MARINO CÓRDOBA
Biographical data
MARINO CÓRDOBA
Biographical data
In 1996, Marino Córdoba, well-known community advocate and national Afro-American
leader from Colombia, was forcibly displaced from his home as a result of illegal
paramilitary actions against the civilian populations in Chocó. Early
in his life, Mr. Córdoba distinguished himself as a dedicated leader
and representative of his community, peasants and small farmers of the many
communities of African heritage that people the Pacific region of the country.
Within the widespread violence of raids and massacres, he was specifically targeted
and threatened as an important outspoken leader, as President of the Small Farmers
Organization of the Lower Atrato Ocaba Region, and as leader and Special Advisor
to the Council of Black Organizations.
Having pursued studies in Public Administration, focused on Social Management
and Community Development, he had also played a prominent role in the Constitutional
Assembly of 1991, successfully advocating for recognition of traditional identity
and land rights for Colombian Afro-Americans. At the time of the intensified
violence he was working as the Elected as Representative of the African Colombian
Communities on the Executive Council of the statewide Development Council of
Chocó (Code Chocó) and as a member of the Peace Council and Mediator
in Alternative Dispute Resolution in the municipality of Rio Sucio. As has been
the case for 3 million Colombians in the recent history of the decades-long
conflict, he was forced to flee for his life, together with his family and with
those neighbors from the area of Rio Sucio who had not yet been killed.
Marino survived and continued his activities in Bogotá, the capital,
under continuous threats to his life during the last few years because of his
increasingly prominent national and international leadership roles. During this
time, Mr. Córdoba worked as a Special Assistant in the Office of Congresswoman
Zulia Mena. He founded and became the first President of the National Association
of Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES), and the Bogotá District Council
of Black Organizations. He traveled extensively as the representative of the
displaced communities, receiving many peace awards and invitations to speaking
tours in various countries of Latin America, the United States and South Africa.
In 2001, he ran as a candidate to the City Council of Bogotá, representing
the interests of the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, of all colors,
who have in recent years swelled the population of the marginal neighborhoods
of the capital.
He was wounded in the leg two years ago, one of many attempts against him. In
November 2001 the Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States
requested that the Colombian Government provide the necessary conditions and
preventive mechanisms to guarantee Mr. Córdoba´s and his family´s
life and livelihood, though the request was really never heeded. He was finally
forced to abandon the country in January, 2002, fleeing from yet another planned
assassination attempt, and is now residing temporarily and seeking asylum in
the United States, where he works and travels to denounce the deplorable situation
for human and civil rights in his homeland, and in particular, to garner support
for the cause of Afro-Colombian communities besieged by the violence of war.
As he left Colombia, Marino was forced to abandon the home he had established
with Nelly Pren Victoria and their three children in Bogotá; reunification
for their family may yet take many months, perhaps years.
Mr. Córdoba, who continues to be the spokesperson and legal representative
for AFRODES, may be contacted directly to request interviews or appearances,
or for further information and material on the situation of displaced communities
in Colombia. However, for security reasons, all requests will be forwarded to
him through Mary Cuevas (marycuevas @ earthlink.net).
