In Tierralta, Córdoba, territorial peace talks began between the Government of Colombia and the Children of the Gulf, an event that marks great progress in efforts to achieve peace in the region. This process, which started on October 11, aims to integrate communities and local authorities in a joint effort to transform illegal economies into legal economies.
The Government’s negotiating team, led by Álvaro Jiménez Millán, met with the mayors of southern Córdoba, including representatives from cities such as Tierralta, Valencia, Montelíbano, Puerto Libertador, San José de Uré, Planeta Rica, Ayapel and San Pedro de Urabá in Antioch. This first public day was followed by a second session with Tierralta city peace councilors, who represented civil society.
Jiménez Millán highlighted the importance of including local authorities, communities and social leaders in this territorial peace process. “Our goal is also to bring in the armed group that is present in this area,” he said, referring to the Clan del Golfo. The goal is that the armed group this to be a good actor in building peace, moving towards the rule of law.
The start of these talks is a crucial step in the strategy of the Government of President Gustavo Petro to deal with violence in the country. The participation of local actors is seen as essential for the success of this process, which seeks not only peace, but also the economic transformation of the region.
“Today something is going to happen that will fill the residents of Tierralta and Cordoba with a lot of hope and excitement because we are going to be the first table or exchange session of territorial authorities with representatives of the National Government for negotiations socio-economic. legal measures that the National Government has approved,” said the mayor.
With the events, the mayor of Tierralta, José David Contreras, expressed that this meeting represents an opportunity full of hope for the residents of the area, who were victims of killing violence. “Today the negotiating team will be led by Dr. Álvaro Jiménez with Gloria Gaitán, Armando Custodio Wuoriyu, Víctor Negrete and Águeda Plata, international organizations and the Office of the Ombudsman,” said Contreras. This first approach aims to establish a socio-legal dialogue agenda with authority from the national government.
This effort to establish dialogue with the Gulf Children is part of a wider strategy to achieve peace in an area historically affected by armed conflict. The participation of various local and national authorities reinforces the importance of a collaborative approach to address security and development challenges in the area.
Today’s event will also be attended by international organizations that try to support the peace process and to facilitate constructive dialogue between the parties involved. This first meeting is seen as a crucial step towards reconciliation and building a safer future for the communities of Córdoba.
The role of Tierralta
Tierralta, in the department of Córdoba, Colombia, has seen several initiatives of memory and reconciliation, such as the creation of art galleries with the victims of the armed conflict. However, the area is still marked by violence that has left a deep mark on the residents. The history of Tierralta is closely linked to the presence of paramilitary groups, which have been the main characters in several periods of violence since the 1990s.
The arrival of the Self-Defense Forces of the Farmers in Córdoba and Urabá (ACCU) to the region marked the beginning of an era of terrorism. These groups, led by the Castaño brothers, emerged with the aim of fighting the guerrillas and protecting the interests of landowners and drug traffickers. Paramilitary violence translated into murders and forced movements, greatly affecting the civilian population of Tierralta.
Despite demobilization and peace efforts, paramilitarism continues in some areas of the region. The shadow of the violence is still present, and the collective memory of the inhabitants of Tierralta is filled with the horrors that were witnessed. Displacing armed groups has been a complex process and, in many cases, not enough to completely eliminate the influence of these groups.
The impact of violence in Tierralta has been devastating, not only in terms of lives lost and displaced, but also in the social fabric of the community. Remembrance and reconciliation campaigns try to heal the wounds of the past, but the path to lasting peace is long and full of challenges. By Infobae
