during this three year period of my government has left an open path that began to recognize the efforts of pioneering citizens and institutions locally in the zone, but at the same time not excluding the search for local, national and international strategies in order to maintain and raise the respect for life, human dignity and justice in the future. In this way we will be able to achieve sustainable development in the region of Uraba and the Municipality of Apartadó and feel that:

• If during our work we spark the interest in the value of justice, the urgency to protect life, the necessity to strengthen education, learn and make advances in the paths of knowledge and value natural resources.
• If we spark an interest in the fact that citizens recognize and defend its rights, so that they elect and are [?] citizens to socially control the investment.
• If we spark the interest of business people to invest socially in the municipality.
• If we spark the interest of the armed forces for consolidating a proposal of agreement for the protection of the citizens.
• If we spark the interest of the institutions for better community protection - that would take the place of the conflict- giving the citizens the information and the opportune services in the rural and urban sectors, assuming the responsibilities of the State.
• If we spark the interest of the local, national and international non-governmental organizations to invest in our municipality, recognizing and coordinating separate local efforts, this mission would be accomplished in its first phase, leaving the Municipality organized and ready to conscienciously formulate with the citizens, through the different municipal institutions (education, culture, planning, health and others) the local Administrative Boards and the Accion Comunal (in italics) (Community Board), the different social, political, religious, business, armed forces, groups of women, youth, elderly and disabled professional and university associations that we support in the design of the Development Plan to face peace, to face the next millenium.

Now, without the title of Mayor and as a citizen, I need you to continue to accompany me, as difficult days will follow. I experienced denunciations that accused me of being a gerilla supporter, then the Fiscalia (in italics) (Attorney General's office) resolved the accusations in my favor. I will have difficulties in the future for having assumed a voice, but I trust in your accompanyment and my only truth: to serve.

Finally, I invite you to surround Colombia Support Network to look support the community processes in Apartadó, accompany the return of the displaced families and to progressively elevate the ability of the local administration to relegitimize the power of the civil society that can no longer continue to expect the degradation of the conflict. To strengthen democracy as a daily practice of coherence and justice will be the path to achieve sustainable development.

Sincerely,

Gloria Isabel Cuartas Montoya
Mayor. Apartadó, Colombia.