Information about Peace Communities and Other Peace Initiatives

Partnering for Peace:
Colombian & North American Communities in Solidarity

International Conference Center, 4750 N. Sheriden Rd., Chicago
October 21-23, 2005

Hermanamientos

Before the conference, the sponsoring organizations circulated a request for descriptions of existing partnerships, to include in this packet of materials for each participant. The partnerships described here are not all those that exist, just those that sent in descriptions. Some are in English and Spanish, some only in English.

Antes de la conferencia, las organizaciones patrocinadoras/organizadoras de la conferencia circularon una solicitud para descripciones de hermanamientos actuales, para incluir en este paquete de materiales que cada participante recibe. Los hermanamientos descritos aquí no son todos los que hay, sino los que mandaron sus descripciones. Algunas están en español e ingles, mientras otras están solamente en ingles.

Chicagoans for a Peaceful Colombia's partnership with the Cacarica Community/CAVIDA

Operation Genesis, launched in 1997 by the 17th Brigade of Colombia's army, was supposed to clean out left-wing guerrilla presence from the Lower Atrato River region of northern Chocó, inhabited mostly by Afro-Colombians. In February 1997 scattered communities of the Cacarica area were invaded suddenly by armed men dressed in camouflage-both army soldiers and members of right-wing paramilitary forces-and helicopters dropping small bombs. People fled wildly into the rainforest while their houses were sacked and burned. Dozens of men and some women were killed, though they had never been guerrilla collaborators.
A large group reunited in the coastal city of Turbo, where they had to crowd into makeshift shelters on a basketball court. Still, with the help of a human rights group they began to seek redress from the government, file for collective title to their land, and make plans for return. They talked through the reasons for their displacement, the dynamics of Colombia's war, the effects of globalization and agribusiness, ways to resist. How could they return to their land with a measure of safety? What new kinds of community organization would be necessary? How could they make sure their story was heard and kept in memory?
The people of Cacarica returned to their home territory in 2000-2001, having gained collective title to over 100,000 hectares of land. Instead of returning to their individual homesteads, they set up two settlements, "humanitarian zones" called Nueva Vida (New Life) and Esperanza en Dios (Hope in God), where no weapons are allowed. They have to leave the settlements to farm their scattered plots, fish or cut lumber. Given ongoing paramilitary and army attacks and threats, the community has been welcoming the protective presence of Colombian and international human rights defenders and acompañantes. A major concern these days is army-protected illegal logging and planting of cash crops within territory that belongs to the community; the rainforest is being destroyed at an alarming rate. Esperanza en Dios has moved upriver and become Nueva Esperanza en Dios, to gain some distance from intense army presence and pressure.
Cacarica's partnership with Chicagoans for a Peaceful Colombia began in 1999, while the community was still in Turbo. The partnership is based on political support and public advocacy-making the community's story known in the United States. Between 2001 and 2003 Chicagoans assisted a number of individuals from the United States to spend two to six weeks with the community. In July-August 2004 Chicagoans took a delegation to visit the community, and another is being planned for January 2006.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT): Rural violence reduction in the Middle Magdalena

