tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30973667131913584122024-03-20T08:07:05.340-07:00Community Action for Justice in the AmericasBuilding a grassroots people's movement for social, economic, and environmental justice throughout the Americas.CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-55250022277219512442010-03-21T10:26:00.000-07:002010-03-21T10:31:12.854-07:00Marching For the Lives of Teachers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1ezWNLdiaAp6rSVR7mwewqQ9JY-Jk1OqctIrKwek6hYSOv7jtWYXc2Y5EBFBIcNnUkzO7VuDS88azBjNtDnHhMB4H5mxQUufGCYYvybx09gMUXniH8rPLWwMtrAgrMJUMjbJZOMB7ZFw/s1600-h/March.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1ezWNLdiaAp6rSVR7mwewqQ9JY-Jk1OqctIrKwek6hYSOv7jtWYXc2Y5EBFBIcNnUkzO7VuDS88azBjNtDnHhMB4H5mxQUufGCYYvybx09gMUXniH8rPLWwMtrAgrMJUMjbJZOMB7ZFw/s400/March.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451140184455775058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><style><!-- .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } --></style><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:85%;" >Photo of students with banner, “It’s in your hands to respect and value life.<span style=""> </span>I love it, do you?”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><style><!-- .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } --></style><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >More than 2,000 students and teachers marched through the streets of Puerto Berrio on March 17 to protest the killing of a teacher and his wife.<span style=""> </span>Duvian Rojo and Veronica Cadavid were killed by two gunmen in the center of town on the evening of March 13.<span style=""> </span>Puerto Berrio is controlled by paramilitary death squads that have relations with the police and military, and the killing occurred just two blocks from the police station.<span style=""> </span>Duvian and Veronica were the parents of twins that are less than a year old.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >The paramilitaries have been extorting more than 20 teachers in the town – demanding that they pay protection money in order to avoid being killed.<span style=""> </span>Duvian filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office that led to the arrest of two men, although none of the paramilitary leaders were arrested.<span style=""> </span>His colleagues believe that he was killed in retaliation for speaking out about the extortions.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >I felt a lot of tension at the beginning of the march, more so than at any other activity I’ve accompanied here in Colombia.<span style=""> </span>I asked the parish priest, who had invited us to the march, if I could take some photos.<span style=""> </span>He responded that it would be better if I did not.<span style=""> </span>One of my teammates, who had been married by the priest, talked to him later and he agreed to let me get some shots.<span style=""> </span>I was introduced to a man who then walked with me to the front of the march.<span style=""> </span>The march stretched out for several blocks and it was very inspiring to see so many students in the streets of Puerto Berrio.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >We met with a group of teachers after the march in the church, Our Lady of Sorrows.<span style=""> </span>One man was wearing a t-shirt with a photo of Duvian that read, “Friend Duvian, you will always be in our hearts.”<span style=""> </span>The teachers were very concerned about their safety and asked us to not mention their names.<span style=""> </span>“You wonder if you’ll be the next victim,” one of them told us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >They described the relationship of the paramilitaries with the police and military.<span style=""> </span>“These groups are mixed together with the authorities.”<span style=""> </span>They also talked about the location of the killing – two policemen are usually stationed there and it’s near the station.<span style=""> </span>“They (the killers) exited to the left and the police came in from the right.”<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span>Puerto Berrio is a town of 50,000 inhabitants, located two hours south of Barrancabermeja.<span style=""> </span>Two paramilitary groups are fighting for control of the cocaine trade in the region, and one of those groups has apparently entered into an alliance with the National Army of Liberation (ELN) guerrillas.<span style=""> </span>The priest told us that three to four people were killed each week in Puerto Berrio during February.<span style=""> </span>In the midst of all this, the teachers are determined to continue forward and to denounce the abuses that occur in their town.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >Sister Miriam accompanies workers in the palm oil plantations near Barrancabermeja.<span style=""> </span>During the meeting with the teachers, she said “Peace can appear to be a distant dream.<span style=""> </span>However, there are new sprouts and signs of hope.<span style=""> </span>We’re weaving together networks of people.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" >In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Scott</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com463tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-54483276549170775682009-07-13T16:03:00.000-07:002009-07-13T16:08:24.595-07:00Gunshots, explosions and fear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4Odh84mEiqNoNHrYKOs3yeswjidLMSibfHRHxLFlSnmEsbWKc0Kumsx036_XhqMw79J0B3Dsa4cqPqPanRMgtUNC6hrEalMgsdiOiU7nd15Z0-vfGGAGZRGIlvRJZGkXNqFAQzAB8NRh/s1600-h/Filipinas+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4Odh84mEiqNoNHrYKOs3yeswjidLMSibfHRHxLFlSnmEsbWKc0Kumsx036_XhqMw79J0B3Dsa4cqPqPanRMgtUNC6hrEalMgsdiOiU7nd15Z0-vfGGAGZRGIlvRJZGkXNqFAQzAB8NRh/s400/Filipinas+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358085133103434850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dear friends,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>We heard gunshots as we were having dinner in the community of Filipinas (</span><st1:place><span style="">Arauca</span></st1:place><span style="">) on June 25.<span style=""> </span>FARC guerrillas were attacking the soldiers that had arrived in town that morning.<span style=""> </span>I looked at my watch and noted that it was </span><st1:time hour="17" minute="12"><span style="">5:12 P.M.</span></st1:time><span style=""> – something concrete to focus on in order to avoid the fear that I was feeling.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>The bursts of gunfire were becoming longer and the direction of the sound was changing.<span style=""> </span>It seemed as though the shots were coming closer.<span style=""> </span>There was a particularly long, and ugly, burst of automatic rifle fire.<span style=""> </span>At one point, shots were fired in the plantain grove – 100 yards away.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>We also heard explosions which could have been army mortars or guerrilla cylinder bombs.<span style=""> </span>The guerrillas sometimes launch propane cylinders filled with shrapnel – deadly devices that often veer</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> off course and miss their intended target.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>A group of soldiers had set up camp in the neighboring house – 50 feet away.<span style=""> </span>I was afraid that the explosions could have been cylinder bombs and that the guerrillas would attempt to hit the army encampment.<span style=""> </span>I counted the explosions (something else to focus on) and noted 16.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>“My God!<span style=""> </span>My God!” cried the woman who had invited us for dinner.<span style=""> </span>“Why don’t they just leave?” she said in relation to the soldiers.<span style=""> </span>She was also afraid that their presence would draw bullets or bombs.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>I motioned a few times to my friend Nidia and mouthed, “Let’s get on the ground!” but she and the others didn’t seem to think that was necessary.<span style=""> </span>We heard some more shots and I finally said to everyone, “You can stay seated, but I’m going to get down on the ground.”<span style=""> </span>I then laid down on the dirt underneath the table.<span style=""> </span>The family puppy joined me and I nicknamed the two of us, “The Brave Ones.”<span style=""> </span>The sight of the gringo and the puppy provided some comic relief and, at that point, the gunfire and explosions ended.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>I dusted myself off and we walked to the center of the community.<span style=""> </span>Gunfire sounded again while I was inside a small store.<span style=""> </span>This time I didn’t hesitate – I immediately laid down on the floor.<span style=""> </span>I looked at my watch and noted that it was </span><st1:time hour="18" minute="3"><span style="">6:03 P.M.</span></st1:time></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rh7UeaCu0gk37g46AgVf8GpB1X6uUetlPwEMuOM2cMpUDhEQN851ZI-sTFLRxSb6lwEKoiQO2oHgkkvuGCcy8e1bzKkc9WFXulQIbXyJwhSbWe4vesnmn66clK8sVXXE_JjxvoKk4Zz2/s1600-h/Filipinas+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rh7UeaCu0gk37g46AgVf8GpB1X6uUetlPwEMuOM2cMpUDhEQN851ZI-sTFLRxSb6lwEKoiQO2oHgkkvuGCcy8e1bzKkc9WFXulQIbXyJwhSbWe4vesnmn66clK8sVXXE_JjxvoKk4Zz2/s400/Filipinas+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358084914380293682" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:time hour="18" minute="3"><span style=""></span></st1:time><span style=""> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>A helicopter came and circled overhead five minutes later.<span style=""> </span>A roar of machinegun fire came from the helicopter – the ugliest sound I’ve heard in my life.<span style=""> </span>I looked behind me and saw Nidia crouched underneath a table with her son Brandon, who was crying.<span style=""> </span>One of the bullet cases tore through the metal roof of a house fifty yards away and landed on the ground a few feet from a mother and child (see attached photos).</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>The following morning we learned that four soldiers had been seriously wounded in the attack.<span style=""> </span>The troop commander came to talk with us and we expressed our sorrow for those soldiers.<span style=""> </span>We stated our concern that the ongoing presence of soldiers in the community, and encamped in people’s homes, was putting the civilian population at risk.<span style=""> </span>The guerrillas were also endangering civilians by attacking the soldiers inside the community.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>We had traveled to Filipinas for a human rights workshop organized by the Arauca Peasant Association (ACA).<span style=""> </span>The workshop was suspended because of the danger posed by the presence of the soldiers and guerrillas.<span style=""> </span>The troop commander told Nidia, the workshop facilitator and me that we would have to leave the area.<span style=""> </span>Before leaving, we went to the home of the ACA president – at least ten soldiers were encamped around the house.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>Gunshots rang out again about half an hour after we left Filipinas.<span style=""> </span>The ACA president’s horse was struck by one of the bullets and killed.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I’ve been experiencing a growing commitment to the non-violent struggle for justice.<span style=""> </span>The actions of both the guerrillas and the soldiers put the children and adults in Filipinas at grave risk.<span style=""> </span>Seeing their fear, and experiencing my own fear, has deepened my opposition to the blind hatred embodied in the barrel of a gun.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com253tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-81142295793084157732009-07-13T15:11:00.000-07:002009-07-13T15:19:15.656-07:00Terror of the "people's army"<style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear friends,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The “Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army” (FARC) guerrillas murdered two teachers he</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">re in the state of Arauca during the we</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ek of June 8.<span style=""> </span>I traveled to Arauca City on June 12 for their wakes – which were held in the Arauca Teachers Union auditorium.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Pablo Rodriguez, of the Sikuani people, tau</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ght in the indigenous school in Marrero.<span style=""> </span>He was murdered in his classroom by the</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> FARC on June 9.<span style=""> </span>Because of the difficult access to that community, his body wasn’t recovered until two days later.<span style=""> </span>When I arriv</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ed in Arauca City, the wake had finished and the funeral procession was marching to the cemetery.</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Humberto Echeverri taught for 18 years in the community </span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">of Los Colonos and he was with his students on June 11.<span style=""> </span>The Social Pastorate program of the Catholic Church has a nutrition and community garden program</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> in Los Colonos, and they were monitoring the weights of the children.<span style=""> </span>F</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ARC guerrillas came into the school and told Humberto they needed to speak with him.<span style=""> </span>They led him away, prevented the people from following, and then killed him.</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The wake fo</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">r Humberto began shortly after</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDzdC8ZMrreE-gqxBw6lPKrtjxnTkncVOfGusIhRa53vi6c7bzW2FrLlKYmZgj6147gm2Ti6AKqCsObzc-yZB5BsfAm3D7e-GlW3dOSwEG93LFNAwkhyphenhyphenWEXNBUopRzEO2p-_WIYm7xmyy/s1600-h/Jorge.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDzdC8ZMrreE-gqxBw6lPKrtjxnTkncVOfGusIhRa53vi6c7bzW2FrLlKYmZgj6147gm2Ti6AKqCsObzc-yZB5BsfAm3D7e-GlW3dOSwEG93LFNAwkhyphenhyphenWEXNBUopRzEO2p-_WIYm7xmyy/s400/Jorge.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358072128508626754" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> I arrived at the union office.<span style=""> </span>I heard a woman crying out and I followed her cries into the auditorium</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.<span style=""> </span>Arelis, who is eight-months pregnant, wa</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">s leaning </span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">over the coffin of her spouse.<span style=""> </span>She was accompanied by their two children - Jorge and Andrea.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Jorge told me that he is six-and-a-half years old.<span style=""> </span>“The FARC took him a long ways away,” he said.</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>“There were three shots – one in the air and two at my papa.<span style=""> </span>It’s sad.”<span style=""> </span>Andrea said that she will turn ten this month and I could see t</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">he tears in her eyes.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Humberto was another victim of the war between the two guerrilla groups, FARC and ELN (“National Army of Liberation”), in Arauca.<span style=""> </span>That war began in late 2005 and it appears to be esca</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4HDKaq311otyeAWjqBRNriZKRvvjUy-kSbJmua3f8PjlvdasMGbDdUOIgYSmHXBNDgf4SdpUK324TaPQUNZZG1Z-rdTJqXgIksWz0lNrNRANL6vdXKmsbTT02c20lZ449_uMye8_wxrr/s1600-h/Andrea.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4HDKaq311otyeAWjqBRNriZKRvvjUy-kSbJmua3f8PjlvdasMGbDdUOIgYSmHXBNDgf4SdpUK324TaPQUNZZG1Z-rdTJqXgIksWz0lNrNRANL6vdXKmsbTT02c20lZ449_uMye8_wxrr/s400/Andrea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358071611061829538" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">lating once again.<span style=""> </span>The FARC and ELN both profess to be fighting for social justice but here in Arauca they’re acting just like the paramilitary death squads – threatening and killing civilians that they view as supporting the other side.<span style=""> </span>Their war is solely about the control of territory and resources in Arauca.<span style=""> </span><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>More than 350 civilians have been killed as a result of that war and thousands of people have fled from their homes.<span style=""> </span>The FARC and ELN have now caused more damage to the Arauca social movement than the military and their paramilitary allies were able to accomplish in two decades.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Teachers and other community leaders in Arauca are afraid for their lives.<span style=""> </span>The FARC has threatened various teachers.<span style=""> </span>The ELN also threatened people prior to the murders of Pablo and Humberto – stating that if the FARC killed anyone, the ELN would respond by killing two or more people that they view as supporting the FARC.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The mid-year school vacation began on June 12 and extends until July 5.<span style=""> </span>Several teachers are unsure about whether they will return to their schools after vacation.<span style=""> </span>Twenty four teachers have been killed in Arauca during the past eight years. <span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The FARC also distributed a written death threat in late May in which they declared the Arauca State Peasant Association (ADUC) and the Regional Student and Youth Association (ASOJER) to be “military targets.”<span style=""> </span>I live in the social organizations building in Saravena which houses the offices of ADUC and ASOJER.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>My friend Robinson spent 18 months in prison for “rebellion” and he was the only person I talked with at the wake that still exhibited some hope.<span style=""> </span>He said, “We have to transform our difficulties into something beautiful.”<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:12;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com111tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-49396072721852365822009-03-31T15:55:00.001-07:002009-03-31T15:56:50.706-07:00April Speaking Tour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58dOuLCKsD-_PU-ipQMqtRFFK2DMXXuIjPBYalJ21SeZCtSlPRZRXiSWC7MbpO6AYfVzMxVJyrD2bHErlZCESITwuKLc6fLRxAALGu7C16vwaK5oFVKwGPGbeiCERVIyDYsa0cz4nuwK-/s1600-h/Nidia+%26+Melisa.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58dOuLCKsD-_PU-ipQMqtRFFK2DMXXuIjPBYalJ21SeZCtSlPRZRXiSWC7MbpO6AYfVzMxVJyrD2bHErlZCESITwuKLc6fLRxAALGu7C16vwaK5oFVKwGPGbeiCERVIyDYsa0cz4nuwK-/s400/Nidia+%26+Melisa.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319489522628875218" border="0" /></a><br /><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear friends,</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In just a few hours, I’ll be flying from <st1:city st="on">Bogota</st1:city> to <st1:city st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city> to arrange the final details for Nidia Castellanos’ Northwest speaking tour: “Women Resisting War in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>” (see schedule at end of message).