18 Jun 2010

COLOMBIA / IDPS

In Colombia over two decades of conflict has uprooted more than 3 million people. Now authorities warn that the conflict poses a serious threat to the survival of several of Colombia’s indigenous tribes which live in isolated tropical forests- land coveted by the armed factions. UNHCR

Posted at: June 18, 2010 2:34 pm

Duration: 02:56

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: COLOMBIA / IDPS 
TRT: 2.59
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH / TULE / NATS

DATELINE: 5 MAY 2010, NORTH WESTERN COLOMBIA

SHOTLIST: 
1. Wide shot, Tule man jumping into river 
2. Med shot, Tule man diving 
3. Various shot, boat ride on the river 
4. Wide shot, UNHCR worker with Tule people on bikes
5. Various shots, UNHCR staff with Tule people
6. Wide shot, Tule village 
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Beatriz Contreras UNHCR, Colombia
"We work with women children and the displaced population in general but in this case we are going to work with the indigenous people." 
8. Wide shot, UNHCR staff walking with a Tule woman into a hut
9. SOUNDBITE (Tule) Pastor Melendes Morales, Chief Tule tribe, Unguia region:
"One day during a traditional celebration for the children, they came and started to insult us and accused us of collaborating with the guerrilla.  From then we started to be afraid and could not live in peace anymore. We were always thinking about a place to seek refuge."
10. Various shots, Pastor and his wife feeding chicks
11. SOUNDBITE (Tule) Pastor Melendes Morales, Chief Tule tribe, Unguia region:
"The Tule have been here for generations.  The most important thing for an indigenous Tule is to preserve nature and not to destroy it.  We must protect environment as we believe God gave us this land in order that we preserve it." 
12. Various shots, Pastor's wide cutting wood with a machete and walking home
13. SOUNDBITE (Tule) Matilde Izquierda, Wife of Tule Chief:
"We feel like we are in the middle of the conflict.  Life has completely changed especially our daily activities. Before I was able to go out of the community, up to an hour from the village. I used to fish, cultivate rice and corn.  But with the conflict we can't go out anymore."
14. Wide shot, Tule gathering inside a hut
15. Med shot, Pastor chanting
16. Various shots, other Tule people chanting
17. Tilt up, women sewing
18. Wide shot, women sitting down and sewing in the gathering
19. Med shot, Matilde outside the entrance to the primary school
20. Med shot, teacher and students
21. SOUNDBITE (Tule) Paulino Gutierrez, Teacher: 
"For many centuries we have preserved our culture.  We don't want to lose our identity, our culture.  And the school is the placed where the Tule tradition and culture can be strengthened." 
22. Various shots, Pastor and wide eating
23. Wide shot, Tule woman by the river washing clothes with children around

STORYLINE:

The Tule tribe has lived deep in the tropical forests, of north western Colombia for centuries.

But this indigenous community of over 500 is at risk, because of recent fighting between armed groups, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

To get to their village takes hours- first by boat and motorbikes then on foot and donkey. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the only aid group present in these remote lands located near the border with Panama.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Beatriz Contreras UNHCR, Colombia
"We work with women children and the displaced population in general but in this case we are going to work with the indigenous people."

UNHCR advises the tribe about their rights and how to protect their lands. Still the tribe feels increasingly under threat.

SOUNDBITE (Tule) Pastor Melendes Morales, Chief Tule tribe, Unguia region:
"One day during a traditional celebration for the children, they came and started to insult us and accused us of collaborating with the guerrilla.  From then we started to be afraid and could not live in peace anymore. We were always thinking about a place to seek refuge."

Pastor Melendes Morales is the leader of the Tule community. His tribe was displaced once before, ten years ago, by armed groups. He fears it might happen again.

SOUNDBITE (Tule) Pastor Melendes Morales, Chief Tule tribe, Unguia region:
"The Tule have been here for generations.  The most important thing for an indigenous Tule is to preserve nature and not to destroy it.  We must protect environment as we believe God gave us this land in order that we preserve it."

The Tule is one among 34 indigenous tribes at risk of extinction in Colombia. Because they live in such remote areas, they are particularly vulnerable to attacks.

SOUNDBITE (Tule) Matilde Izquierda, Wife of Tule Chief:
"We feel like we are in the middle of the conflict.  Life has completely changed especially our daily activities. Before I was able to go out of the community, up to an hour from the village. I used to fish, cultivate rice and corn.  But with the conflict we can't go out anymore."

Over the years, the conflict has claimed the lives of several Tule. These days, young members of the tribe are targets for recruitment by the armed groups.

In 2009, Colombia's Constitutional Court declared the Tule people at risk of physical and cultural extermination.

Local primary school teachers, all too aware of the risk, reinforce the traditions
and ways of life of the Tule

SOUNDBITE (Tule) Paulino Gutierrez, Teacher: 
"For many centuries we have preserved our culture.  We don't want to lose our identity, our culture.  And the school is the placed where the Tule tradition and culture can be strengthened."

The Tule want nothing more than to feel safe and to be able stay on their ancestral lands.

But they say that without the support and protection of the government they may once again be forced to flee.