Colombia: Fraud, corruption denies Afro-Colombian citizens a voice
Colombia: Fraud, corruption denies Afro-Colombian citizens a voice
Monday, March 24, 2014
By Kai Whiting, Bogotá
The 1991 Colombian Constitution is supposed to ensure the protection of all Colombian peoples’ rights and common interests. But in March, those whose role and responsibility it is to ensure the constitution is enacted turned a blind eye to the blatant political misconduct and unethical activities of the Black Colombian Foundation (FUNECO).
FUNECO won both congressional seats allocated to Colombia's Black and Afro-Colombian community with two candidates, Maria Del Socorro Bustamante and Moises Orozco Vicuna, who are not Afro-descendants, or even black-skinned.
Their alleged political affiliations are aligned more with drug traffickers and paramilitaries than anything to do with the 500-year struggle of the Afro-Colombian.
On March 17, a small group of Afro-Colombians staged a protest against those chosen to “represent them” outside of the headquarters of the Electoral Register.
If the election results stand, the next four years will mean the already poorly represented Afro-descendant communities will be without a voice.
More:
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/56137