</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Nidia is a single mother of three children who is risking her life to defend human rights here in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>She is the secretary general of the Arauca Peasant Association (ACA), which promotes organic agriculture and defends the rights of its members and their families.<span style=""> </span>ACA has been severely repressed by the Colombian government and has also been attacked by the guerrillas.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Luz Perly Cordoba, the founding president of ACA, was imprisoned for “rebellion” in 2004 and now lives in exile.<span style=""> </span>Jose Caicedo, the following president, went into hiding after an arrest order was issued against him for rebellion in 2007.<span style=""> </span>Carlos Cabrera, a previous secretary general, was killed by the guerrillas in November 2008.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>“Defending the rights of small farmers and their families in our state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> means facing a lot of risk,” said Nidia.<span style=""> </span>“I’m willing to suffer those consequences because I want a better future for my children – Melisa, Camila and Brandon.”</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style=""><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;">“We hope that the Obama administration will represent a change in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> policy towards our country,” continued Nidia.<span style=""> </span>“<st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region></st1:place> doesn’t need any more guns and bombs - there are already enough to kill all of us.<span style=""> </span>We’re also aware of the serious economic problems in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style=""> </span>Instead of spending your tax dollars on more weapons, that money could be used to create jobs and support health care and education – in Arauca, as well as <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place>.”</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government is providing <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region></st1:place> with more than $1 million per day in military aid.<span style=""> </span>Some of that aid is used to protect Occidental Petroleum’s oilfield and pipeline in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> – which produce and transport 100,000 barrels per day.<span style=""> </span>Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly documented the human rights abuses committed by the Colombian military.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>We hope you’re able to join us for one of the presentations.<span style=""> </span>Please also help us spread the word about Nidia’s speaking tour.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Scott<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monday, April 6 – <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Helena</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Wiegand </span><span style="color:red;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Amphitheater, Simperman Hall 101-202, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Carroll</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tuesday, April 7 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Billings</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">180 24th St. West</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wednesday, April 8 – Red Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Regis Cafe, <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">206 16th St</st1:address></st1:street>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thursday, April 9 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bozeman</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. - <st1:placename st="on">Strand</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Union</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Building</st1:placetype> 235, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Montana</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monday, April 13 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hamilton</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. - <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Hamilton</st1:city></st1:place> Library, <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">306 State Street</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tuesday, April 14 – Arlee<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6:30 P.M. – The Hangin’ <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Art</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Gallery</st1:placename></st1:place>, 11 Hwy. 93<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wednesday, April 15 – Kalispell<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Blake Hall Board Room 140, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Flathead</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Community College</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thursday, April 16 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Missoula</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – North Underground Lecture Hall<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monday, April 20 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Noon – Todd Hall, <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Molstead Library</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">North</st1:state> <st1:state st="on">Idaho</st1:state></st1:place> College<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Wolff Auditorium, <st1:placename st="on">Jepson</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype>, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Gonzaga</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tuesday, April 21 – Ellensburg<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Room TBA, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Central</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wednesday, April 22 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bellingham</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Noon – World Issues Forum, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Fairhaven</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place> Auditorium<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">13 Prospect St</st1:address></st1:street>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thursday, April 23 – Twisp<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7 P.M. – Confluence Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Garamond;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Monday, April 27 – <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Portland</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Oregon</st1:state></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US">7 P.M. – <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Portland</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Mennonite</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>, </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB">1312 SE 35th Ave.</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Tuesday, April 28 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Corvallis</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Time and room TBA, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Oregon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Wednesday, April 29 – <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Eugene</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></p> <p class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-weight: normal;" lang="EN-GB">Time and location TBA</span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Garamond;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-67515358197034525292009-03-31T15:50:00.001-07:002009-03-31T15:52:55.874-07:00Free at last!<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvwyg2zNjBKJerLiGyrvL-EmT6xCpZgAsw_PHvd_ehfjb1AkXGVvifi8JpWaKMGz0EKC0itkpbpVUYQa315YiNSE-wGi_NcjOPaaHYRzOo5grcGDkB2Vw7jj8ASWvITg0IRcNUCPCKxv/s1600-h/Flor+%26+Camila.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dvwyg2zNjBKJerLiGyrvL-EmT6xCpZgAsw_PHvd_ehfjb1AkXGVvifi8JpWaKMGz0EKC0itkpbpVUYQa315YiNSE-wGi_NcjOPaaHYRzOo5grcGDkB2Vw7jj8ASWvITg0IRcNUCPCKxv/s400/Flor+%26+Camila.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319488195980379554" border="0" /></a><br /></span><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">Dear friends,<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>My friend Flor Diaz was released from the Arauca City prison last month and w</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">as finally able to return to her home here in Arauquita.<span style=""> </span>We went out on the Arauca River with her youngest children, Viviana and Fernando, on March 10 to watch the her</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">ons returning to roost for the evening.<span style=""> </span>There were hundreds of herons in the trees along the river and it was wonderful to enjoy that beauty and freedom with her.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Flor spent thre</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">e years and four days in prison for “rebellion.”<span style=""> </span>She was the secretary general of the Arauca Peasant Association and she told me that she was imprisoned because of her work in support of human rights.<span style=""> </span>“I can’t ignore the suffering of others,” she said.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Marcela, her oldest daughter, was 18 years old when Flor was detained by the secret police on February 14, 2006.<span style=""> </span>Marcela had to assume the responsibility for her three siblings: Viviana (who was just 8 years old), Fernando and Edwin.<span style=""> </span>“It was very hard when they would call me and tell me there wasn’t any food in the house,” Flor said.<span style=""> </span>“I would ask myself, ‘What can I do?’”<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Flor worked for 14 years as a health practitioner in the rural communities of Arauca and also served as a catechist.<span style=""> </span>She continued with her vocations while she was in prison.<span style=""> </span>She would care for the other prisoners when they were ill, and she also helped </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzI0phRec5c3-L_WyORfJFj3_3LkxDYbBhTsBDa36leMDt_ZC5HOHMlp_rB5E9LnT-Nmfy4G2vjKNBDYW0hfjaoKp4gn5oKjfuRTFyny0T2-bcFAbvbjMFmYP7jeqHblUeGhzP8wFhwp6/s1600-h/Flor2"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzI0phRec5c3-L_WyORfJFj3_3LkxDYbBhTsBDa36leMDt_ZC5HOHMlp_rB5E9LnT-Nmfy4G2vjKNBDYW0hfjaoKp4gn5oKjfuRTFyny0T2-bcFAbvbjMFmYP7jeqHblUeGhzP8wFhwp6/s400/Flor2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319488287767152754" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">organize prayer and mass.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>“Suffering makes you strong,” Flor said.<span style=""> </span>“If you’ve never suffered, you can’t be strong.<span style=""> </span>I would get very disappointed when I received bad news about my case.<span style=""> </span>I would argue with God: ‘You abandoned me!<span style=""> </span>I don’t want anything more to do with you!’<span style=""> </span>But then I would remember the gift of my children.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Flor’s first grandchild, Camila, was born on December 20, 2006.<span style=""> </span>“I saw her for the first time on January 21, 2007,” said Flor.<span style=""> </span>Marcela would take Camila to visit Flor in prison every three months.<span style=""> </span>“For the first two years of her life, ‘Grandmother’s house’ was the largest mansion in Arauca,” Marcela said jokingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Being in prison for three years was a very hard experience but it’s also an adjustment being outside of prison after all that time.<span style=""> </span>“I couldn’t see long distance,” Flor said, because there aren’t any open views in the prison.<span style=""> </span>“I also wasn’t used to the noise in town.<span style=""> </span>All I heard in my cell was the sound of the fan.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>Flor told me about a conversation she had recently with a fellow prisoner who had also just been released.<span style=""> </span>They talked about the process of adjustment.<span style=""> </span>Flor said to him, “I’m not doing well either (she’s unemployed and in debt), but I am free.”<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span>As we were alongside the river, Flor explained “Oil and war are the cause of poverty here.<span style=""> </span>What do we get from supplying the war machine?: widows and poverty.<span style=""> </span>We’re going to stop supplying that machine.<span style=""> </span>It already has enough.<span style=""> </span>Let’s look at the situation of poverty and invest that money to meet the needs of the people.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color:#000000;">Scott<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-73013398355372022202009-03-26T19:19:00.000-07:002009-03-26T19:21:41.614-07:00Armed transportation stoppage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr52nyMfpELtCoxLJNKOeOFP83x0yXUXknIkLm0X1M1-seYK_C-mnEXnh8wLn7ClBCSb8vMUU9tL41K3LPtZcnQo0I0zFmazy5p-1iXPPblRl2jU1jRZ9kTMlganJ1sEeBO0pvMkTMTAe/s1600-h/Arauquita.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwr52nyMfpELtCoxLJNKOeOFP83x0yXUXknIkLm0X1M1-seYK_C-mnEXnh8wLn7ClBCSb8vMUU9tL41K3LPtZcnQo0I0zFmazy5p-1iXPPblRl2jU1jRZ9kTMlganJ1sEeBO0pvMkTMTAe/s400/Arauquita.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317686905982750274" border="0" /></a><br />Dear friends,<br /><br /> The “Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army” (FARC) declared an armed transportation stoppage here in the state of Arauca that is causing hardship for the people they claim to be defending. FARC guerrillas called the transport companies on March 16 and threatened to burn their vehicles if they didn’t obey the order to halt transportation. <br /><br /> I’m currently in the town of Arauquita – which lies along the highway that runs through the north of Arauca. The route to Saravena (35 miles west) was the first to be suspended early on the morning of March 16. The last taxi for Arauca City (65 miles east) left town around 2:30 that afternoon. Two armed men on a motorcycle halted a bus on the highway that day and forced it to turn back. <br /><br /> There are no longer any taxis circulating in Arauquita. The motorized canoes that take people across the Arauca River to La Victoria in Venezuela have also been suspended. School bus service in the towns of La Esmeralda and Fortul was suspended this morning due to threats from the FARC. Local stores are running out of fruit and vegetables, and the remaining food is increasing in price because of the scarcity.<br /><br /> Defense Minister Juan Santos flew to Arauca City on March 16 for a public meeting about the security situation in Arauca. Government authorities decided to fine the transport companies that are refusing to risk their drivers and vehicles during the stoppage. The military and police also announced that they were launching “Plan Meteor” to prevent the guerrillas from paralyzing transportation.<br /><br /> FARC guerrillas have burned a cargo truck and a tanker truck, halted a vehicle on the Arauca-Tame highway and placed it across the roadway blocking traffic, attacked a tractor-trailer, and also attacked a caravan of oilfield workers.<br /><br /> The military and police launched the “Arauca Moves” plan on March 17. The plan consists of armed escort for transportation caravans. One caravan of vehicles leaves Arauca City every morning for Arauquita, Saravena, Fortul and Tame. Another caravan travels daily from Tame to Arauca City. The caravans are accompanied by a large contingent of soldiers, police and secret police. Three of the caravans have been attacked by the FARC. <br /><br /> The United Nations’ World Food Program planned to deliver food supplements for pregnant women and nursing mothers, and children at risk of malnutrition, in Arauquita on March 19. The delivery was cancelled because the food packets couldn’t be brought here due to the transportation stoppage.<br /><br /> According to United Nations’ reports, FARC commanders ordered the “Black March” campaign (which includes the stoppage in Arauca) to commemorate the death of three of their top leaders in March 2008. Raul Reyes, the second-in-command, was killed along with 25 other people when his camp inside Ecuador was bombed by the Colombian military on March 1. Ivan Rios was killed on March 3 by his own bodyguard, who then cut off Rios’ hand to present to the government as proof to collect the reward money. Manuel Marulanda, the legendary leader of the FARC, died of natural causes on March 26 – after fighting against the Colombian government for more than 50 years.<br /><br /> The vast majority of people here in Arauquita have no idea why the FARC is imposing this transportation stoppage – they just want it to end soon. According to those same UN reports, the stoppage is going to continue until March 30. <br /><br />In love and solidarity,<br /><br />ScottCAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-82189365383032616242009-03-10T06:10:00.000-07:002009-03-10T06:11:46.218-07:00Letter to Montana Congressional Delegation--ColombiaDear Senators Baucus, Tester, and Representative Rehberg,<br /><br />As advocates for sensible, just and humane US foreign policies ,and residents of the great state of Montana, we would like to draw your attention to the issue of U.S. involvement in Colombia and ask that you consider the human rights impact of U.S. policy as you determine your position concerning upcoming funding requests.<br /><br />Colombia is caught in a complex web of violence resulting in the most severe humanitarian crisis in the hemisphere. Approximately 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes in recent years, and human rights violations continue by all armed actors. (as documented by Human Rights Watch). Since the inception of Plan Colombia in 2000, the U.S. has supported a military solution to Colombia’s armed conflict and illegal drug trade, which are in many cases interrelated. Over 80 percent of nearly 5 billion in U.S. assistance has gone directly to Colombian military and police forces but the war continues unabated and there has been no reduction of the availability of Colombian drugs on U.S. streets. Despite the many destructive consequences of U.S. policy in Colombia and the drastic failure of the War on Drugs, Plan Colombia has not changed. Recently, members of the Colombian government and the Uribe administration’s cabinet have been implicated in secret support of death squads.<br /><br />We urge you, as our representative in Congress, to shift the U.S. focus in Colombia from funding the military, which has been implicated in human rights abuses, to assisting in negotiations for a lasting peace. We would ask that you support all legislative efforts to direct funding toward increased alternative development programs, judicial reform and aid for internally displaced persons, including Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations. Rather than the ineffective, often indiscriminate and inhumane aerial herbicide spraying, we must work to reduce demand at home and support programs to move Colombian farmers away from illicit crop production.<br /><br />We further believe that in light of the Colombian governments poor record regarding its close ties to those implicated in the persecution, harassment and even murder of union leaders, social justice activists, and community leaders, as well as their failure to improve investigations and prosecution of these crimes, the US must not sign the Colombia FTA. The US must demand accountability from its trading partners.