CPT has operated a project in Colombia's Middle Magdalena region since 2001. The team's presence facilitated the partial return and reestablishment of war-displaced rural civilian communities. It now monitors the human rights conditions necessary for their life with dignity.
Operated by trained CPT Corps members from Colombia and other countries, the project is based in Barrancabermeja ("Barranca" for short). About nine hours north of Bogotá by bus, Barranca hosts Colombia's primary oil refinery. Political and economic control of the area is disputed among official government entities, rightist paramilitaries and leftist guerrillas.
In May 2001, CPT began a near daily presence in communities along and near the Opón River, about one hour south and up-river from Barranca. At the time, they were almost completely abandoned after successive paramilitary incursions in the year 2000 had precipitated the flight of nearly all of the area's approximately 200 families. The majority returned home by spring of 2002.
Travelling by motorized canoe, the team maintains a presence in La Colorada, La Florida and Los Ñeques, communities whose residents have declared their desire to live free of interference from any the armed groups active in the region. CPT's presence is credited with helping create conditions for the return of displaced families as well as significant reductions in human rights violations.
The Mennonite Church of Colombia and the Colombia Council of Evangelical Churches' Human Rights Commission invited CPT to Colombia. Members of the then-displaced communities and the Peace and Development Program of the Magdalena Medio (PDPMM) invited CPT to the Opón communities. This past year, CPT has responded to invitations from PDPMM and the Micoahumado "Laboratory of Peace" communities to spend one week in every six in this part of the Middle Magdalena, as well as to occasional requests from other communities and organizations in the region.
Some past and ongoing work of CPT Colombia:
Accompanied displaced families and other people at risk of paramilitary and guerrilla violence in the Middle Magdalena region
Hosted Colombian national and international delegations with members from Colombia, Canada, the U.S.A., Mexico, and El Salvador. Information about upcoming delegations may be found at: http://www.cpt.org
Planned and/or supported numerous public liturgies and witness actions to amplify spiritual power in support of civilian populations.
Documented specific human rights violations committed by both illegal and official armed entities and reported them to Colombian officials as well as to national and international organizations.
Visited members of U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament; witnessed to the de facto support of official U.S. military doctrine and military aid benefiting illegal armed groups (paramilitaries) via connections with members of Colombia's security forces.
Web Page: www.cpt.org
Colombia Team Support Coordinator: robinbuyers@sympatico.ca
Colombia Team in Barranca: cptco@cpt.org

Equipos Cristianos de Acción por la Paz (ECAP): Reducción de violencia rural del Magdalena Medio

Equipos Cristianos de Acción por la Paz (ECAP) tiene un proyecto en la región Colombiana del Magdalena Medio desde 2001. La presencia del equipo ha facilitado el retorno parcial y restablecimiento de comunidades rurales desplazadas por la guerra. También documenta la condición de derechos humanos de la población para su vida con dignidad.
Desarrollado por miembros capacitados de ECAP de Colombia y otros países, el proyecto está en Barrancabermeja, la capital petrolera del país. Cerca de nueve horas más al norte de Bogotá por bus, Barranca tiene la refinería mas grande de Colombia. El control político y económico del área está en disputa por entidades oficiales del gobierno, los grupos paramilitares y las guerrillas.
En mayo de 2001, ECAP empezó su presencia continua en comunidades del Río Opón, una hora al sur de Barranca. Las veredas del Opón estaban casi completamente abandonadas después de varias incursiones paramilitares en el año 2000, que precipitaron la huida de aprox. 200 familias. La mayoría retornaron a sus casas al principio de 2002.
Viajando por motor canoa, el equipo mantiene su presencia en La Colorada, La Florida y Los Ñeques, comunidades cuyos habitantes han declarado sus deseos de vivir libres de la presencia de todos los grupos armados activos de la región. La presencia de ECAP se constituye en un espacio para crear las condiciones del retorno de las familias desplazadas; además ayuda a reducir en maneras significativos las violaciones de derechos de la población.

La Iglesia Menonita de Colombia y Justapaz invitaron ECAP a Colombia.

Miembros desplazados de las comunidades y el Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio (PDPMM) invitaron a ECAP a las comunidades en el Río Opón. En el año pasado, ECAP ha respondido también a las invitaciones de PDPMM y las "Laboratorio de Paz" comunidades de Micoahumado para pasar una semana cada seis semanas en este parte de la región.
Trabajo presente y pasado de ECAP Colombia
El equipo acompaña a las familias que han decidido retornar a sus hogares, a pesar del riesgo por la frecuente violencia paramilitar y guerrillera en la región del Magdalena Media.
Organiza delegaciones de Colombianos y extranjeros con miembros de Colombia, Canadá, los Estados Unidos, México y El Salvador. Es posible obtener (http://www.cpt.org/calendar.php) de cada delegación en la página web de la organización: www.cpt.org .
Planea y apoya liturgias y acciones publicas para ampliar el poder espiritual y ayudar a la población civil.
Documenta violaciones específicas de derechos humanos cometidos por entidades ilegales y legales y redactan reportes a oficiales Colombianos y organizaciones nacionales e internacionales.
Visita a miembros del Congreso de los Estados Unidos e integrantes del Parlamento Canadiense, para mostrar la situación del país y compartir experiencias donde se ha observado que el apoyo actual militar de los Estados Unidos esta beneficiando a los grupos paramilitares en sus vínculos con miembros de las fuerzas Armadas de Colombia.
Página web: www.cpt.org
Coordinadora de Apoyo: robinbuyers@sympatico.ca
Equipo en Barranca: cptco@cpt.org

