AFRO-COLOMBIAN INITIATIVES ADVANCING BUT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001965 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO SUBJECT: AFRO-COLOMBIAN INITIATIVES ADVANCING BUT COMMUNITY DIVISIONS MAKE PROGRESS SLOW REF: A. BOGOTA 8574 ¶B. BOGOTA 8171 ¶1. (U) Vice President Francisco Santos announced the official launch of the Commission for Advancement of Afro-Colombians on May 19. The Commission will identify barriers to Afro-Colombian socio-economic advancement and make recommendations on ways to overcome them. Tensions continue to exist between some Afro-Colombian civic leaders and Commission organizers. The Black Communities Process (PCN) and some other Afro-Colombian civic groups continue to criticize what they perceive as lack of sufficient representation despite GOC changes to the Commission to include more voting members (see reftel b). The groups also complained the GOC did not sufficiently consult with them before launching the Afro-Colombian National Development Plan. ¶2. (U) On May 21 (National Afro-Colombian Day, the day slavery was abolished in Colombia in 1851),President Uribe announced the creation of the new "Direccion de Negritudes" at the Ministry of Interior and Justice. The directorate formerly was a sub-directorate in the Directorate of Ethnic groups which included both indigenous and Afro-Colombian affairs. Directorate head Pastor Murillo told us he hopes the elevation from sub-directorate to directorate will increase visibility and access to resources. He noted his office will soon expand from 9 to 22 staff members. In contrast, Afro-Colombian Congressional Caucus Secretary Garcia claimed the announcement was perceived by many Afro-Colombians as a "show." He said concrete measures will be necessary to prove that the Uribe administration is serious about adding more resources to address Afro-Colombian needs. ¶3. (U) Also on May 21, the Afro-Colombian Caucus held the Congressional Plenary Session on Afro-Colombians and Poverty at the Colombian National Congress. The Ambassador spoke at the event, noted USG-supported programs for Afro-Colombians, and hosted a concert at the residence for Afro-Colombian leaders. The GOC launch of the Commission, the creation of the new office of Afro-Colombian affairs, and the activities of the Caucus are positive steps in highlighting Afro-Colombian concerns, but the controversy over the Commission shows that regional, political, and personal rivalries continue to make it difficult to develop a common Afro-Colombian agenda. BROWNFIELD