Colombia’s western Choco province will engage in an all-out civic strike again on Wednesday following the failure of the national government to fulfill promises made to alleviate rampant state neglect, dire poverty and corruption.
The province’s Civic Committee told media that “we are condemned to live in misery” by the national government and is demanding that the agreements to drastically improve living conditions made after a strike in 2016 be fulfilled.
West Colombia lifts strike after deals with Bogota to end chronic state neglect
Civic Committee spokesman Dilon Martinez told newspaper El Espectador that the national government’s failed to honor made agreements “because of the lack of political will of this government, which continues to discriminate against us, ignoring us, despising us for this black skin that we carry with pride.”
Choco is predominantly inhabited by descendants of African slaves who have lived with virtual chronic state neglect since.
“In Choco there is not even one paved inter-province road connection,” Choco resident Ximena Canal stressed on Twitter.
The paving of the road connecting Choco capital Quibdo and Antioquia capital Medellin started three decades ago, but is still not finished, mainly due to corruption.
Colombia’s Choco: From a tropical paradise to a jungle hell
The inhabitants of the western province ended last year’s strike following an extensive agreement with the government that promised widespread reform and assistance for the region.
The 2016 agreement with Choco saw the national government roll out promises of investment in road infrastructure connecting Choco with the cities of Medellin and Pereira, healthcare facilities, supply of clean drinking water and a range of other basic necessities for Colombia’s poorest province.
The government however has failed to deliver with the neglect of the region continuing, leaving 11% of the population unemployed, one of the highest in the country, according to statistics agency DANE. The provinces poverty rate lies above 62%.
Former Quibdo Government Secretary Bismark Calimeño
In addition to unemployment, lack of infrastructure and high poverty levels, state neglect of the province of Choco has seen it being overrun by paramilitary groups and guerrillas who are at war over its territory.
In the midst of the imminent strike by the Chocoanos, Vice President Oscar Naranjo announced that he will visit the province, mainly to come up with solutions about ongoing armed conflict between guerrillas and paramilitaries.
Colombia’s VP to visit Pacific region torn by war between guerrillas and paramilitaries
In support of the demands of the demands of the Civic Committee, Senator Jorge Robledo penned a letter to President Juan Manual Santos urging the head of state to see that the promises of the government are fulfilled.
Choco resident Isabel Vanegas tweeted that the first strike in Choco took place in 1954 when late dictator Gustavo Rojas announced plans to divide the department between neighboring departments.
The province of Choco was last week the subject of a Supreme Court ruling demanding that the government take action to save the lifeblood of the region, the Atrato River that is being destroyed by illegal mining by armed groups.
Court orders Colombia to save river from mining. These images should show why
The general state neglect of the region has seen armed groups muscle in and exploit the region for its rich natural resources while at the same time poisoning the local inhabitants.
The court ordered that the government must decontaminate the water in the Atrato basin within a maximum time frame of one year, another commitment to be fulfilled that can be added to the list ahead of this week’s strike.