CPTnet
March 22, 2001

[NOTE FROM THE COLOMBIA TEAM: Thirty-two people have notified us that they
are accompanying us on a fast for peace in Colombia. People may continue to
notify us by sending messages to guest.476277 [at] MennoLink [dot] org. We continue
to invite armed actors to fast from arms. Many congregations are also
focusing prayers towards peace in Colombia. We appreciate the continued
support. ]

Monday, February 26
The team held its first (weekly) Monday morning vigil outside of the U.S.
embassy with Witness for Peace and Janna Bowman, a MCC volunteer with
Justapaz (a human rights organization sponsored by Anabaptist churches in
Colombia) from the U.S. There were several observers and security personnel
who were very cooperative. One security guard inquired about getting a copy
of
the song the vigilers sang in Spanish.

The team met with a man from a local NGO that trains people in communication
arts. He provided an excellent political/ social/economical background of
the Colombian situation. He believes that the churches and the indigenous
communities are the groups that can most affect the peace process here in
Colombia.

Cristina Forand visited the Canadian ambassador who told her that Canada has
no power in influencing the U.S. to change its policies and that it was too
dangerous for him to distribute aid to Putumayo after the Plan Colombia
fumigations have left thousands without food.

Duane Ediger continued researching the U.S.-paramilitary links.

Tuesday, February 27 - Mardi Gras
The team met with the coordinator of an inter-faith group planning a fast
and vigil in support of Barrancabermeja (also referred to as Barranca).
Barrancabermeja is the area where most violent and politically related
murders
in Colombia currently take place. It was arranged for the team to
hold a day-long vigil in Barranca which would coincide with one in Bogota
held by
his group.

Forand took part in the Women in Black silent presence. About thirty women
gathered wearing black masks with target symbols painted on their foreheads.

Wednesday, February 28 - Ash Wednesday
The team began its Lenten fast in front of the U.S. embassy in the morning,
handing out fliers to passersby explaining the purpose of the fast.

Thursday, March 1
Forand and Cliff Kindy continued their morning presence at the U.S. embassy.
All four team members met with Mari Dieterich, Human Rights Officer of the
U.S. embassy.

Team members attended a "Barranca Vive" campaign launch. One organization
held a display with pictures of many of the disappeared people from Bogota
and Barranca. During an ecumenical prayer time, Duane shared about CPT's
fast and invited people to join it.

Friday, March 2
Forand and Kindy maintained a presence at the U.S. embassy in the morning.

The team met with a woman working with the Barranca Vive campaign. They
made arrangements to travel with her and two other women to Barranca.

Sunday, March 4
Shoemaker, Ediger, and Kindy went to Fe and Esperanza Mennonite church in a
poor community. The pastor spoke with them afterwards about the lack of
options for young people. Many young men feel their only viable option is
joining
the military or other armed groups. The pastor stated that he had been
involved in the war (but didn't mention in what capacity), but was now a man
of peace.

Monday, March 5
The team continued its morning vigil at U.S. embassy with representatives of
Witness for Peace and a few others.

Tuesday, March 6
Kindy and Forand went to the embassy in the morning. Kindy, Forand and
Ediger went to meet with the Barranca coordinator of Peace Brigades
International to get his perspective of what the experience for
internationals
has been in Barranca.

Wednesday, March 7
The entire team took an eight hour, and sometimes stomach-turning bus trip
from Bogotá to Barrancabermeja. Upon arrival, the team met with contacts
from the Development and Peace Program of the Magdalena Medio region and
with two pastors from the Pastors' Assembly.

The team checked in with the Popular Women's Organization. They have
several "safe houses" throughout the city for displaced families. Forand
and Kindy stayed overnight in a house where a family was living after being
removed from their home by paramilitaries. Ediger and Shoemaker stayed at
the organization's central house.

Thursday, March 8 - International Women's Day
Kindy and Forand were awakened by gunshots outside house at 4:40 a.m. In
the morning they heard that a young man had been shot and killed in front of
a technical school, just down the street from where they were staying.

The team met with a representative from the Peace and Life Program of the
Catholic diocese. They received the often-heard warnings to be cautious
from him and a willingness to support CPT. In the afternoon the team met
with
CREDHOS, a human rights organization in Barranca that has been declared a
target for attack by the paramilitaries 18 times in the last two and a half
years.
Many of their workers have left because of threats. The directors said that
if CPT and other internationals should start to leave Barranca, it is likely
they would all leave, too.

The team attended an International Women's Day rally in the evening. Many
armed men (in uniform) were standing on nearby roofs for the duration of the
events. Shoemaker and Ediger stayed at the south east "safe house" with
about thirty people who attended the events. Kindy and Forand stayed with
150 people at the house in which they had slept.

Friday, March 9
The team planned to do the day-long vigil at location where the young man
was killed on Thursday morning. Both Forand and Ediger did interviews with
the media about the vigil. Shoemaker and Forand met with a group from
Barrio Kennedy to learn about a youth program it operates.

Shoemaker, Forand, and Kindy went to speak with an officer in the Colombian
Marines, Colonel Augustine Rodrigues, and invited him to the Saturday vigil.
He assured them that he would be there, unarmed, to accompany CPT in working
for peace.

The team was invited to spend some time in the homes of families from Barrio
Kennedy. The paramilitaries came into their community and took control just
two weeks ago. They are very fearful of this new presence in their barrio
and feel they must "obey their orders. " They invited the team only after
checking with the paramilitaries if it would be all right for t