Timeline

Photo: Charlotte Kesl

1996-97

Forced displacement of approximately 3,000 inhabitants from the Curbaradó and Jiguamiandó River Basins.

2000

The Constitutional Court requested that the Ministry of Interior provide adequate protection measures for community members and leaders.

2003

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights granted provisional protection measures for the communities of Curbaradó and Jiguamiandó.

2005

Leader Orlando Valencia, inhabitant of one of the Humanitarian Zones, is murdered by paramilitary groups.

2006

The displaced population begins to return. The first Humanitarian Zone is established in Curbaradó.

2008

Alleged paramilitaries kill Ualberto Hoyos, inhabitant of the Caño Manso Humanitarian Zone.

2009

Alleged paramilitaries murder Benjamín Gómez, inhabitant of the Caño Manso Humanitarian Zone.

2010

Alleged paramilitaries murder Argenito Díaz, member of the Curbaradó High Council.

The Prosecutor's Office orders the arrest of 24 palm oil businesspeople and cattle ranchers who are under investigation for their responsibility in forced displacement in the Curbaradó and Jiguamiandó River Basins.

The Constitutional Court requests that the Ministry of Interior and Defence provide adequate protection measures for community members and leaders.

The Constitutional Court issued Order 448 to suspend an impending handing over of land until the competent authorities carry out a census to determine the legitimate owners of the land.

2011

A report by the Superintendent of Notaries and Registration, a Colombian state institution, concluded that 17,720 hectares belonging to the community in the area of Curbaradó and Jiguamiandó were acquired illegally.

2012

In March 2012, Manuel Ruiz, one of the community leaders active in the land restitution process in the Curbaradó and Jiguamiandó river basins, and his 15-year-old son Samir were disappeared and subsequently killed by alleged paramilitaries.