Colombia Peace Project-Los Angeles

Our group in Los Angeles, the Colombia Peace Project, does not have a formal partnership. A member of the Colombia Peace Project has been in communication with the SINTRAMIENERGETICA Union, which represents workers at the Drummond coal mine in Cesar. He has met with leaders of the union in Colombia and attended one of their assemblies before they took a strike vote in spring of 2004. He has put up a web site: www.drummondwatch.org. We have an ongoing low-level campaign of post cards to Drummond in support of the union. The union leaders told us that our efforts probably helped their security and helped them in their contract negotiations.

Iglesia Presbiteriana/Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Accompaniment

The Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia, with churches on the North Coast, Urabá, Medellin, and Bogota, is outspoken against the violence and injustices occurring in Colombia today. In addition to working with displaced persons in Uruba and in the many d.p. camps around Barranquilla and Cartagena, it founded an ecumenical Center for Human Rights in Barranquilla. This Center helps displaced persons with legal aid, so that they may claim their rights.
Because the IPC speaks out, some of its members receive threats of death or arrest. At present one of its pastors and two of its legal workers are in hiding, and its leader has received many death threats. When a prominent friend of the Center was murdered, the IPC asked the Presbyterian Church USA for help - to send accompaniers whose presence as international observers would make the death squads less likely to attack. Although the PCUSA could not respond immediately, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, a volunteer group dedicated to nonviolent action for peace, agreed to start a Colombia Accompaniment Program. So far 14 persons have gone in teams of two to Barranquilla for periods of one to two months. They spend time at the Center, visit displaced persons camps and villages that have suffered massacres, assist the Red Ecumenica,and take part in all major planning of the IPC.
Colombians say that they experience less pressure from death threats and take heart in the presence of the North Americans, who in turn say that they learn much from being part of a small church that stands up to injustice.

Sal y Luz: a partnership between Colombian Peace Sanctuary Churches and Midwest communities of faith, facilitated by JUSTAPAZ and Lutheran World Relief

The Sal y Luz project partners six communities of faith in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota with Colombia's courageous Peace Sanctuary Churches.
"Sal y Luz" means "salt and light." This is what the Peace Sanctuary Churches aspire to be: places of refuge and hope in a country ravaged by five decades of violence. Thousands of individuals have been killed and millions have been displaced from their homes in Colombia's civil war. More than 40 Protestant pastors were murdered in 2003 alone. In the midst of this violence, many congregations have declared themselves Peace Sanctuary Churches. These congregations boldly pursue peace, feed the hungry, shelter the displaced, establish new economies, and open dialogues to reconcile relationships.
While these Peace Sanctuary Churches have achieved astonishing successes in building peace, little is known about their experiences outside of the local areas where they take place. Through this partnership with communities of faith in the Midwest, the Peace Sanctuary Churches seek to document the lessons learned over their years of peacebuilding experience. Three Churches in Colombia's Atlantic Coast region are now engaged in an intensive process of documenting their achievements, to share the good news that peace is truly possible in Colombia.
The partnership is focused on prayer, relationship-building, advocacy and education: in a word, solidarity. It does not involve financial support.
For congregations, educational institutions and communities, this solidarity includes:
" Exchanging prayers, stories and photographs with their partner Peace Sanctuary
" Learning about Colombia's war and the Peace Sanctuary Churches' work
" Collaborating with the Peace Sanctuary Churches as they document how they are building peace, so that lessons they've learned can be shared with U.S. audiences
" Inviting representatives from the Peace Sanctuary Churches to visit the U.S. communities, engaging in education and relationship building
" Sharing experiences with our communities, media, and Congressional offices
" Learning about U.S. policy's key role in shaping the daily lives of our Colombian brothers and sisters
" Helping the U.S. to envision new political priorities for Colombia, and engaging in advocacy to bring about a U.S. policy based in peacebuilding principles
" Creatively bringing the message of peace inspired by the words of Jesus into our homes, daily lives, and global community

