Interview: On Conscientious Objection in Colombia

This post is also available in: Spanish

Interview with Maria Eugenia Leon, who runs the Nonviolence and Conscientious Objection Program at Justapaz in Colombia. Translated from Spanish.

Anna Vogt: What is the motivation of Justapaz to work in conscientious objection from a Christian perspective?

Maria Eugenia Leon: First of all, Justapaz is a ministry of the Mennonite Church and was founded because of work on conscientious objection. For Mennonites nonviolence is among our principle and founding actions. Our reference to follow is Jesus, a nonviolent Jesus who never opted for violence or the carrying of weapons as a solution to conflict. As an organization, we follow this example which also serves as our motivation to engage in conscientious objection as a nonviolent practice that reflects Jesus´ values. To resist participation in armies or any group that uses weapons or violence is also a motivating factor from our Anabaptist history.

AV: What results have you been able to see from this work of conscientious objection?

MEL: One of the largest results has been the ability to raise awareness about the theme in the different regions of the country as well as motivating the churches to take action so that exercising the right of conscientious objection is a reality in Colombia. Mennonite churches continue to be active in accompanying different cases, not only with judicial actions in which Justapaz or other institutions play a role, but in supporting the search for this right through vigils with the communities and speaking about the cases in different spaces to solicit aid and prayers.

The second result, and probably the most important, is less youth for war! Lately, we have also seen the generation of interest from different allies, not necessarily from the churches but from people who in reality should be the ones guaranteeing rights. These include the Bogota district process of conscientious objection, the ombudsman´s office, collectives here in Bogota, etc. These articulations in accompaniment have been the most important results, with the end goal of placing this theme on the public agenda.

AV: What are some of the largest challenges facing the work of conscientious objection in Colombia?

MEL: One of the principle challenges is to reduce the militarization of society. In Colombia, the imagined hero is someone carrying weapons. This status gives power to the idea that war is an institution where youth go to become bettered. To change this image is our principle challenge, along with generating awareness that there are other ways of building peace and constructing a country. After being in conflict for more than forty years, is becomes an assumption that violence is the only way. Therefore, it continues to be a challenge to try to reduce the militarization of minds and of society.

Another challenge not only the effective engagement of all rights guaranteeing institutions and the effective disseminate of the right to conscientious objection, but also to raise awareness among institutions of their responsibility to protect this right. I mean institutions like judges that define the actions for protection, etc. Institutions should really be doing this work.

AV: How do you see the future of this work? Is there a positive or negative development?

MEL: The future seems more promising right now, especially because of the negotiations taking place between the government and the FARC. In this context, different people are seeking initiatives or ways of building peace that do not use arms. Therefore, there is the possibility to question the need of the army in a post conflict scenario. Congresspersons and different public servants want to know more about this theme in order to be prepared. I believe this provides us with a favorable scenario that did not exist four years ago when all that was talked about was the need to combat the guerilla in armed conflict and the strengthening of the armed forces.