Video Colombia: The Struggles of Barrancabermeja

[~lostgurl~]

A new entry has been added to Drugs Archive

Description:

Aprox 45 mins

This is a documentary about the strife-ridden Barrancabermeja region of Colombia. It follows the Feminine Popular Organization (OFP) group which works together to prevent violence against women and violent conflict in a region where people have been trying to live in the middle of crossfire between guerrilla factions, the army, and the paramilitary forces. Many of the women who head the OFP need constant protection due to threats on their lives, murders and disappearances of group members. The video tells the story of the OFP, the struggles with oil refineries, candle lit vigils against war rich with cultural artistic expressions, hip-hop as a protest against war and violence; a creative outlet for youth in the community, peaceful marches, government policies that affect the community negatively, testimonies from victims of armed violence and provides reasons why Plan Colombia and the practice of coca plantation dusting are detrimental to the wellbeing of the communities.

Barrancabermeja houses the biggest oil refinery in the country. Part I explains a bit of the history of Barrancabermeja and its struggles with the oil refinery industries. It also tells the story of the OFP, or Feminine Popular Organization, which runs soup kitchens that feed about 600 people at each of the different kitchens on a daily basis.

Parts II and III follow the women of the OFP during the preparation and at the event: the day of the candle-lit vigil for peace and against war and violence.

Part IV shows the May 1st work day peaceful rally, and brings into the conversation the ESMAD or mobile riot police units which are present in most of the peaceful rallies, and gives arguments as to why they are against these means of control, as well as against several other government policies.

Parts V and VI explain the work the women of the OFP do, through soup kitchens, organizing rallies, giving talks, making different types of services available for women of the community.

Part VII presents written testimonials by victims of the violence and crossfire. Basically the same story repeats itself in each gut-wrenching tale. Guerrilla are in the region, then the paramilitaries come and accuse them of working with guerrillas because they don't give them the information they wantt, they leave and the guerrilla comes back and retaliates with the community for being “snitches” and speaking to the other team.

Parts VIII and IX explain a bit more about why coca farming is sometimes the only option many people have to survive. However, the government is intent on eradicating coca plantations and they regularly dust them with chemicals that not only kill the coca plants but also any other type of plants in the area, including those products of subsistence farming. And still, with all these struggles, life in Barrancabermeja goes on.


To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit
Colombia: The Struggles of Barrancabermeja
Part II -- Part III -- Part IV -- Part V -- Part VI -- Part VII -- Part VIII -- Part IX
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