Sal y Luz: Un hermanamiento entre las Iglesias Santuarios de Paz en Colombia y comunidades de fe en el 'Medio-Oeste' estadounidense, facilitado por JUSTPAZ y Lutheran World Relief

El proyecto Sal y Luz asocia seis comunidades de fe en Iowa, Minnesota y Dakota del Sur con las valerosas iglesias "Santuarios de Paz" de Colombia.
"Sal y Luz" refiere a lo que las iglesias Santuarios de Paz (ISP) aspiran ser: lugares de refugio y esperanza en un país devastado por cinco décadas de violencia. Miles de personas han sido matadas y millones han sido desplazadas de su tierra materna en la guerra civil de Colombia. Más de cuarenta pastores protestantes fueron matados en 2003. En medio de esta violencia, muchas congregaciones se han declarado Santuarios de Paz. Estas congregaciones persiguen la paz valientemente: alimentan los que tienen hambre, acogen a los desplazados, establecen economías nuevas y abren diálogos para reconciliar relaciones.
Mientras que las ISP han alcanzado éxitos increíbles en el desarrollo de la paz, se sabe poco de sus experiencias fuera de las zonas locales donde su trabajo ocurre. A través de esta relación de contraparte con las comunidades de fe en el medio-oeste de los EEUU, las ISP intentan documentar las lecciones aprendidas durante sus años de trabajo en construir la paz. Tres iglesias en la región de la costa atlántica de Colombia están ahora metidas en un proceso intensivo de documentar sus éxitos, para compartir la noticia buena que la paz es verdaderamente posible en Colombia.
Esta sociedad tiene su enfoque en la oración, el desarrollo de relaciones, y la educación: en una palabra, la solidaridad. No involucra el apoyo económico.
Para congregaciones, instituciones educativas y comunidades, la solidaridad incluye:
" El intercambio de oraciones, historias y fotografías con su ISP contraparte
" Educación sobre la guerra en Colombia y el trabajo de las ISP
" Colaboración con las ISP en documentación de como han construido la paz, para que las lecciones aprendidas puedan ser compartidas con audiencias en los EEUU
" La invitación de representantes de las ISP a comunidades en los EEUU, para participar en la educación y el desarrollo de relaciones
" La comunicación de sus experiencias con nuestras comunidades, medios de comunicación y miembros del Congreso
" Aprendizaje sobre el papel clave de la política de los EEUU en la vida diaria de nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Colombia
" El apoyo en prever prioridades políticas nuevas para los EEUU con respeto a Colombia, y apoyo para crear una política estadounidense basada en los principios de la construcción de paz
" La difusión creativa del mensaje de paz inspirado por las palabras de Jesús en nuestros hogares, vidas diarias y comunidad global

The U'wa Defense Project

The U'wa are an Indigenous community of 5,000 who live in the cloudforest of northeastern Colombia near Venezuela. Despite the brutality of centuries of colonization imposed upon the 84 tribes in Colombia, the U'wa people are among the most traditional communities and take very seriously their historical responsibility to protect these resources and to maintain the balance of the earth. Unfortunately, in a global context where petroleum is valued more than people and the environment, the U'wa communities and their ancestral lands are under attack. Since 1992, the U'wa have led a multi-faceted campaign to defend their land and culture from the violence that always accompanies oil extraction in Colombia. The strength of U'wa organizing in the face of oil greed is challenged even further by a civil conflict supported with US funds, weapons and training.
The U'wa Defense Project (UDP) is a San Francisco, Presidio-based organization that has worked with the U'wa Indigenous people in Colombia since 1997. UDP was founded by Terrence Freitas, who was kidnapped and assassinated by the FARC guerrilla group in Colombia in 1999, along with colleagues Ingrid Washinawatok, and Lahe'ena'e Gay. We all still feel the loss of these amazing individuals. Despite the intensity of the work, we celebrate the beauty of the U'wa struggle and strength of the U'wa people. Today, it is UDP's mission to provide legal, community development, advocacy, and research support to the Indigenous U'wa people as they work to defend their life, land and cultural autonomy. In the face of multiple challenges that include increasing militarization, violence and oil drilling, UDP supports the U'wa politically and economically in their community capacity building strategy that includes (1) prioritizing international alliance building, (2) building women's leadership, (3) pursuing legal action, and (4) investing in youth leadership and education.