Colombia: Migration from the mainland to the islands of San Andres and Providencia; problems associated with such migration; response of the local population and government (1998-1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 24 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COL33293.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Colombia: Migration from the mainland to the islands of San Andres and Providencia; problems associated with such migration; response of the local population and government (1998-1999), 24 January 2000, COL33293.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad513c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
References to overpopulation and social problems in the San Andres archipelago can be found in COL31432.E of 10 March 1999 and COL33541.E of 17 January 2000. The latter reports on a July 1999 two-day strike led by island locals, whose grievances included overpopulation, corruption and unemployment (UNHCHR 30 July 1999).
El Heraldo refers to corruption in the islands, stating that the national government replaced the islands' governor upon request of the Attorney General due to "administrative irregularities," and was investigating 1,000 files related to possible corruption in the islands (29 July 1999). El Espectador reports on a serious drug consumption problem in the archipelago, particularly on the island of Providencia (1 June 1999). However, neither report refers to a direct link between these problems and immigration from the mainland.
Another June 1999 article from El Espectador reports on three days of protest marches by island natives demanding "justice, protection and respect for the rights of native islanders" (justicia, protección y respeto hacia los derechos de los nativos) (14 June 1999). The demonstrations were the largest since February 1980, when the island population protested the territorial claims made by the then-new Sandinista government of Nicaragua (ibid.). The June 1999 protests were apparently triggered by a raid by members of the federal Administrative Security Department (DAS) in the barrak sector of La Loma, the "most closed and solidary neighbourhood of the island" (la más cerrada y solidaria comunidad entre todas cuantas viven en la isla) where, during an alleged search for counterfeit money, a young girl was reportedly terrorized by the DAS agents (ibid.). The incident was supposedly overcome through a signed agreement between community leaders and the authorities, but written death threats mailed from the mainland to the native islanders who signed the document reportedly unleashed the massive demonstrations (ibid.).
Although the incident which set off the unrest is described as a temporary or short-term problem (coyuntural), El Espectador reports that long-running economic difficulties suffered by the islanders are thought to be the deeper reason for such widespread discontent, compounded by recent national government measures that included: new restrictions of imports, likelihood of firing up to 600 local government employees, replacement of the governor with someone from outside the island, and rejection of the natives' expectation of holding leading government positions in the islands (desconocimiento a lo que consideran su derecho a detentar los cargos directivos en todas las entidades de carácter oficial) (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this information request.
El Espectador [Bogota]. 14 June 1999. Emilio Zogby. "San Andrés se calienta por problemas sociales."
_____. 1 June 1999. "Ante la amenaza psicoactiva."
El Heraldo [Barranquilla]. 29 July 1999. "Nombran Gobernador."
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Bogota. 30 July 1999. "Isla volvió ayer a la normalidad."
Additional Sources Consulted
Andean Newsletter [Lima]. 1998-1999.
IRB databases.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1998-1999.
Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group Report [London]. 1998-1999.
World News Connection (WNC).
This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific reports available at the Resource Centre are not included.
Internet websites.
Internet search engines.