<br /><br />As your constituents, we encourage you to help seek a new direction for U.S. policy in Colombia, one which is based on respect for human rights and justice.<br /><br />Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. <br /><br /> <br />Sincerely,CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com328tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-44521484951010321112009-02-26T16:39:00.000-08:002009-02-26T16:41:37.642-08:00Summer Language Exchange and AccompanimentOriginally, when I was thinking through my learning objectives for students when traveling to Spanish-speaking regions of the world, I wanted their experience to be more meaningful than your run-of-the-mill museum/castle-visiting-tour. I wanted to bring students to regions of the world that starkly contrasted with theirs and to make a central component of these experiences socially-conscious travel. With trips to Chiapas, Mexico in February of 2008 through Witness for Peace, and a more recent trip to Nicaragua last November through Global Exchange, I was able to accomplish a great deal of what I had hoped for as students were challenged to engage in economic, political, social and cultural issues. However, even as I found that what I was doing with students was unique among most high school experiences, I realized I wanted to go beyond this level of challenge for students engaged in the act of learning.<br /><br />These two delegations of students to Chiapas and Nicaragua were amazing experiences for the students and me. It is evident in their successful community presentations around Missoula in schools, churches and the University of Montana, that they learned a great deal about the economics, politics, history and culture of Latin America. Two of the students who participated on these delegations are newly inaugurated board members with CAJA!<br /><br />However, I believe there exists another level of learning and participation for us that goes beyond the experiences Global Exchange and Witness for Peace can provide. One of my goals is to critique the idea that travel experiences, even “socially-conscious” ones, should be viewed by the participants as a product to be consumed. Secondly, both Global Exchange and Witness for Peace presented our delegations to the communities of Nicaragua and Chiapas as consumers, albeit “fair” consumers learning about the advantages of Fair Trade over Free Trade. In both cases, we gave our money and in return we received an “experience” (i.e. a product) to “witness” firsthand the effects of global economics, U.S. foreign policy, etc. In return, we committed to telling our/their story upon return, which included a plea to our consumer society to buy Fair Trade.<br /><br />From June 19-July12, 2009, I will be co-leading a group of 10 Montanans (5 graduating seniors, 3 returning seniors, 1 graduating U. of Montana student and my twin-sister who will be graduating from Carroll College in May) to Chiapas, Mexico for the first-ever Summer Language Exchange in the Zapatista community of Oventic, Chiapas, Mexico. Big Sky High School senior, Gabriel Doherty, will be co-leading this group as he approached me four months ago offering to make his co-direction his high school Senior Project.<br /><br />It is my contention, that while this kind of travel is certainly valuable, it is through the act of accompaniment that learning goes beyond the intellectual absorption of ideas (including “walking a mile in another’s shoes”). Accompaniment, instead, embodies the concept of mutual aid. In this case, the students and the Zapatistas are pushed to stay open to divergent ideas and accompany each other as they work through the real lived history of their respective moments in time. The Zapatista language school does not provide a structure for learning, but instead expects learning to be self-generated (an aspect of their school that has frustrated misinformed revolutionary travelers). Again, their expectation is that if one is going to learn, they need to begin by asking what it is they want to learn, and no one will be there to prod one to ask.<br /><br />The language school in Oventic offers Spanish and Tzotzil. I will be studying Tzotzil and the students will study Spanish. Our daily lessons consist of only a couple of hours of morning grammar and an hour of afternoon activity, while the biggest challenge provided in Oventic, as many who have gone through this experience claim, is figuring out what to do with oneself for the rest of each day. The Zapatistas are inviting us to generate for ourselves what we will learn. At the same time, our presence in their community for the three weeks provides much needed accompaniment, as U.S. military aid has resulted in the increased militarization of Mexico in general and Chiapas in particular. Moreover, we must also recognize that it is we, U.S. Americans, who could benefit a great deal from the accompaniment of Zapatistas; having their support as we face our own struggle for justice at home in the U.S. Instead of reinscribing the global economic order by using our economic privileges to consume one more product (even if those products are “greener and fairer”) we must, as is the mission of CAJA, “seek to fundamentally alter the unfair distribution of wealth, power and resources.” Accompaniment transcends the deficiency of consuming our way out of our current predicaments by doing our transformation. “We need to walk together. We need to do history together. We need to journey side by side, confronting whatever comes” (Staughton Lynd, Wobblies and Zapatistas).CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-74215593709538489992008-12-14T09:34:00.000-08:002008-12-14T09:45:31.198-08:00Becoming a godparent<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear friends,</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>My friends Alba and Eulices asked me to be the godfather for their son Kuss Bryan, who was baptized on December 8 (photo below). <span style=""> </span>It was a joy and an honor to become part of their family that day.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBfrBM6lrh_R3mRDaPqJZCi8kG3Kr_2uYbVGG20b9DiMncfHGi_7VjIR2hk2kOY_QQJuqehtp3BWMNDyUpj3XX3gUV_lK6GPfureHFdKLYB17nlr3zZU19mwcaNA-Wq5qoiAmNjXHPMiU/s1600-h/Family.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBfrBM6lrh_R3mRDaPqJZCi8kG3Kr_2uYbVGG20b9DiMncfHGi_7VjIR2hk2kOY_QQJuqehtp3BWMNDyUpj3XX3gUV_lK6GPfureHFdKLYB17nlr3zZU19mwcaNA-Wq5qoiAmNjXHPMiU/s400/Family.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279701617537918466" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Alba is an amazingly strong and resilient person</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.<span style=""> </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Her left shoulder was shattered in the bombing of Santo Domingo in December 1998 when she was 16 years old, her father was killed by FARC guerrillas in March 2006, and her spouse Eulices was imprisoned during the mass arrest in Fortul in August 2006.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Residents of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Santo Domingo</st1:place></st1:city> were holding a bazaar on December 13, 1998 to raise funds for their community.<span style=""> </span>Planes and helicopters began circling overhead a</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nd the people gathered on the highway that runs through town, waving white cloths to indicate that they were civilians.<span style=""> </span>Two cluster bombs were dropped alongside the highway – killing 17 people (including seven children) and wounding 25 others.<span style=""> </span>Yesterday was the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the bombing.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Shrapnel from the bombs tore into Alba’s shoulder and into the right leg of her sister, Xiomara.<span style=""> </span>As we sat in their kitchen after the baptism, they began talking about that day.<span style=""> </span>“We’re lucky to be alive” said Alba.<span style=""> </span>Xiomara then showed me the large scar on her upper leg.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Wilson Garcia, their father, was the community president.<span style=""> </span>“There wasn’t a phone in Santo Domingo,” said Alba, “so he went to Betoyes (when the planes began flying overhead) to call the Red Cross.<span style=""> </span>He saw us as he was coming back and we were leaving on the truck with the wounded.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t know which one of us he should attend to first.”</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The cluster bombs were manufactured in the U.S. and the coordinates for the bombing were given by U.S. crew members operating a surveillance plane for AirScan.<span style=""> </span>Occidental Petroleum (based in Los Angeles) contracted AirScan (based in Florida) to provide security for the pipeline that transports oil from Occidental’s Cano Limon oilfield in the state of Arauca to the Caribbean coast.<span style=""> </span>I found myself thinking about those connections as I looked at the scar on Xiomara’s leg.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>I met <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:city> my first day here in Saravena in June 2004.<span style=""> </span>I was impressed by his soft-spoken manner and deep commitment to his community.<span style=""> </span>He told me what had happened to Alba and Xiomara, and it was obvious that he loved them both very much.<span style=""> </span>Two years later, on March 22, 2006, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:city> was killed by the FARC.<span style=""> </span>As Alba and Xiomara talked to me about their father, tears welled up in their eyes.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Alba gave birth to her first child, Kuss, on December 1, 2005.<span style=""> </span>Eight months later, Eulices was arrested along with 15 other people in Fortul.<span style=""> </span>I met Eulices in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> when I traveled there with a human rights lawyer, two days after the arrests, to visit the prisoners.<span style=""> </span>I met Alba two weeks later when she came to the Joel Sierra Human Rights Foundation office in Saravena to discuss his case.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Eulices was charged with rebellion and terrorism, and the prosecutor’s office alleged that he was an ELN militia member and recruiting for the FARC – not a very plausible accusation given the fight between those two guerrilla groups in Arauca.<span style=""> </span>He was in prison on Kuss’ first birthday and he was finally released on June 9, 2007.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>After Kuss was baptized, Eulices turned to me and called me “Compadre” (the godfather of my child).<span style=""> </span>During the reception in their home, Alba also started calling me Compadre.<span style=""> </span>I expressed my appreciation to them for inviting me to be Kuss’ godfather and Alba responded, “We couldn’t think of a better person.”<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><rte_text></rte_text></span>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-47287111177919703822008-12-07T14:31:00.000-08:002008-12-07T17:31:37.330-08:00Death of a Friend<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBMtejF1CXJbHfIkGQDSOC_3nNrxgMMIPgipGK2nbjlcPwhMSEJ-6iVnZu91hM7oI94tNiDngS9m4rbCIWvsoW5XyOuodbbDgn_k_ovDrJQ5emCmcAyUHA2DTIdrhneadmXFmF62Vnegi/s1600-h/Isabel.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBMtejF1CXJbHfIkGQDSOC_3nNrxgMMIPgipGK2nbjlcPwhMSEJ-6iVnZu91hM7oI94tNiDngS9m4rbCIWvsoW5XyOuodbbDgn_k_ovDrJQ5emCmcAyUHA2DTIdrhneadmXFmF62Vnegi/s400/Isabel.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277180332729220066" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear friends,</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>My friend Carlos Cabrera was killed in Arauquita on November 28. <span style=""> </span>He was forcibly removed from his home, taken to the outskirts of town, and then shot and killed.<span style=""> </span>He was the secretary general of the Arauquita Displaced Persons Association, which represents people who have been forced to flee from their homes because of the violence.<span style=""> </span>He had a spouse and two young daughters, and it appears that he was killed by ELN guerrillas.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The situation here in the state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> is deteriorating rapidly.<span style=""> </span>The week before Carlos was killed, an explosive was set off in the entrance of the social organizations building in Sara</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">vena – shattering windows on the first and second floors.<span style=""> </span>A fragmentation grenade was thrown over the front gate of the Saravena Community Water Company on November 25 – causing slight damage to the exterior of the building.<span style=""> </span>Eight people were killed, and two people wer</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">e wounded, between November 23 and <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="29 in">29 in</st1:metricconverter> <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> (total population is less than 300,000 people).</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The two guerrilla groups in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> (FARC and ELN) have been fighting against each</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> other for the past three years, and that conflict is worsening.<span style=""> </span>Both groups have targeted civilians that they view as supporting the other side.<span style=""> </span>Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands have had to flee from their homes in the countryside.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>I traveled in a bus filled with Carlos’ friends from Arauquita to Fortul for the wake and funeral on November 30.<span style=""> </span>I met his spouse Luz Mila and their two daughters – Luz Linney </span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(8 years old) and Clara Lisbet (3 years old).</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHS-1KBqSkph8ZqCBGuEF5Gx89bQgHCqmpW5unWuOhyzYMjt7h3LDAJUqSDDBwprpjicqXwS9Tl0ZhJ65NU9pV9S6lhyphenhyphenNb318O4mK_HikrpaAiogP5LUXQq4kw7w8PpoYq8g50G16poFy/s1600-h/Clara+%26+Luz.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHS-1KBqSkph8ZqCBGuEF5Gx89bQgHCqmpW5unWuOhyzYMjt7h3LDAJUqSDDBwprpjicqXwS9Tl0ZhJ65NU9pV9S6lhyphenhyphenNb318O4mK_HikrpaAiogP5LUXQq4kw7w8PpoYq8g50G16poFy/s400/Clara+%26+Luz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277180611720674578" border="0" /></a></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>I was overwhelmed by the intelligence and insight of Luz Linney.<span style=""> </span>She came up to me and very politely asked if she could ask me a question.<span style=""> </span>She wanted to know where I was from and I responded by asking if it looked to her like I was from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> – which elicited a smile</span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and laughter.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>She asked me later on why I was taking so many photos and if I was a reporter.<span style=""> </span>I told her that I’m somewhat like a reporter in that I send reports to people in the <st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region> about life here in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The next day, she sat down next to me and said, “Yesterday was hard.<span style=""> </span>Today is better...How have things been going for you?”<span style=""> </span>She then asked if people in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> receive my reports.<span style=""> </span>She has relatives in Bogotá who weren’t able to attend the funeral and she was concerned that they would see the photos.<span style=""> </span>“If they see the photos, they’ll be very sad,” she told me.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>She then asked to see the photos.<span style=""> </span>Some of the images reflect intense pain and sadness, and at one point I told her we could look at the photos some other time.<span style=""> </span>“Let’s keep going,” she replied.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>After we looked at all the photos, she said “You didn’t get a photo of my uncle when he was crying so hard.”<span style=""> </span>I replied that I try to take a few photos that show people’s emotions but I also try to respect their privacy (a balance that is difficult to achieve).<span style=""> </span>She seemed to understand because she said, “Some of the photos are sad, some are happy, and some are neither one nor the other.”<span style=""> </span>We then looked at a few of the photos in reverse order as she told me which were sad, happy, or neither one.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The conversation with Luz Linney took place in the home of Maria Ruth (where I stay in Arauquita).<span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth and Carlos were close friends, and she is very concerned that she and her spouse Armando could also be targeted by the ELN.<span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth is the Arauquita representative of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, a member of the Arauquita municipal council, and a leader of the Democratic Alternative Pole opposition party.<span style=""> </span>She traveled to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Montana</st1:place></st1:state> and the Northwest for a speaking tour in April.<span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth and her family will be leaving <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> for a while because of the increasing threat against them.</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></p><p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="Sinespaciado" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-12429860953258304132008-11-22T21:09:00.000-08:002008-11-22T21:18:12.166-08:00Explosion Targets Our Home<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana</style><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span><span> </span>Last night at 8:35 P.M., an explosive was set-off in the entrance of the social organizations building where I live in Saravena.<span> </span>No one was hurt but windows were shattered on the first and second floors of the building (see attached photos). <span> </span><span> </span>I was in Arau</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS3s2rO9UZDRgiPG3vEa9V_kt7cV0GTtsJjYwLYZGdXZmaBglLFL8g49o0jZDSl9O7Uk_MQ0HshO4lhCFHXRWyPN8k6JCHUL-tk23SO2njvspucMz8wkTQ8gmIy2Rh_TMjD1t9pEUPSKt/s1600-h/Explosion+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS3s2rO9UZDRgiPG3vEa9V_kt7cV0GTtsJjYwLYZGdXZmaBglLFL8g49o0jZDSl9O7Uk_MQ0HshO4lhCFHXRWyPN8k6JCHUL-tk23SO2njvspucMz8wkTQ8gmIy2Rh_TMjD1t9pEUPSKt/s400/Explosion+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271716858194441666" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">quita at the time and I returned here early this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The explosive didn't contain any shr</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">ap</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">n</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">el </span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">and it appears that the intention was to scare and intimidate us, rather than hurt anyone.<span> </span>Leaders of the social organizations that operate in the buildi</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">ng believe that the explosive was set-off either by a FARC guerrilla or a government agent.