A Call for Hope and Continued Peacebuilding from Colombia

This post is also available in: Spanish

“In this biblical spirit and in solidarity with peacebuilders in Colombia, we write to let the public know that on Saturday, July 14, 2018, we learned of a communiqué in which an illegal armed group, self-identified as “Águilas Negras”, threatened to kill a group of social leaders, human rights defenders, organizations and journalists. JUSTAPAZ was included in the list.”

-A public statement from Justapaz released on July 18th (read the statement in its entirety below). The statement is a call for hope, life and continued peacebuilding in Colombia.

For over twenty-six years, Justapaz, a ministry of the Mennonite Church of Colombia and a long-term MCC partner, has worked with churches and civil society for peace in Colombia. Their work stems out of their Anabaptist faith convictions. The organization is known for their dedication to conscientious objection to obligatory military service, documentation of human rights violations and, more recently, advocacy for the implementation of the peace accords. That work, along with peacebuilding work across the country, carries risks , as seen by the death threat Justapaz, along with others, recently received.

“We think Justapaz is wise to take this threat seriously and to visibly and courageously respond.” states Elizabeth Miller, a co-representative for MCC’s partners in  Colombia. In Colombia, there is a long history of danger associated with peacebuilding but things have grown increasingly risky again in the last two years. “In the current Colombian climate, there are increasing threats against active supporters of the peace processes and land restitution, human rights defenders and community organizers.” Miller says.

Between the signing of the peace accords in 2016 and the present, there have been steady assassinations of human rights defenders and community organizers (the number is between 150 and 300-some, depending on the source), but there has been a ramping up of both threats and assassinations since the presidential elections last month. Things seem to be destabilizing quickly, as armed groups take advantage of the new political climate.

Anna Vogt.

Last December, Justapaz staff, MCCers and others gathered in a park in Bogota to light candles. One by one, people shared the names and stories of people  targeted and murdered by armed groups since the peace accords. Between the names, we read snippets of the Christmas story and sang. Afterwards, we drank tea together and stood around chatting, steaming mugs in our hands.

It was a beautiful way to pause and remember the courage of peacebuilders in Colombia and to also reflect on the liberating and reconciling message of Jesus’s birth. The event symbolized the essence of Justapaz’s work of lighting candles in the midst of challenging contexts. The risks of doing this work are not new, nor is the courageous response of the church.

Justapaz is inviting us to respond to these mounting challenges by praying, sharing their statement and story, as well as speaking out against violence in Colombia that is being targeted towards organizations, churches and community groups who accompany victims and seek reconciliation. They invite church groups, congregations and organizations to sign on to their public statement of solidarity with human rights and peace work in Colombia (see below). If your church is interested, email: justapaz@justapaz.org or colombiarep@mcc.org