Today the San José de Apartadó Peace Community celebrates its 18 years as an organization that does not admit any armed actor into its territory. Gildardo Tuberquia remembers how and why its inhabitants created the Peace Community. Since then, more than 200 inhabitants have been victim of massacres and selective killings which have been carried out by all of the conflict´s armed actors. One of the incidents that had the greatest impact on the Community was the massacre of 21st February 2005. That day eight people were assassinated and dismembered, among them three minors and the community leader Luis Eduardo Guerra. The Community has lived through very hard times, but also moments of great joy, and Gildardo is proud that thanks to the small scale farmer unity, they have been able to resist on their lands. “We will continue to remain in our territory, there is no other alternative”, concludes Gildardo.
The Haven in pictures