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The guerrillas of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN (National Army of Liberation) have been fighting against each other for the past three years here in the state of Arauca.<span> </span>Both groups profess to be fighting against the Colombian government to achieve social justice, but their conflict in Arauca is solely about the control of territory and economic resources.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In addition to killing each other, the FARC and ELN have also been operating like death squads in Arauca; displacing and killing civilians that they view as supporting the other side.<span> </span>They've also created a situation in which anyone could take action (set-off an explosive or kill someone) and make it look like it was part of the fight between the two groups.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNZqs2uvyAVfGLj4NRzh8NytTzeXbN_NfSD1zUpOufQUCNjUMwo62OMlj9SE9gHwZ48qBsGeI7FBgy3gJtAU5swQ516cDqS5M0Pm7kaANEVdnz9GOuP2zMr6edwx618dcnBI78N_aSBj8/s1600-h/Explosion+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNZqs2uvyAVfGLj4NRzh8NytTzeXbN_NfSD1zUpOufQUCNjUMwo62OMlj9SE9gHwZ48qBsGeI7FBgy3gJtAU5swQ516cDqS5M0Pm7kaANEVdnz9GOuP2zMr6edwx618dcnBI78N_aSBj8/s400/Explosion+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271717040046662082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The social organizations building is located in the center of Saravena, one-a</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">nd-a-half blocks from a police guard post, two-and-a-half blocks from another guard post, and just four blocks from the police station.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The various social organizations have written public denunciations about the explosion and are determined to continue forward with their non-violent struggle for social justice.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>I'll be moving to a room on the third floor later today, further away from the street and with bulletproof glass.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Scott</span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-77958068476168624852008-11-22T21:00:00.000-08:002008-11-22T21:07:32.618-08:00March for Freedom<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh0YSNnPKq0BxqoE1DD3E_HK3UertfRMhsVWMOGj3h1tkGngIULi6j2ptArB8GPI9ivpam2aKs7XTTVoQHq5S0kjWjV12bPyNJPyl8c0rG7QiQxuDftuR7Nvw5cle6Rs64f2hKunR23LH/s1600-h/Ingrid+%26+Christian.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh0YSNnPKq0BxqoE1DD3E_HK3UertfRMhsVWMOGj3h1tkGngIULi6j2ptArB8GPI9ivpam2aKs7XTTVoQHq5S0kjWjV12bPyNJPyl8c0rG7QiQxuDftuR7Nvw5cle6Rs64f2hKunR23LH/s400/Ingrid+%26+Christian.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271714750930857026" border="0" /></a><br /></span><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>More than 500 people participated in a mass and march in Arauquita on November 11 in protest of the mass arrest that occurred there the week before.<span> </span>Fourteen people were arrested for "rebellion" on November 4 including Martin Sandoval, president of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CPDH).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The March for Freedom and Dignity began with a mass in the central park.<span> </span>The young priest that welcomed people to the event talked about the need to speak out against the unjust arrests and to overcome the fear that people are feeling now in Arauquita.<span> </span>"It is legitimate to resist any authorit</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">y that gravely and repeatedly violates the principles of natural law," stated the other priest during the homily.<span> </span>He also spoke out about "the many problems that this system of brutal capitalism has caused for us."<b><span style="color:red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Ingrid stepped onto the stage with her son Christian in her arms after the mass (see attached photo).<span> </span>Her spouse, Jose, was arrested for "rebellion" during the previous mass arrest in Arauquita on January 12.<span> </span>Christian was born three months later on April 21.<span> </span>Ingrid told me "the environment in the Arauca City prison is very oppressive" and, because of that, she has only taken Christian there twice to see his father.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span><span> </span>Martin wrote a letter from prison that was r</span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">ead before the start of the march.<span> </span>"If having an opinion that differs with the government, and denouncing the abuses that are committed in the name of law and justice is a crime; then they should convict me.<span> </span>But because they don't have any valid arguments, they will continue using all their tricks to convert lies into absurd truths which not even they, themselves, believe...If we all remain silent; the next victim could be you, a family member, or a good friend." <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The people then marched through the main streets of Arauquita, passing in front of the police station where the 14 people had been taken the week before.<span> </span>Several families carried placards with photos of their loved ones, calling for their immediate relea</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedk_A01WNs-FlF4ohzNw3dRRc-d4hyGMDDHgJzhty2zVVuQ3VkKpQV-9RGpLBtxaMOuW5idveas14wLkWOhelqYheJBSa_4gV9ZitCZJeb3L1WgIn77vJlxtNb7aJw-jQ5_eU_Rz_oi8g/s1600-h/March.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedk_A01WNs-FlF4ohzNw3dRRc-d4hyGMDDHgJzhty2zVVuQ3VkKpQV-9RGpLBtxaMOuW5idveas14wLkWOhelqYheJBSa_4gV9ZitCZJeb3L1WgIn77vJlxtNb7aJw-jQ5_eU_Rz_oi8g/s400/March.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271714916470892386" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US">se (see attached photo).<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>I accompanied CPDH leaders a few days later when they visited Martin and the others in the Arauca City prison on November 15.<span> </span>Martin told us that he knew the risks he was facing for defending human rights in the state of Arauca and that he had been prepared psychologically for the likelihood of being imprisoned.<span> </span>"This is a beautiful experience," he said.<span> </span>"We share everything with each other here."<span> </span>Martin also stated that the march in Arauquita "inspires us to keep going forward."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Guillermo Diaz is the president of the Afro-Colombian association and treasurer of the Laborers' union in Arauquita.<span> </span>He told me that he has five daughters - including a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old that he and his wife adopted as orphans.<span> </span>The police came to their house at 5:40 A.M. on November 4.<span> </span>He was handcuffed and taken away to the police station, and wasn't shown an arrest order until two hours later.<span> </span>Guillermo was the sole source of income for the family.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Yilmar Mina is a leader of the search and rescue team and a member of the Assembly of God church in Arauquita.<span> </span>The police called him to the station on November 4 with the pretext that they were going to give him radios for the team.<span> </span>When he arrived there at 5:45 P.M. he was arrested.<span> </span>Yilmar and his wife, Lisbeth, have three young children.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Martin told us, "We're paying the price for the public hearing and the visit to the prison."<span> </span>CPDH helped organize the public hearing of the House of Representatives human rights commission in Arauquita on July 31 and also organized a fiesta for the inmates of the Arauca City prison on October 10.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-88325297879898836112008-11-17T05:46:00.000-08:002008-11-17T05:50:30.171-08:00Arrest of a Friend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrkE6JlDcQjqjfMTDoGCv_6NQ0y58Kq_Z0oZ1UCUzz_JmMOcfj_Wp_mXvqRdcsIh5wDAGVXcBRdKk4_DxHMINmRKbc8afhVXDZc3TiXOkOl282v5AO0gd6ez6CfJSlf7HRPu5qLiq_Fm2/s1600-h/Martin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrkE6JlDcQjqjfMTDoGCv_6NQ0y58Kq_Z0oZ1UCUzz_JmMOcfj_Wp_mXvqRdcsIh5wDAGVXcBRdKk4_DxHMINmRKbc8afhVXDZc3TiXOkOl282v5AO0gd6ez6CfJSlf7HRPu5qLiq_Fm2/s400/Martin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269623454746563362" border="0" /></a><br /><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear friends,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>My friend, Martin Sandoval, was arrested along with 13 other people here in the town of Arauquita on November 4.<span style=""> </span>He began a hunger strike the following day in protest of those arrests.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Martin is the president of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in the state of Arauca.<span style=""> </span>He has consistently spoken out against the human rights violations committed by the Colombian government in the state – including mass arrests and the killing of civilians who are then reported as guerrillas killed in combat.<span style=""> </span>He has also forcefully denounced the abuses committed against the civilian population by the FARC and ELN guerrillas in their fight against each other in Arauca.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Martin was arrested just four days after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, met with human rights activists in Arauca to discuss the difficult situation that they’re confronting in their work.<span style=""> </span>The arrest also occurred just four weeks after the United Nations working group on arbitrary arrests visited Arauca to investigate the mass arrests that have taken place in the state.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights organized a fiesta in the Arauca City prison on October 10 – to provide solidarity for the prisoners and lift their spirits for a few hours.<span style=""> </span>Martin greeted the inmates on behalf of the Committee (see attached photo).<span style=""> </span>He is currently being held in the Arauca City police station and will probably be entering the prison again soon – although, this time, not as a visitor.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The Committee also helped organize a public hearing of the House of Representatives human rights commission in Arauquita on July 31 which was attended by more than 500 people.<span style=""> </span>Martin and other community leaders denounced the persistent violation of human rights in Arauca.<span style=""> </span>The leaders of the Committee believe that his arrest is due, in part, to retaliation for that hearing.<span style=""> </span><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth Sanabria is the Arauquita representative for the Committee, and I organized her Montana and Northwest U.S. speaking tour in April.<span style=""> </span>She called me on November 4 and said “I have bad news for you, my son, Martin has just been arrested,” as her voice began to break.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>I arrived in Arauquita two hours later and went to the police station to enquire about Martin.<span style=""> </span>The police commander told me that I couldn’t enter at that moment, but I could come back in 20 minutes at noon.<span style=""> </span>When I returned shortly after noon, the prisoners were being loaded into a truck and were then taken to the Arauquita military base.<span style=""> </span>We arrived at the base in time to see the helicopter land that, a few minutes later, took the prisoners away to the 18th Military Brigade headquarters in Arauca City.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Martin and the others are charged with rebellion, conspiracy and terrorism.<span style=""> </span>The primary “evidence” in many of the previous mass arrests in Arauca has been the testimony of supposed former guerrillas that receive compensation for their collaboration.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Guillermo Diaz was one of the 13 people arrested along with Martin.<span style=""> </span>Guillermo is the treasurer of the Laborer’s union and president of the Afro-Colombian association in Arauquita.<span style=""> </span>Jose Ortiz, a young man who is studying accounting in the National Training Institute, was also arrested.<span style=""> </span>José was the only source of financial support for his elderly mother.<span style=""> </span>Reynel Cifuentes and Olegario Araque, who both have disabilities, were also among those arrested.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The news on the day of the arrests was dominated by the U.S. elections.<span style=""> </span>Our friends from Arauquita, including Martin, want to believe that Barack Obama will represent a change from the policies of George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><rte_text></rte_text></span>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-10748115237035220592008-10-27T17:48:00.000-07:002008-10-27T18:02:53.749-07:00Dancing in Prison<style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">Dea</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">r friends,</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>I went </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">t</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">o a great party in the Arauca City pris</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">on on October 10.<span style=""> </span>The Perman</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">ent Committee for the Defense of H</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">uman Rights organized the fiesta to provide solidarity for the prisoners and lift their spirits for a few hours.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>More than 60 people traveled to the prison from Arauquita – including two very-talented high school dance troupes and two great musical groups.<span style=""> </span>Packages of food and personal items were delivered to the 87 prisoners from Arauquita, who then decided to share those amongst all the 286 inmates of the prison.<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Mejia, the MC, organized an impromptu dance contest with the five female prisoners at the party – partnering them with five of their male colleagues.<span style=""> </span>After the contest, the dancers grabbed other partners from the crowd and the party kicked into high gear!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvTTJvzj5BT_-sVGhVb2KUbOzGimEp-xmGjLnpVG98Jbswxf6EDbI2-9OoZ-50Lk_q1N50GONCg74EClWSqn9cnBpofq5P5a25LZ4T3dTAifa636jY8SZ4L_xaZeYYuR5kDMkHUuyzdmD/s1600-h/Flor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvTTJvzj5BT_-sVGhVb2KUbOzGimEp-xmGjLnpVG98Jbswxf6EDbI2-9OoZ-50Lk_q1N50GONCg74EClWSqn9cnBpofq5P5a25LZ4T3dTAifa636jY8SZ4L_xaZeYYuR5kDMkHUuyzdmD/s400/Flor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262000946369161442" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Mejia danced with one of the prisoners and then called me out to finish the song (see attached photo).<span style=""> </span>Later on, we sat down to talk and she told me about her experiences.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Flor Díaz is a great dancer, mother of four children, health promoter, devout Catholic, and is serving six-and-a-half years in prison for “rebellion.”</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Flor was the board secretary of the Arauca Peasant Association and she told me “I continue defending human rights and I’m paying the price for that.”<span style=""> </span>She was detained by the secret police (DAS) when she was in Arauca City on February 14, 2006 for a medical appointment.<span style=""> </span>The police didn’t present her with an arrest order until two hours later.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Marcela, Flor’s oldest daughter, was 18 years old when her mother was imprisoned.<span style=""> </span>She suddenly had to assume the responsibility of taking care of her three siblings – Viviana, who was 8 years-old; Fernando, 11; and Edwin, 14.<span style=""> </span>The four of them have occasionally gone hungry, but they’ve stayed together as a family.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>As a single mother, Flor requested that she be granted house arrest so that she could care for her children.<span style=""> </span>That request was denied because she was considered to be a danger to society and to her own children.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Flor’s trial on January 23, 2007 lasted for 15 minutes.<span style=""> </span>None of the six witnesses that testified during the investigation appeared in court.<span style=""> </span>The judge left the courtroom before the trial began and the prosecutor declared her to be guilty of rebellion.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Flor worked as a rural health promoter for 14 years and she’s continuing that work by caring for the health of the other inmates.<span style=""> </span>She’s also continuing her role as a catechist.<span style=""> </span>“In these circumstances if you’re not spiritually strong, you’ll fall apart,” she said.<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Her primary concern is the violation of children’s rights, including those of her own children – the right to be with their mother and to not suffer from hunger.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Flor was very glad to hear that the Arauca Peasant Association is continuing its work in spite of the repression against the organization.<span style=""> </span>Luz Perly Cordoba, the founding president, spent a year in prison for rebellion and is now living in exile.<span style=""> </span>An arrest order was issued for the second president last year, and another member of the board was imprisoned for rebellion in January.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>“There’s nothing else to do but to cry and to keep going forward,” Flor concluded.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""> </span>Scott<span style=""> </span></span></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-4242158672856600642008-09-10T19:47:00.000-07:002008-09-10T19:52:38.752-07:00A Mother's Birthday Gift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cSxgeUHEHKHe_2C4WIMLdobykjVxAsPfAW2GAstuy4ZcK6kZCMvZ8DbdSD_A6nrlSM3_aQebS6P__Obr7wJqT8EpTAXAwBxg-31ELQ6aIWjkJFWP4_HHNMZXxilB7MydgjOJyIFkApg6/s1600-h/Nelson+%26+family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cSxgeUHEHKHe_2C4WIMLdobykjVxAsPfAW2GAstuy4ZcK6kZCMvZ8DbdSD_A6nrlSM3_aQebS6P__Obr7wJqT8EpTAXAwBxg-31ELQ6aIWjkJFWP4_HHNMZXxilB7MydgjOJyIFkApg6/s400/Nelson+%26+family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244590569121756674" border="0" /></a><br /><style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } </style><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dear friends,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>“This is the best gift that God could give me: bringing Nelson here today,” said <st1:place st="on">Rosa</st1:place> on August 22.<span style=""> </span>It was <st1:place st="on">Rosa</st1:place>’s birthday and she was spending the afternoon in Saravena circuit court at the preliminary hearing for her son, Nelson Prieto.<span style=""> </span>Nelson is a leader of the health workers union in Saravena who was arrested for “rebellion” on July 17, 2007 and imprisoned in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>He was brought to Saravena for the hearing.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>I met Nelson during the commemoration of the first anniversary of the killing of his father, Jorge Prieto, and two other community leaders - Alirio Martinez and Leonel Goyeneche.<span style=""> </span>The three men were executed by the military in the community of Caño Seco on August 5, 2004.