In Colombia, civil society organizations use a multiplicity of methods—including silent sit-ins, street murals, or carefully crafted books of photographs and stories—to express one central desire: that the truth be known about serious human rights violations that have occurred throughout Colombia’s internal armed conflict, which has lasted more than 50 years.
In anticipation of the conference that ICTJ and the Kofi Annan Foundation are hosting in Bogota to discuss the experiences and challenges of truth commissions emerging from peace processes, ICTJ is pleased to announce the release of three short documentaries that portray civil society organizations in Colombia that work tirelessly to reveal the truth about the impact of the armed conflict in the country.
“Those who have been most affected by the conflict in Colombia are clear about their demands, and a major one is the truth about the serious human rights violations committed in the context of the armed conflict,” said Marcie Mersky, Director of Programs at ICTJ. “They must be included in the debate about what truth will be revealed or must still be revealed, what mechanisms are appropriate for doing so, and the participation of civil society in this process.”
Today, Colombia appears to be closer than ever to achieving peace: talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) guerrilla organization, which began in Havana, Cuba over two years ago, are facing a point in the negotiations that is crucial to the success of the process: how to ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations are met.
During this crucial time, victims’ voices must be heard at the negotiating table. Through the multimedia project called Truths We Need to Know ICTJ explores the claims of some groups that have been particularly affected by the conflict—women, young people, and indigenous peoples—and are demanding truth, among other redress measures.
The organizations profiled in the films include Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres in the department of Putumayo, HIJOS in the department of Meta, and the Organización Indígena Kankuama (OIK).
“There are especially vulnerable groups, such as women, young people, and indigenous peoples, that should play a major role in the implementation of transitional justice measures, including truth-seeking,” said Maria Camila Moreno, Director of ICTJ's Colombia program.
The videos in “Truths we Need to Know” examine the demands of these determined and courageous groups, who have for years been demanding the truth and struggling to recover and preserve their own memory. With this launch, ICTJ seeks to contribute to the public debate about the truth that is required in Colombia to achieve real transformation from conflict.
Women Organize for Truth
During their sit-ins, the women of Ruta Pacifica in Puerto Asis, Putumayo, walk in silence, showing the photographs of those who were murdered and disappeared during the armed conflict.
“What we want these sit-ins to achieve is not only greater awareness about what happens to us women; we also want each person watching the sit-in to realize that violence can touch him or her at any moment,” explained Miralba Ibarra, a member of ASMUM, an organization that is part of Ruta Pacifica. At the end of the performance, they all cry out together: “Without the voice of women, the truth is not complete.”
Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres brings together 300 organizations from around Colombia that advocate for peace and the realization of women’s rights. “We want to know why it is that women have to be the most affected [by the conflict],” said Amanda Camila, from ASUMUM. “Why do we have to be the spoils of war?”
Second-Generation Activists Speak Out
HIJOS’ creative actions can include street murals, music, videos and even play dough.
“HIJOS is an organization that has tried to put music into politics and politics into music,” explained James Barrero, a member of HIJOS in Villavicencio. “Our initiatives seek to encourage people to ask questions: What is peace? What is war? What is death in Colombia?”
HIJOS Colombia is an organization made up of descendants of leftist leaders, victims of political violence. These young people defend the need for these silenced stories to be heard through truth, memory and justice efforts.
“We need people to become more aware, that our generation and generations become more aware, and in one way or another learn the truth,” said Diana Velez, of HIJOS in Villavicencio.
Indigenous Peoples Claim their Rights
Hoja de Cruz is a book written by the leaders of the Kankuamo indigenous peoples, with the aid of the members of the community, to honor the memory of their loved ones. It is filled with pictures and stories of the Kankuamo Indians that have been murdered or disappeared.
“The book is infinitely valuable to us,” explained Gilberto Arlant, known as “El Chiche”. “We don’t know how many Indians have been killed for defending their rights. We want the truth about what happened to be known in Colombia.”
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, home of the Kankuamo, is one of the territories that has been most affected from the violence of the armed conflict in Colombia. Serious crimes have been committed against the civilian population, in particular the indigenous peoples, such as murder, massacres, torture, disappearance, and sexual violence. Many have been forced to displace in order to flee the violence.
“We want the truth to be known about those who funded the conflict; their ideological, political and economic motivations. The truth for us goes way beyond judicial truth,” said Jaime Arias, Cabildo Governor of the Kankuamo indigenous reservation.
