Afro-Colombians living in a town on stilts over the sea are resisting government efforts to relocate them.
For years, 25,000 Afro-Colombian refugees and migrants have lived in a town on stilts over the sea [Oliver Schmieg]
Published On 23 Jul 201123 Jul 2011
They are residents of Buenaventura on Colombia(***)s Pacific Coast [Oliver Schmieg]
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But now the Colombian government is attempting to relocate the entire community [Oliver Schmieg]
It wants to move them to an island barrio [Oliver Schmieg]
And to build a commerical port and tourist beaches in Buenaventura [Oliver Schmieg]
Community leaders are trying to resist the eviction [Oliver Schmieg]
Or at least fight for decent compensation [Oliver Schmieg]
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As the move would not only rob residents of their homes but of their main livelihood - fishing [Oliver Schmieg]
The vast majority of the residents of the area are black and many see the eviction in race terms [Oliver Schmieg]
They argue that the Afro-Colombians have managed to acquire prime real estate and now the white and mixed race elite want to take it for themselves [Oliver Schmieg]
Activist Benildo Estupinan has organised local musicians and singers to compose songs that raise consciousness of the issues they face [Oliver Schmieg]
A collective of 30 singers and musicians was formed in December and given the name "Marcando Territorio" or "Defending Territory" [Oliver Schmieg]
They are organising concerts, rallies and recording songs in defence of their homes and way of life [Oliver Schmieg]
Residents argue that evicting them and moving them to a proposed housing development would only increase their problems [Oliver Schmieg]
Estupinan says it would leave them poor and unemployed in an island ghetto [Oliver Schmieg]
Beyond the economic factors, residents say their "territory" is at the core of their identity [Oliver Schmieg]
It is the place where they say they can fish, chop wood and collect tropical fruit from the mangroves [Oliver Schmieg]
The residents feel they are a persecuted minority that has never received anything from the government [Oliver Schmieg]
As one of the musicians, Pompilio Castillo, sings: "The poor man has never been taken into account. The government and the rich will not listen to you." [Oliver Schmieg]