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>The last time I had seen Nelson was in September 2006 when we traveled in the same plane from Saravena to Bogotá and he expressed his concern about the persecution against him.<span style=""> </span>This time he told me, “Being in prison is very difficult.<span style=""> </span>Please tell people about my case.”</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Nelson had been arrested previously for rebellion on November 12, 2002 during the first mass arrest in Saravena.<span style=""> </span>More than 2,000 people were rounded up by the military and police that morning and taken to the sports arena.<span style=""> </span>They were forced to walk past a truck in which two informants pointed out the people to be detained.<span style=""> </span>Nelson and 42 others were charged with rebellion and imprisoned in Bogotá.<span style=""> </span>He spent 15 months in prison before being granted conditional release.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Carmen, Nelson’s spouse, told me that she would take the <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="5 A">5 A</st1:metricconverter>.M. bus on Saturday from Saravena to Bogotá – a 12 hour trip.<span style=""> </span>She would spend Saturday night on the sidewalk in front of the <st1:personname st="on" productid="La Picota">La Picota</st1:personname> prison in order to visit Nelson on Sunday – the day for women to visit the prisons in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Carmen now leaves Saravena at 2:30 A.M. on Sunday to get in line outside the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> prison by <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="5 A">5 A</st1:metricconverter>.M.<span style=""> </span>Yajaira (9 years old) and Sebastian (11 years old), their two children, travel to the prison every three months to visit their father.<span style=""> </span>The last time they had seen Nelson was on May 25 and they were very happy to be with their father again in court.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The judge in the first case declared Nelson and the others to be innocent in 2006.<span style=""> </span>That decision was appealed by the prosecutor.<span style=""> </span>The Bogotá superior court upheld the innocent verdict last month</span><b style=""><span style="color:red;"> </span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and disqualified the testimony of the witnesses in the case.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Nelson is now in prison for the same crime for which two courts have declared him to be innocent.<span style=""> </span>The “evidence” against him is the testimony of the same witness from the first case.<span style=""> </span>That witness claims to be a former guerrilla, and he entered a government demobilization program in 2003.<span style=""> </span>He states that he attended a meeting of guerrilla commanders in which Nelson was present in 2005 – two years after entering the government program.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span>The “investigation” against Nelson was carried out by the Support Unit of the prosecutor’s office based in the 18th military brigade headquarters in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>That unit was established in 2001</span><b style=""><span style="color:red;"> </span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">to investigate cases of “terrorism” – specifically defined as attacks against the pipeline that transports oil from Occidental Petroleum’s oilfield in Arauca to the Caribbean coast for shipment to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style=""> </span>Nelson is charged with rebellion, not terrorism.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Nelson’s lawyers requested that the case be dismissed because he’s already been tried for this same crime and the Support Unit doesn’t have the authority to investigate cases other than terrorism.<span style=""> </span>The prosecutor even agreed with them in relation to being tried twice for the same crime.<span style=""> </span>Nelson’s lawyers also requested that if the case were to continue, that he be granted house arrest.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>The judge ignored the concerns of the defense and the prosecutor, and denied the motions to dismiss the case and the request for house arrest.<span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Scott</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">P.S. I will be in the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> during September for my annual pilgrimage to the Canadian Rockies.<span style=""> </span>The week of September 15, I’ll be speaking in United Church of Christ congregations in <st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state> – <st1:city st="on">Billings</st1:city>, Red Lodge, Big Timber, <st1:city st="on">Bozeman</st1:city>, <st1:city st="on">Butte</st1:city> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Missoula</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>If you’d like to attend one of those presentations, please let me know and I’ll send you the date, time and location.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;">(Photo of Rosa, Nelson, Yajaira and Sebastian outside the Saravena circuit court)</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-50027212323423789102008-08-14T14:05:00.000-07:002008-08-14T14:08:53.721-07:00Subversive Memory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2VzaHWml6bxb5tr1nQ9siI73qxqW2UKxXGiD0NR8U7ajzSbsTvM-BmABYb37xuy60R_5blxDpJRDCFW-F96M3pO6f2HDT7Jr30wR8pRB4E5xr96WCWfPay8i2rKxeBwjMvW7DeC3Py8_/s1600-h/Aide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2VzaHWml6bxb5tr1nQ9siI73qxqW2UKxXGiD0NR8U7ajzSbsTvM-BmABYb37xuy60R_5blxDpJRDCFW-F96M3pO6f2HDT7Jr30wR8pRB4E5xr96WCWfPay8i2rKxeBwjMvW7DeC3Py8_/s400/Aide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234482971428789618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>The police intelligence agent was aiming through the gun slot of the guard post at the people who were marching through Saravena on August 5.<span> </span>He was crouched down below the bullet-proof glass window and was photographing the people that were commemorating the fourth anniversary of the killing of three beloved community leaders.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>An army truck then rushed to the front of the march and several soldiers jumped out with automatic rifles.<span> </span>One of the soldiers was also armed with a camera and he started taking photos, as well.<span> </span>Two soldiers on motorcycles rode through the people at t</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">he front of the march and then roared away.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>More than a thousand people marched along the main streets of Saravena that day in the subversive act of honoring the memory of Alirio Martinez, Leonel Goyeneche and Jorge Prieto.<span> </span>During the early morning of August 5, 2004, soldiers took the three men out of Jorge’s home in Caño Seco and executed them.<span> </span>Vice President Santos and Defense Minister Uribe said that the men were guerrillas who had shot at the soldiers, and the soldiers then shot back in self-defense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Alirio was the president of the state Peasant Association, Leonel was the director of an alternative adult high school in Saravena, and Jorge was the president of the Saravena health workers union.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKAxhBAlrnQUp7VQXO6uQ_2ZC6fqqlfNgdxgB_Vdx0ds5NQv3mQk2NjFPPc8X4TS12GpFStqSXSaCxyMMF3ntFAaBQpMbw71nWoiTAUUxfanIMUPgrK5Mp3QlvAbae78SPcKnjaSlpvbo/s1600-h/Memory+Gallery.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKAxhBAlrnQUp7VQXO6uQ_2ZC6fqqlfNgdxgB_Vdx0ds5NQv3mQk2NjFPPc8X4TS12GpFStqSXSaCxyMMF3ntFAaBQpMbw71nWoiTAUUxfanIMUPgrK5Mp3QlvAbae78SPcKnjaSlpvbo/s400/Memory+Gallery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234482792429047170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>A “memory gallery” was</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"> created in front of the social organizations’ building in Saravena on August 4 (see attached photo).<span> </span>Three banners were hung from the second floor with the names of Alirio, Leonel and Jorge.<span> </span>Photos of people who had been killed by the government security forces and the right-wing paramilitaries were then placed in front of the building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Hundreds of people gathered together that evening to honor the victims of government violence in the state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span> </span>During a very moving ceremony, candles and flowers were placed by the photos, people held hands in a moment of silence, and then joined together in applause.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>The march the following day ended at a sports arena.<span> </span>Father Teodoro and other priests from the churches of Saravena held a mass there for Alirio, Leonel and Jorge.<span> </span>During the homily, Fr. Teodoro called for “an end to the killings, mass arrests, hunger and poverty.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Three of the family members then spoke in honor of their loved ones.<span> </span>Aide was 21-years-old when her father, Alirio, was killed.<span> </span>The last time she saw him alive was in January 2003 when she left <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> to attend medical school in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span> </span>She had decided to follow her father’s example of service to the community by studying to become a doctor.<span> </span>She is now in her sixth year of medical school and will graduate next year.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>“Papa, your light shines in us, in each of our hearts, and we will uphold your example,” said Aide.<span> </span>“Today your life nourishes the ground on which the new <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region></st1:place> for which you struggled will arise.”<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Abdon Goyeneche is a teacher, like his brother Leonel.<span> </span>He talked about his brother and he also described being arrested shortly after the second anniversary of the killing in 2006.<span> </span>Abdon was charged with “rebellion” and spent ten months in prison.<span> </span>Luis Ernesto Goyeneche, another brother, was arrested for “rebellion” in December 2006 and is still in prison in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Cesar Prieto came up to the stage with his niece, one of Jorge’s daughters.<span> </span>Jorge’s son, Nelson, spoke during the first anniversary of the killing but was unable to attend this year.<span> </span>Nelson was a leader of the Saravena health workers union, and he was arrested for “rebellion” in February 2007 and is still in prison in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Arauca</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>One of the slogans of the social movement here is “<st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> exists, insists, and resists!”<span> </span>Honoring the memory of Alirio, Leonel and Jorge was a powerful expression of that resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-67926260074985355242008-07-17T12:27:00.000-07:002008-07-17T12:37:36.706-07:00"Guerrilla killed in combat"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxog422SJFKZXBC7P0L0gzw2cEm4xC-bDHGV9Sp2mCOhPwF1N_OZQonNRZBiNFnZXfsX9EIZ7245WIET78CosKDLxJU98jmIYYQqqLOEyfQyfhWesnjqeNVBU4Cx91aiuGR_9luUKEBFjD/s1600-h/Outside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxog422SJFKZXBC7P0L0gzw2cEm4xC-bDHGV9Sp2mCOhPwF1N_OZQonNRZBiNFnZXfsX9EIZ7245WIET78CosKDLxJU98jmIYYQqqLOEyfQyfhWesnjqeNVBU4Cx91aiuGR_9luUKEBFjD/s400/Outside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224067267458903138" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dear friends,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Aicardo Ortiz was shot to death inside his home by members of the Calibio Battalion at approximately 5:30 A.M. on July 8.<span style=""> </span>Aicardo was 58 years old and suffered health problems.<span style=""> </span>The army reported him as a guerrilla who had been killed in combat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>I was visiting the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in the city of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Barrancabermeja</st1:place></st1:city> that week and we were asked by the Cimitarra River Valley Peasant Association to accompany a mission to Aicardo’s house on July 10.<span style=""> </span>The mission included a representative of the presidential human rights office, five investigators from the prosecutor’s office, and two non-governmental human rights lawyers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aicardo lived in a ten foot by ten foot wood structure above a small corral a few miles from the community of San Francisco.<span style=""> </span>The investigators spent more than three hours analyzing the scene and then some of us were allowed to enter the house.<span style=""> </span>When I got to the doorway, I saw the large stain on the floor (two photos of Aicardo’s house are attached, although you may prefer not to view the second image of the inside of the house).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When members of the community arrived at the house after the killing, Aicardo’s body was laying on the ground outside.<span style=""> </span>Either Aicardo had somehow been able to get off the floor and make his way </span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">down the steps after losing so much blood, or his body had been moved from the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATulQcz8OMGnZRmwVg3Tt8Uw2YMGlDZFoM7unOCdLHync3JbkJS1ARQx_bD0ajhul3-oQgRg08-1WfN_-RneR0m42cyPgXihb6FXafWfdWGeHdqzqQpACM68IJxYBtaKHbHn7Xwyin1vk/s1600-h/Inside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATulQcz8OMGnZRmwVg3Tt8Uw2YMGlDZFoM7unOCdLHync3JbkJS1ARQx_bD0ajhul3-oQgRg08-1WfN_-RneR0m42cyPgXihb6FXafWfdWGeHdqzqQpACM68IJxYBtaKHbHn7Xwyin1vk/s400/Inside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224067400118321986" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Initially, there were also a two-way radio, grenade and revolver by the body.<span style=""> </span>Similar items have been planted by soldiers in previous cases of what are called here “extrajudicial executions” or “false positives.”<span style=""> </span>In this case, the radio was later removed by one of the soldiers, and the grenade was removed and detonated allegedly for safety concerns.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Calibio Battalion is </span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">utilizing four informants from San Francisco who apparently told the soldiers there were three guerrillas in Aicardo’s house.<span style=""> </span>When Aicardo didn’t open the door for the soldiers that morning, they forced it open and shot him.</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When we returned to San F</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">rancisco, Lieutenant Florez had a brief and very tense meeting with the community.<span style=""> </span>He had been in charge of the</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> operation on July 8, and he stated that everything was done legally and there had been an exchange of gunfire.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Two days later, Wilson Ramirez (commander of the Calibio Battalion) was quoted in the Vanguardia Liberal newspaper as stating “the </span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">troops reported an armed confrontation, but it appears that never existed.”<span style=""> </span>In relation to the supposed guerrillas in the house, he was quoted “I have information that there were not those guerrillas in the house.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The president has put pres</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">sure on the military to “show results” and national and international human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern about extrajudicial executions in Colombia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">“The international accompaniment (of the mission) was very valuable and it encourages people to speak out” said Carlos, regional coordinator of the peasant association.<span style=""> </span>“The people feel strong and protected, and we’d like to have continuous accompaniment” added Evaristo, another leader of the association.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Scott<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-26311827577031570242008-07-01T15:03:00.000-07:002008-07-17T12:35:14.315-07:00The "War on Drugs"<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The helicopter swooped by a couple hundred yards away, just above the trees, as we were traveling to the community of Malvinas on June 12.<span> </span>We stopped at a house alongside the road and heard more helicopters.<span> </span>We then saw the two planes that were spraying herbicide in the U.S.-financed “war on drugs.”</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGKhD5tDFI0Rc_TgtzKDN2_SFWJoxfBhDdJYdjcL-dEFgVUQDVSWkchoK11EbtYdw1N93CydM_y5UnBr-2HXFCk6MFlcZkvfSGH80V11faf6dzEXjpCmjJe0N43hDFs6ax8ls6c35RsIh/s1600-h/Plane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGKhD5tDFI0Rc_TgtzKDN2_SFWJoxfBhDdJYdjcL-dEFgVUQDVSWkchoK11EbtYdw1N93CydM_y5UnBr-2HXFCk6MFlcZkvfSGH80V11faf6dzEXjpCmjJe0N43hDFs6ax8ls6c35RsIh/s400/Plane.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218170103481033762" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>One of the planes flew directly overhead - in</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"> th</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">e photo you can see the tubing attached to the wing that is used for the fumigation.<span> </span>The plane was escorted by two helicopters which each had machine guns pointing out of both doors.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Peasant and human rights organizations have repeatedly denounced that the fumigations damage food crops and human health.<span> </span>On June 25 and 26, I traveled with representatives of the Joel Sierra Human Rights Foundation to visit farms that had been fumigated in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">municipality</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Arauquita</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Luis Alfonso and Amilia have four children and live in a small, dirt-floored, house alongside their field of corn and yuca.<span> </span>They</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNoInRl23l_5HQAizrmd8_fGP35UHdFNKTY8WjLZpJDrlRib3APUo4BMMSahvp_lrKe_MxWB2CLrrXrLHf3aiyqlwQCNI2Wof-Hf4TsniIbDbmuCIIyefpN0WirTrGRdDx0bEGbZH83M8/s1600-h/Crops.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNoInRl23l_5HQAizrmd8_fGP35UHdFNKTY8WjLZpJDrlRib3APUo4BMMSahvp_lrKe_MxWB2CLrrXrLHf3aiyqlwQCNI2Wof-Hf4TsniIbDbmuCIIyefpN0WirTrGRdDx0bEGbZH83M8/s400/Crops.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218170292650016498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"> don’t have any coca (the raw material used to manufacture cocaine) but their farm was still fumigated on June 10.<span> </span>The plants have withered and will not produce any harvest (see attached photo).<span> </span>Luis Alfonso borrowed money to plant the crops, and now he won’t be able to pay that money back nor does he know how he’ll be able to provide for the family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) detected approximately <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="6,700 acres">6,700 acres</st1:metricconverter> of coca here in the state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> in 2001 (the peak year, according to their figures).