CPTnet
May 15, 2004
COLOMBIA UPDATE: April 2004
[Note: The following update was translated by Erin Kindy.]
The communities CPT accompanies continued to meet with the Program of
Development and Peace of the Magdelena Medio region and a group has on
the Opón River has been conducting worship services. The armed groups
continue to work in the accompaniment zone, but the community continues to
give a united, nonviolent response to these actors.
April 3-10
The fourth delegation from the Mennonite Church of Colombia visited CPT's
accompaniment zone and met with social and development organizations as well
as with churches. During the visit to the communities on the Opón River,
members of the delegation heard community residents share their experiences
of the conflict. The night of April 7, delegates floated down part of the
river in canoes lit with flashlights, singing and calling out in loud
voices, "The river and the earth are your life and dignity. Do
not let them be taken away." This public witness was the continuation of an
action initiated by the February international delegation in the upper part
of the river. The community expressed their gratitude to CPT for this
witness.
During this week a contingent of the army arrived in the region. They
appeared to deactivate some anti personnel mines planted recently in the
zone. Residents of the area told the team, "The army does not bother us
anymore."
April 11
Various members of the communities along the river met again for a time of
prayer and praise. These people would like to continue with this Sunday
worship and involve more of their neighbors. During these services, members
share the Lord's Supper, read the Bible, and sing and pray for the peace of
the region.
In Barrancabermeja, the team, along with many other homeowners in the
neighborhood refused to pay for a private security service that goes from
door to door demanding payment from homeowners. Many believe that the
service has links with paramilitaries.
April 14 CPT Barrancabermeja began to send articles in Spanish. The team
hopes that sending out releases bilingually will build and strengthen
networks with the Colombian churches along with other people and
organizations.
April 18 CPT accompanied the communities of La Florida and Los Ñeques in
a meeting with the Program of Development and Peace of the Magdelena Medio
region
(PDPMM.) Those present heard that PDPMM would like to bring productive
projects to the region and help their organization as an autonomous
community. The community members must
now reflect on the steps they have taken and make decisions that will permit
continued work with this organization.
April 23-30
CPT accompanied a commission formed of six human rights organizations from
Barrancabermeja to two communities in the rural area of San Pablo (South
Bolivar.) Community residents denounced aggression of paramilitary groups
and abuses of authority by the police and army, who have implemented a
blockade on food and other products.
CPTers participated in the celebration of Children's day. In both the San
Pablo communities the team saw members of the ELN and FARC (guerilla
groups), an aspect that worried all the commission because of the
implications that this has for the community.
April 30
Adaía Bernal (Colombia) and Keith Young (USA), both CPTers, led a meeting
in Bogotá comprising delegates from the Colombian Mennonite Church who are
interested in CPT and its work with nonviolence. CPT believes these
Mennonites could become a regional CPT group, which would broaden the range
of CPT work in Colombia.
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