On May 21, PBI-Colombia posted on Instagram: “This week PBI is accompanying members of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó on their land in the village of La Esperanza in the department of Urabá.”

They add: “We accompany the members of the Peace Community so that they can carry out their work in the fields in the villages where they are heavily threatened.”

Constitutional Court ruling

PBI-Colombia also notes: “While the international community denounces the serious police repression against mobilizations within the framework of the national strike, the Peace Community received the news that the Constitutional Court upheld the ruling of the tutelage brought against it by the 17^th Brigade of the National Army.”

They have explained: “In 2018, the 17^th Brigade of the Colombian army, which has jurisdiction in the area, brought the Peace Community to court for denouncing the alleged collusion between this brigade and the neo-paramilitary groups.”

In November 2020, the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled in favor of the 17th Brigade.

Earlier this month, Las 2 Orillas reported: “On May 13, Colombia’s Constitutional Court will discuss the nullity of judgment T-342-20, which protects the right to a good name claimed by the commander of 17^th Brigade against the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. …This judgment, if not annulled, opens a very negative precedent for all victims or persons who suffer human rights violations by members of the Colombian Army.”

Unfortunately, as noted above, the court upheld the ruling in favor of the 17^th Brigade.

Getting to the Peace Community

PBI-Colombia adds: “Reaching the community can take up to 6-8 hours of walking by trail climbing the mountains of this part of the Serranía de Abibe. …We officially introduce the new PBI mule, named ‘Choco’ for its chocolate color [who helped us get there]. Choco replaced our beloved mule Tostao who died last year from a snake bite.”

PBI-Colombia has accompanied the Peace Community since 1999.

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