<span> </span>Between 2003 and 2007, nearly <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="60,000 acres">60,000 acres</st1:metricconverter> were fumigated in the state during five rounds of spraying.<span> </span>The amount of coca detected by the UNODC in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> at the end of 2007 was <st1:metricconverter st="on" productid="5,300 acres">5,300 acres</st1:metricconverter> – the largest amount since 2001.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>While the policy of massive aerial fumigation has failed to reduce coca cultivation in <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, it has generated substantial income for several <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> corporations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">1. DynCorp, a corporation of retired soldiers and soldiers-for-hire, has the State Department contract for drug eradication and interdiction in <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Bolivia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Peru</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region> – with the primary focus being the aerial fumigations in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span> </span>DynCorp receives $174 million per year for that contract.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">2. United Technologies manufactures Black Hawk helicopters and received $234 million for the eighteen Black Hawks given to <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> as part of Plan <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> - a huge increase in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> military aid pushed through Congress by Bill Clinton in 2000 using the justification of the “war on drugs.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">3. Textron manufactures Huey helicopters and received $81 million for the forty two Hueys given to <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> as part of Plan <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US">4. Monsanto manufactures the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup) that has been used to fumigate more than 2.5 million acres in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> during the last eight years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>According to peasant and human rights organizations in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>, the fumigations also benefit the oil corporations by causing people to abandon the rural areas where oil exploration is occurring.<span> </span>Occidental Petroleum (a <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> corporation), Repsol (a Spanish corporation), and Ecopetrol (a corporation primarily owned by the Colombian government) are currently exploring several new oilfields in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>The peasant organizations in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> are calling on the government to halt the fumigations.<span> </span>The peasants have expressed their willingness to manually eradicate the coca in exchange for assistance with alternative crops and marketing that would enable them to provide for their families.<span> </span>In the last two weeks, some of the peasants have already started eradicating even though the government has not agreed to the proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>Scott<span> </span><span><br /></span></span></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-71983119330846306832008-05-27T17:26:00.000-07:002008-05-27T17:29:44.401-07:00ACTION ALERT<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Papyrus;" lang="ES"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Papyrus;" lang="ES">Centro De Intercambio Y Solidaridad, -CIS-<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>May 2008<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="ES"><o:p> </o:p></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">“MONSEÑOR OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO COMMUNITY” IN TONACATEPEQUE <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">THREATENED WITH EVICTION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">v<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Support their struggle to purchase the land where they live.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;" align="center"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">v<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Help with emergency aid for rain damage, and for a family whose home burned down<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The community, located in the Department of San Salvador and the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Municipality</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Tonacatepeque</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, chose the name “Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero” because Msgr. Romero was their source of hope <span style=""> </span>in their darkest hours:<span style=""> </span>during war, and after Hurricane Mitch (1998) and the earthquakes of 2001.<span style=""> </span>The community took refuge in Romero’s radical option for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">No history is simple in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> and this community has its story, too.<span style=""> </span>The Oscar Arnulfo Romero community made up of 98 families, originating<span style=""> </span>from San Vicente, Usulután, Soyapango, San Martin, Chalatenango, among others, with the common thread that they are families without land, affected by the war, Hurricane Mitch, and the 2001 earthquakes, are poor, and excluded.<span style=""> </span>They came together to settle on this land, owned by the government’s “Social Fund for Housing” (Fondo Social para <st1:personname productid="la Vivienda" st="on">la Vivienda</st1:PersonName>).<span style=""> </span>They chose the land to take over, knowing there would be the possibility to negotiate the settlement due to the Constitution which guarantees dignified housing (Art. 119). The “Social Fund for Housing” is set up precisely to respond to this need.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">When the community members illegally settled on the land on <st1:date month="3" day="28" year="2005" st="on">March 28, 2005</st1:date>, they were met violently by the riot policy and four community members were thrown in jail.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Nonetheless, with nowhere else to go, the community was persistent in its action and would not be deterred.<span style=""> </span>One year later, <st1:date month="3" day="24" year="2006" st="on">March 24, 2006</st1:date>, it was recognized as a legal association in Tonacatepeque by the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">FMLN-led</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Council and was legally recognized on <st1:date month="4" day="26" year="2006" st="on">April 26, 2006</st1:date> when its bi-laws were published in the Official Diary of the Salvadoran Government.<span style=""> </span>The Government’s “Social Fund for Housing” recognized their settlement as legitimate when it offered them the option of purchasing the land in 2006. <span style=""> </span>FUNDASAL (Salvadoran Foundation for Development and Basic Housing), the oldest and most respected housing NGO in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, offered to finance the purchase of 6 manzanas of land (about 10.38 acres).<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The community, with strong will and organization, worked together to get water and electricity installed in their tin-and-cardboard houses.<span style=""> </span>They went to the Government water utility, ANDA, which agreed to install water in the community in 2006.<span style=""> </span>The private electric company also agreed to install electrical lines, after the community went through all the legal and paper work.<span style=""> </span>In July 2006 the Social Fund for Housing promised the community members that they could stay on the land if they could come up with $8,671.94 per manzana which was verified in a meeting in October 2007.<span style=""> </span>In November 2007, FUNDASAL agreed to finance the purchase of 6 manzanas for $52,031.64; the community would pay them back at a manageable rate with no interest and doing the technical measurements and legal divisions of the land.<span style=""> </span>Things were looking good for the future of this humble community and their organization was paying off.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The community’s problems began when ARENA won the municipal elections and took power on <st1:date month="5" day="1" year="2006" st="on">May 1, 2006</st1:date>.<span style=""> </span>Since then, Mayor Gilberto Erroa has led an attack on the community and is pressuring them to change their name. The mayor says he will give them land, water and electricity if they change their name.<span style=""> </span>On principle the community is not willing to change their name; in addition, they see it as a trap, since they have legal recognition under that name, they would lose legal backing if they changed their name.<span style=""> </span>The community had an agreement the water utility ANDA and the electric company to provide utilities which the community would pay for.<span style=""> </span>Both utilities agreed, but as part of the legal process in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, they need the signature of local authorities -- in this case, the Mayor.<span style=""> </span>The Mayor, Gilberto Erroa, refused to sign the permission, calling the families in the community “usurpers and illegals”.<span style=""> </span>A false charge, given that by this time their possession of the land had been recognized by various government and non-governmental entities.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">At the same time the Mayor got a commitment from 18 of the 98 families to support the ARENA party and change the name of the community to “Nuevo Manantial”. The Mayor rewarded them for splitting from the Monsignor Romero community by providing them with a water fountain and promising that they could stay on the land, while the other families would be evicted. <span style=""> </span>He formed a parallel community council and refused to authorize the board members of the legal community council.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">After the October 2007 meeting with FUNDASAL and the Social Fund for Housing, FUNDASAL wrote a letter in November of 2007 committing to pay for the land.<span style=""> </span>However, the Social Fund for Housing replied that it had decided to sell the land to the Salvadoran Institute for Agrarian Reform (ISTA).<span style=""> </span>The Administrative Manager of FUNDASAL, Miguel Francisco Galdamez Rojas in a letter dated <st1:date month="2" day="15" year="2008" st="on">February 15, 2008</st1:date>, states that in a meeting on <st1:date month="2" day="1" year="2008" st="on">February 1, 2008</st1:date>, the decision was taken by the Board of Directors to sell the land to ISTA.<span style=""> </span>An article in the El Salvador’s daily paper, “El Diario de Hoy” dated March 27, 2007, cites ISTA’s central manager as saying that 1) it will buy 8 manzanas of the land and distribute it to poor families, and 2)<span style=""> </span>It will pay $1.35 million for the land, quite a sizable amount larger that the value quoted by the Social Fund for Housing.<span style=""> </span>The same article states that ISTA will give the land to poor families that can prove their stay on the land.<span style=""> </span>Yet the 80 families that have been living on the land for 3 years have not been invited to meetings attended by ISTA representative Benjamin Juarez and Mayor Erroa.<span style=""> </span>The community has been repeatedly threatened with eviction.<span style=""> </span>The Mayor has no legal say over the land and at least to date ISTA is not the legal owner of the land.<span style=""> </span>The arbitrary acts of ISTA representative Benjamin Juarez and Mayor Erroa, given that the Constitution of El Salvador protects the possession and right to property.<span style=""> </span>In a meeting with the Community Board of Directors and leadership of ISTA on May 22<sup>nd</sup>, in fact, Ing. Mauricio Rivera in charge of purchasing land for ISTA clarified that ISTA did not have the money to purchase the land and it was not the intention of ISTA to acquire land in dispute or evict the poor.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The community members approached the CIS looking for support for their cause.<span style=""> </span>The CIS has made a commitment to accompanying the community in its struggle for their land, legal status, water, and electricity.<span style=""> </span>The community has joined the CIS community network for Cooperation and Solidarity.<span style=""> </span>Communities have pledged to accompany the families if they are threatened with eviction.<span style=""> </span>The CIS has agreed seek legal support for the community.<span style=""> </span>At the current moment, the community is in negotiations with the different actors in their case:<span style=""> </span>Social Fund for Housing, FUNDASAL, the Mayor and City Council of Tonacatepeque, ISTA, and the Commission for Justice and Human Rights of the Legislative Assembly.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The 98 families of “Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero Community” need your support:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">1.<span style=""> </span>The community board of directors has asked for letters, phone calls or faxes (preferably in Spanish) to the Fondo Social para <st1:personname productid="la Vivienda President" st="on">la Vivienda President</st1:PersonName> and executive Director, Ing. Enrique Oñate and to the Legislative Assembly, calling for:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The FONDO SOCIAL PARA LA VIVIENDA to sell the 6 manzanas occupied by 98 families of Comunidad Oscar Arnulfo Romero in Toncatepeque to FUNDASAL, IMMEDIATELY, and comply with their mission to “finance agile and efficient <span style=""> </span>housing solutions, providing favorable and sustainable credit conditions, satisfying the social necessity for workers and other population groups, to contribute to elevate their living conditions and reduce the habitational deficit” (<a href="http://www.fsv.gob.sv/">http://www.fsv.gob.sv</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Presidente y Director Ejecutiva Fondo Social de Vivienda<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Ing. Enrique Oñate<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Calle Rubén Darío y 17 Ave. Sur, #901 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">San Salvador</span></st1:City></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Telephone:<span style=""> </span>011-503-2231-2000; 011-503-2222-3119; 2281-0988<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Fax:<span style=""> </span>011-503-2271-2910<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Also</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> – write the Comision de Justicia y Derechos Humanos (Commission for Justice and Human Rights), of the Legislative Assembly, asking them to use their good offices to resolve the conflict over land in the Romero Community and to guarantee that the Fondo Social <span style=""> </span>para la Vivienda sell the land to FUNDASAL so it can offer housing to family’s in need.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Asamblea Legislativa, Centro de Gobierno<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Edeficio de Comisiones, Comision de Justicia y Derechos Humanos<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">Presidente:<span style=""> </span>Diputada Irma Amaya<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES">San Salvador, El Salvador<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Fax:<span style=""> </span>011-503-2281-9526<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">E-mail:<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;" lang="ES-SV"><a href="mailto:comision_justicia@asamblea.gob.sv"><span style="text-decoration: none;" lang="EN-US">comision_justicia@asamblea.gob.sv</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">***Please send copies of correspondence to:<span style=""> </span>cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Additionally,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="ES-SV">2.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The community has asked CIS for financial support for families living in precarious conditions.<span style=""> </span>Now that the rain has started (May 1 – Nov. 1), people’s homes are leaking, and they would like tin to reinforce their homes until they have permission to build permanent homes.<span style=""> </span>A sheet of tin is $13.<span style=""> </span>If we give five sheets of tin per family, the total cost is $65 per family.<span style=""> </span>There are 98 families in the community.<span style=""> </span>The families in the most precarious conditions will be prioritized.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">3.<span style=""> </span>When CIS and a delegation from <st1:placename st="on">Dominican</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:City></st1:place> visited the community on May 15, the home of a single mother, Nolvia Segura Rico, and her 8 and 10 year old daughter and son, burned to the ground.<span style=""> </span>They lost everything except the clothing on their back.<span style=""> </span>The community has requested $766 to rebuild her home and $515 for a small stove, table and chairs, a bed and a bunk bed.<span style=""> </span>The CIS is collecting used clothing, blankets, and basic food at the CIS for the family as well.<span style=""> </span>A candle fell over, which would not have happened if the mayor would have authorized access to electricity. <span style=""> </span>Additionally, the community could not put the fire out due to Mayor Erroa’s denial of potable water in the community.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Tax deductible donations can be sent in U.S. dollars to:<span style=""> </span>Los Olivos CIS / PO <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">BOX</st1:Street> 76</st1:address> / <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Westmont</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">IL</st1:State> <st1:postalcode st="on">60559-0076</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Make a note “Romero Community”.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-SV"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-27023413821410636912008-05-20T20:53:00.000-07:002008-05-20T20:57:20.039-07:00Argentina: A Different Kind of Land Occupation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8087coG0l2vaYy2ryhWIMY0AQCHBlXq93peKAgEep-AQzO54rtMdYFWEf9sSOdpdmDeZCw5t1Zi-PwsZPMQwR74lInaIFv6bQ8-dtgGWXhAkTAJc2Fwy-G0-znF9Br42FFUjcC66ehvR/s1600-h/6-tierra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8087coG0l2vaYy2ryhWIMY0AQCHBlXq93peKAgEep-AQzO54rtMdYFWEf9sSOdpdmDeZCw5t1Zi-PwsZPMQwR74lInaIFv6bQ8-dtgGWXhAkTAJc2Fwy-G0-znF9Br42FFUjcC66ehvR/s400/6-tierra.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202675067182492898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"><span class="small"> Written by Shane Kavanagh </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="createdate" valign="top"> Tuesday, 20 May 2008 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <span style=";font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;" >"This is going to be a different type of occupation," say the people of Tierra y Libertad (Land and Freedom), a land occupation on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The name of their group gives an idea of what they intend. The occupation began on March 29th this year when 40 families entered a small parcel of land in La Matanza and began setting up a community. Since then the occupation has grown to over 135 families and has continued to organize and resist eviction in the face of intimidation and violence.<br /><br />Land occupations are not unusual in the poorest suburbs surrounding Buenos Aires (the neighbouring land was occupied 3 years ago), but what sets this apart is the vision for another kind of community. All decisions are taken by popular assembly and political parties and the associated mechanisms of party politics have been consciously excluded. In place of this is a plan that includes two community centres, one for meetings and activities and another one for two common brick and bread ovens.<br /><br />The history of the land itself gives an idea of the extent of corruption at the local level that exists is this suburb. While the land officially belongs to the Insituto de la Vivienda de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (Department of Housing for the Provence of Buenos Aires) it has already been occupied by a local business figure who has also occupied a number of similar parcels of land and used them for his own business interests or has sold some of them off for his own profit. Locals describe a system of intimidation and violence linked to the protection of these interests and the people at Tierra y Libertad have had to endure nights of gunfire, the wounding in the shoulder of one of the community and death threats to maintain their current occupation.<br /><br />Solidarity has arrived from a wide variety of groups and social movements. While people in surrounding suburbs have had mixed views about the occupation many have arrived to lend resources and support. Alongside them are people and groups from other grassroots organisations including Madres Plaza Mayo, and an anarcho-feminist collective that is donating clothes for fund raising and is going to provide education on violence and unwanted pregnancy prevention. Sunday has been designated as an open day where many arrive to spend the day and has included a clothes fair, barbeques, videos and community volleyball.<br /><br />After surviving its first difficult month, Tierra y Libertad is attempting to reinforce its presence and organise to resist attempts at eviction. Homes are being built, electricity is being extended to all and land it being cleared. Support for the community will be crucial over the coming months to resist eviction and reinforce the community.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-85707738842699667982008-05-17T11:38:00.000-07:002008-05-17T11:39:29.338-07:00US Naval Fleet to Be Positioned Off the Coast of South America<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDsECMZHJNbJcIyUUxe7tCvLxIm52EwqfX4CBGkajcbBdAQSog1keO9narsvII4HyrBELGkDsrnCJI2yZSwImqmf1UApR6oLygSlYMolGT6FHd9MYX0_zbUoaP5evN0D9eE4tdlN4Yjim/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDsECMZHJNbJcIyUUxe7tCvLxIm52EwqfX4CBGkajcbBdAQSog1keO9narsvII4HyrBELGkDsrnCJI2yZSwImqmf1UApR6oLygSlYMolGT6FHd9MYX0_zbUoaP5evN0D9eE4tdlN4Yjim/s320/01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201418239492598962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The news from the Pentagon that the US is re-establishing its </span><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a094x7Qa8Qeo"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Fourth Naval Fleet</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> in the Caribbean, ostensibly to "build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts" unfortunately shows that the days a US military threat to Latin America are far from over. </span><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Furthermore, it underlines the need for the countries of Latin America to develop a new, independent military doctrine that replaces the US-backed and developed ‘</span><a href="http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Herman%2520/NaziParallelFascism_Herman.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">National Security Doctrine</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">’ which provided the rationale for so much terror and bloodshed throughout the region between the 1950s and 1990s, and which subordinated Latin American security interests to those of their northern neighbour. (The Fourth Fleet has not been used in the region since 1950.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The re-establishment of the Fourth Fleet comes at a time when much of Latin America is emerging from under the imperial shadow, with Paraguay being the latest country to </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7357962.stm"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">elect</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> a left-wing leader. Paraguay joins a growing list of countries seeking an independent, more egalitarian and just path towards development, in direct contrast to the decades of US backed dictatorships and neoliberalism. This growing independence is a direct threat to North American domination of the region, traditionally seen as its strategic resource reserve and ‘backyard’.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The nuclear aircraft carrier-equipped US Navy fleet will provide an offshore base from which to observe, threaten, coordinate and possibly launch black operations. This is the role that similar naval groups have carried out in the past, in the Persian Gulf, against Nicaragua, and off the coasts of </span><a href="http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB118/bz05.pdf"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Brazil</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/landau09112003.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Chile</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">. They can also be rapidly expanded to provide air and logistical support for larger operations, such as the invasions of </span><a href="http://www.fpif.org/papers/grenada2003.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Grenada</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.brianwillson.com/awolpanama.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Panama</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> in 1983 and 1989 respectively. This is the reality that underlies the talk of ‘counter-narcotics operations’ and ‘cooperation with regional partners’ and it is the reality that the governments of Latin America must prepare for. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The creation of this fleet does nothing to lower the tensions caused by the Colombian regimes </span><a href="http://www.redpepper.org.uk/article1217.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">attack</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> into Ecuadorean territory, and will in fact heighten the threat of war in the region. Colombian aggression is underpinned by its close alliance with the United States, an alliance secured through the huge amounts of US </span><a href="http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/aidprop.htm"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">military aid</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> which sustain the current Colombian government. Colombia already has the largest, and most advanced </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Colombia"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">military</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> in the region, and with US Navy air and logistical support will have a vastly increased offensive potential, something that is a direct threat to stability in the region. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The target of this threatening move is without doubt the government of President Chavez in Venezuela. The democratic Bolivarian revolution is at the heart of the new independence movement in Latin America, and has, through its example, inspired millions throughout the region to challenge the neoliberal economic model. With its revolutionary project to construct a 21st century socialism, Venezuela challenges US ideological hegemony, and thus threatens to undermine and destroy the dominance of US championed free-market capitalism, which in turn threatens to end the days of US access to cheap raw materials extracted from Latin America. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Although Venezuela is currently the biggest US target in the region, it is not the only one. Cuba still stands defiantly challenging US hegemony having withstood 50 years of naked </span><a href="http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Caribbean/US_Aggression_Cuba.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">aggression</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> in every sphere. Bolivia has elected the continent’s first indigenous president, promising to end 500 years of exploitation and subjugation. Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina have all elected left of centre governments that are in some measure challenging US hegemony in the region. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The US has re-established the Fourth Fleet in a direct move against this new ‘</span><a href="http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2207"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">pink tide</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">’. A threat, and a statement of intent to remind all those in the region that the imperial master may be occupied elsewhere, but his reach is still long. As ever, where there is an imperial power, there are imperial servants, with no greater one than </span><a href="http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia185.htm"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Alvaro Uribe </span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">of Colombia who sits at the head of the most </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901118.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">bloodthirsty</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> government that Latin America has seen since the vicious, genocidal wars waged against the peoples of Guatemala and El Salvador. The Fourth Fleet is doubtless also meant to shore up this US ally, and ensure that he can continue to provoke and destabilise the region. Such provocation could be used as the rationale for a direct US intervention in the region, as was the premise in the NATO exercise "</span><a href="http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk/ven/web/2006/articles/operation_balboa.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Operation Balboa</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">", which rehearsed the invasion of western Venezuela by combined NATO forces with Panamanian and Colombian assistance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Such a possibility underlines the need, now more than ever, for Latin American governments to develop a common defensive strategy. For too long the nations of what Marti called ‘Nuestra America’ (Our America) and Bolivar the ‘Patria Grande’, have remained divided, easy prey for foreign governments and corporations. Latin American militaries have been blinded by a vision of patriotism and sovereignty that only understands borders, and wilfully ignores the fact that there is no ‘patria’ beyond the people, and that there is no sovereignty when natural resources can be plundered in the interests of the wealthy few at home and abroad. The first steps towards this unity are being taken on a political and economic level by the establishment of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (</span><a href="http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/339"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">ALBA</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">), and must be reinforced by an integrated defensive doctrine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Given the history of US </span><a href="http://www.zompist.com/latam.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">intervention</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> in Latin America, with direct military interventions in Nicaragua, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Grenada, Panama and with covert interventions in Honduras, Guatemela, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Chile and Brazil among others, it is not unreasonable for a future integrated doctrine also to be focused on resisting further interventions from the ‘Giant of the North’. The only way that this can be done is by developing a doctrine based around the concept of ‘the people in arms’, which was successful in defeating French and US interventions in Vietnam. This is the basis of Venezuela’s military reorganisation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Such a re-alignment of Latin American militaries away from serving foreign interests is bound to be resisted fiercely by the United States government, and by its military industrial complex, who will doubtless categorise it as ‘threatening stability’ and being ‘anti-democratic’. As regional unity grows and coheres, it is likely that the US will ever more aggressively seek to sow discord and conflict among neighbours. Already the US has supported and helped plan a coup in </span><a href="http://www.fpif.org/papers/venezuela.html"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Venezuela</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">, has been accused of supporting the secession movement in </span><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/26/america/LA-GEN-Bolivia-US.php"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Bolivia</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">, and of assisting </span><a href="http://www.alternet.org/audits/80499/"><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">Colombia’s</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;"> illegal and aggressive attack on Ecuadorean territory. It is highly unlikely that interference will end here, with the US already talking about extending the economic blockade of Cuba to include Venezuela.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia,times new roman,times,serif;font-size:100%;">The development of a capacity to resist aggression is not synonymous with the militarization of the region. Effective defence against external intervention is vital for economic and social development. Together with new visions of development based upon the concepts of solidarity and sustainability, a regional defensive doctrine forms part of the ongoing efforts to achieve true sovereignty. For too long the peoples of Latin America have been the victims of violence and terror, inflicted upon them by local elites in alliance with the US. It is time that they were able to stand up, and embark upon the construction of their societies independently and without fear.</span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-14781418836273429872008-05-17T11:31:00.001-07:002008-05-17T11:36:42.355-07:00El Salvador: Hector Ventura of the Suchitoto 14 Assassinated<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaRDBViknjUE4TN3jWekpAMIbJfTtEer2p4js2g97rMAQaiLOJaYokMtHhwNW1ZN5gCYLOpjgahwpl8DWqerH6k81epRsj_48ftSrV1wCwcDNSg08w8wSG5uB72tSIXys4uZxDFYM6-7S/s1600-h/hector,+small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaRDBViknjUE4TN3jWekpAMIbJfTtEer2p4js2g97rMAQaiLOJaYokMtHhwNW1ZN5gCYLOpjgahwpl8DWqerH6k81epRsj_48ftSrV1wCwcDNSg08w8wSG5uB72tSIXys4uZxDFYM6-7S/s320/hector,+small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201417251650120866" border="0" /></a><br /> <p style="text-align: justify;">On Friday May 2nd, Hector Antonio Ventura was assassinated in the community of Valle Verde, Suchitoto. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city> was the youngest of the 14 political prisoners captured in Suchitoto on July 2nd, 2007. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">According to preliminary reports, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city> was stabbed to death. Another victim, who was with <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city>, was attacked but survived. Reports say that the assailants were at least two men, who entered the back room of the house where <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city> and his friend slept and attacked them. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">According to a 1994 report by the Joint Group for the Investigation of Illegally Armed Groups with Political Motivations in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a Peace Accords initiative in response to the reappearance of armed groups after 1992, there are three key elements that qualify a political murder. These elements are that the victim is seen as a member of the political opposition, that the murder is planned with the goal of killing the specific victim, and that the assailants are granted impunity by the State. Because <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:city> was a recently freed political prisoner and because the attack was not a random incident but demonstrated prior planning, the murder suggests political motives. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ventura was killed days after having agreed to speak at the Day Against Impunity, an event planned to take place this coming July 2nd in Suchitoto, on the anniversary of last years capture of the Suchitoto 14 by police. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday in a press conference, Salvadoran legal and community organizations demanded that the Attorney General and National Civilian Police begin an extensive investigation of the case, one that investigates not only the assailants but also the intellectual authors of the assassination. They also request that the Ombudsperson for Human Rights act to protect the lives of the witnesses and verify that the case is investigated thoroughly. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Ventura´s murder is one of a number of assassinations of political opposition leaders and activists in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the last few years, and one in a recent series of murders of young people in historically government opposition communities in the Suchitoto area during the last two weeks. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lorena Araujo Martinez, president of CRIPDES said yesterday: ¨These atrocious crimes demonstrate why we must demand a complete investigation of this and the other murders with possible political motivations. We ask the national and international community, as they have stood with the Suchitoto 14 throughout the last 10 months, to keep working in solidarity to achieve justice for the victims of these crimes.¨<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-17321579460848335182008-03-27T07:48:00.000-07:002008-03-27T08:01:32.384-07:00Colombian Journey - Speaking Tour<span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> (Maria Ruth with her twin daughters – Maria Jose and Maria Camila)</span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGivoRsD92ia9qsAyW4_P6MGCQvOTsiTSE904mHxRaaSjlvCBGwX_FjC0fqMNAdFy-o9NpwFpeXEn0K-0lI3NpjSn6MCUbS24c2usM9uErEtuqP0Hq4TZj8AQHt8y8lvrx9zxKJWQo8U/s1600-h/Maria+Ruth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGivoRsD92ia9qsAyW4_P6MGCQvOTsiTSE904mHxRaaSjlvCBGwX_FjC0fqMNAdFy-o9NpwFpeXEn0K-0lI3NpjSn6MCUbS24c2usM9uErEtuqP0Hq4TZj8AQHt8y8lvrx9zxKJWQo8U/s320/Maria+Ruth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182434147779967154" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Dear friends,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>I arrived here in Bogotá yesterday and I’m flying to Los Angeles tomorrow</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> to arrange the final details for a Northwest speaking tour by Maria Ruth Sanabria (see schedule at end of mes</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">sage).<span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth is a mother of six children who is risking her life to defend human rights in one of the most war-torn regions of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>She is the Arauquita representative for the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and was elected to the Arauquita municipal counc</span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">il in October as a candidate of the Alternative Democratic Pole opposition party.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth will be giving a presentation, “Women Waging Peace in <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region>,” that includes some of the photos that I’ve taken in the state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government is providing <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> with $1.5 million per day in military aid – some of which is being used to protect Occidental Petroleum’s operations in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth will describe how women are resisting the war and waging peace, and how you can support them in their struggle.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Maria Ruth has been “displaced” (forced to flee from her home) several times because of her work to defend human rights.<span style=""> </span>She fled from her hometown of San Alberto, Cesar when hired gunmen sought to kill her in 1988.<span style=""> </span>Her first husband was assassinated two years later because of his involvement with the Patriotic Union opposition party.<span style=""> </span>She fled from San Alberto again in 1994 to escape from a paramilitary death squad.<span style=""> </span>She had to abandon the city of <st1:city st="on">Bucaramanga</st1:city> the following year after the paramilitaries tracked her down there and she had to flee from the capital city of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bogotá</st1:place></st1:city> when they located her there in 1996.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>Maria Ruth has been living in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> for the past ten years.<span style=""> </span>In addition to the threats from the government security forces, she has also been threatened by both of the guerrilla groups present in the state.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">“<st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> is a very beautiful and fertile state that is being destroyed by the war and the oil corporations,” says Maria Ruth.<span style=""> </span>“I want my children to be able to live in peace and to enjoy the rivers, estuaries and grasslands of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Instead of sending more weapons, we ask that the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> government use your tax dollars to provide support for schools, health care and decent housing – in Arauca, as well as the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>”</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>In love and solidarity,</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style=""> </span>Scott</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Maria Ruth will be speaking in:</span></span></span></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Helena</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">, <st1:state st="on">Montana</st1:state> on Monday, April 7 at 7 P.M. in 107 O’Connell Hall at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Carroll</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"></st1:city></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Bozeman</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Tuesday, April 8 at 7 P.M. in Strand Union Building Room 276 at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Montana</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:city></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Billings</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Wednesday, April 9 at 7 P.M. in St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">180 24th St. West</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"></st1:city></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Butte</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Thursday, April 10 at 7 P.M. in the Copper Lounge of the <st1:placename st="on">Student</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Union</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Building</st1:placetype> at <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Montana</st1:place></st1:state> Tech</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Kalispell on Monday, April 14 at 7 P.M. in the Blake Hall Board Room at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Flathead</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Community College</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:place></st1:city></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Hamilton</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Thursday, April 17 at 7 P.M. in the First Presbyterian Church at <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">1220 West Main Street</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:place></st1:city></li><li><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Missoula</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> on Sunday, April 20 at 6:30 P.M. in University Congregational Church at </span><st1:street style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:address st="on">405 University Avenue</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:city></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Spokane</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Monday, April 21 at noon in (location TBA) at <st1:placename st="on">Eastern</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> and at 7 P.M. in the Wolff Auditorium of the <st1:placename st="on">Jepson</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype> at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Gonzaga</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span><br /><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:city></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Coeur d’Alene</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Tuesday, April 22 at noon in Todd Hall of the Molstead Library at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Idaho</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span><br /><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:city></st1:place></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Twisp</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">, <st1:state st="on">Washington</st1:state></span></st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 P.M. in the Confluence Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Bellingham on Wednesday, April 23 at noon in the Fairhaven College auditorium at Western Washington University, <span style="font-weight: bold;">AND </span>at 7 P.M. in the First Congregational Church of Bellingham at 2401 Cornwall Ave<o:p></o:p><br /></span></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Ellensburg on Thursday, April 24 at 7 P.M. in Black Hall 152 at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Central</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Washington</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"></span></st1:city></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><st1:city st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;">Portland</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black;"> on Monday, April 28 at 7 P.M. in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Portland</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Mennonite</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> at </span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">1312 SE 35th Ave.</span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><st1:city st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"></span></st1:city></span></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Eugene</span></st1:city><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 P.M. in (location TBA) at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Oregon</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span><br /><st1:city st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"></span></st1:city></span></span></span></p></li><li> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><st1:city st="on"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Corvallis</span></st1:city><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> on Wednesday, April 30 at noon in Waldo Hall 240 at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Oregon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"></span></p></li><li><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">White Salmon, <st1:state st="on">Washington</st1:state> on Thursday, May 1 at 7 P.M. in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bethel</st1:city></st1:place> United <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Christ</st1:placename> at <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">480 E. Jewett Blvd.</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p></li></ul>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-60364819967218640392008-03-15T15:16:00.000-07:002008-03-27T08:03:53.053-07:00CAJA Event<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="color:black;">Public Service Announcement<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="color:black;">The Failures of NAFTA and New Ways to Move Forward</span></i><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color:black;">Community Action for Justice in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Americas</st1:country-region></st1:place> will host an international panel of experts who will discuss free trade, immigration, and security.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">Wednesday, April 9 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">6:00pm—Reception at the Badlander<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;">7:00 pm—Panel at Palace Hotel (formerly Casa Pablo’s).<span style=""> </span>All ages<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="color:black;">Event sponsored by: Global Exchange, Central Labor Council, Forward Montana, Jeanette Rankin Peace Center, Students for Economic and Social Justice, UM Environmental Studies Dept, Helena Peaceseekers, IWW Montana</span></i><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On April 15, Community Action for Justice in the <st1:country-region st="on">Americas</st1:country-region> will gather together a panel of experts from the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, and <st1:country-region st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region> to discuss how NAFTA and other free trade agreements have failed, and how citizens can forge a new way forward in the arenas of trade, immigration, and security in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Americas</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This panel of speakers from Global Exchange, Council of Canadians, Mexican Action Network on Free Trade, and the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia will come together to sound a call to arms to the citizens of these countries to raise their voices in the fight for global integrity. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">NAFTA is approaching its fifteenth birthday.<span style=""> </span>Even with the human rights violations and economic failures attributed to this fair trade agreement, major corporations and executive branches of <st1:country-region st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, and the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> are meeting behind closed doors to forge further agreements known as the Security and Prosperity Partnership.<span style=""> </span>This subverts the democratic process by excluding public input and consultation with national legislatures. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:black;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color:black;">Panelists<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:black;">Carleen Pickard: </span></u><span class="regtext">Regional Organizer for the Council of Canadians, which is <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s largest citizens' organization with members and chapters across the country.<span style=""> </span>Carleen works with communities to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, safe food, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="regtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="regtext"><u>Hector Sanchez: </u>Policy Education Coordinator for Global Exchange's <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> Program. He represents the program in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Washington</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place>, where he coordinates efforts to inform and organize legislators and key organizations in support of new priorities on trade and immigration. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="regtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="regtext"><u>Manuel Perez Rocha</u>: Associate Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Washington</st1:city> <st1:state st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place>, Manuel directs an advocacy and research project on "the Security and Prosperity Partnership and the NAFTA Plus Agenda." Manuel works in coordination with the <st1:city st="on">Alliance</st1:city> for Responsible Trade in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> and is a member of the Mexican Action Network on Free Trade (RMALC). He has worked for more than a decade with Mexican and international civil society organizations and networks including the Hemispheric Social Alliance and Oxfam International doing advocacy work for fair economic relations among countries, particularly for trade with justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="regtext"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3097366713191358412.post-25079255512754940212008-02-16T08:50:00.000-08:002008-02-16T09:17:29.940-08:00A Tense Calm Breaks<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>“The present is uncertain and the future is uncertain,” Sonia told me on February 13.<span> </span>Sonia is the president of the Joel Sierra Human Rights Foundation here in Saravena, <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<span> </span>There is a “tense calm” now and people are concerned about what will happen when that calm breaks.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>“There was a calm period during 2007 and people started returning to their homes,” said Sonia.<span> </span>“Then there was a series of killings (in January 2008) and people had to leave their homes again.”<span> </span>After those killings, Sonia, her spouse Eduardo, and their two children left their home and moved into the social organizations building in Saravena.<span> </span>She and Eduardo are at risk from FARC militia members and, also, from the government security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>“We’re relatively safe here with protective </span><span style="font-size:100%;">security measures but I’m worried about my brother and my parents” she said.<span> </span>Sonia’s brother was detained in August 2006 by ELN guerrillas who accused him of being a supporter of the FARC guerrillas.<span> </span>Fortunately, his community reacted quickly and demanded his release – which saved his life.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>“When the paramilitaries (right-wing armed groups allied with the military) couldn’t find the person they were looking for, they would kill someone else from that person’s family,” explained Sonia.<span> </span>“So far, that hasn’t happened in this conflict,” but she’s still concerned for her parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>The ELN and FARC guerrillas have been present here in the state of <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place> for more than twenty years, and both groups claim to be fighting against the government in order to achieve social justice.<span> </span>However, for the past two years they’ve been fighting against each other in Arauca for the control of territory and resources – and that fight exploded again last month.<span> </span>Both groups have threatened, displaced and killed civilians that they view as supporting the other side.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span><span> </span>In the midst of this insanity, Sonia and I felt the need to “desahogarnos” – let our feelings out.<span> </span>She described the process as “sharing our sorrows.”<span> </span>We talked about the difficulty of not knowing what’s going to happen next – you think that the situation can’t get any worse and then something happens and it does worsen.<span> </span>Most recently, the government took advantage of this situation to carry out another mass arrest in Saravena on January 31 - 20 people were arrested for “rebellion” and there are arrest orders out for 20 more people. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>In addition to talking with Sonia, I continue to seek solace by going up to the terrace roof of the social organizations building to watch the sunset and the herons flying by to roost.<span> </span>Recently, I met two children up there who moved into the buildin</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29EiiltPnQt_etrXzGupuWoHrc1SAGdzS5Q25NsnisaeY5NuZunhp2RQLzevuwC2HvvXgrYoL4Li5dBJJGJBhZM_RgSaXIijQLKSejgJfejJUEoHaAmxozAf-_mahwjrkggvfdc5y5_kC/s1600-h/Hector+%26+Yeini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29EiiltPnQt_etrXzGupuWoHrc1SAGdzS5Q25NsnisaeY5NuZunhp2RQLzevuwC2HvvXgrYoL4Li5dBJJGJBhZM_RgSaXIijQLKSejgJfejJUEoHaAmxozAf-_mahwjrkggvfdc5y5_kC/s320/Hector+%26+Yeini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167622047038109634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">g with their family last month.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Yeini is nine-years-old and as we were talking she asked me, “Do you have a father?”<span> </span>I replied, “Yes, do you?”<span> </span>She said “No” and then told me that her father had recently died - Pedro Ruiz was the president of the community of Pueblo Seco and he was killed by FARC guerrillas on January 6.<span> </span>Hector is eight-years-old and he asked me, “Are you displaced?”<span> </span>He thought that everyone that lives in the building is “displaced” – having fled from their homes.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Yeini and Hector are very beautiful and resilient children.<span> </span>May they inspire us to confront all forms of violence and repression, and to take even more effective action to end the <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> military aid that continues to fan the flames of war here in <st1:place st="on">Arauca</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>As I finished writing the above, the tense calm broke here in Saravena.<span> </span>The president of the Saravena city council was assassinated at 3 P.M. yesterday afternoon just a few blocks away from the social organizations building.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>In love and solidarity,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,Serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span> </span>Scott</span></p>CAJAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06174265432892860438noreply@blogger.com43