On Thursday, 3 July, people from CPT Colombia's Barrancabermeja district marched to express their opposition to the surge in violence that has invaded the community. Since the beginning of 2008, thirty-seven people have been assassinated in Barrancabermeja (the same number killed in all of 2007). Barrancabermeja's civil and police authorities have ignored or even denied this increase in violence, leaving the community feeling abandoned to the armed actors. The settling of accounts between different criminal groups linked to paramilitaries reportedly has fueled much of the violence. In what they call "social cleansing," these armed groups kill people they have labeled "undesirable.'

On 18 June, the violence became very real for CPT's Colombia team. In front of the team's house, two gunmen shot Juan* in the stomach and wounded an innocent bystander who was working nearby. The gunmen fled after Juan took refuge in a neighboring house. The neighborhood knew Juan was involved in criminal activities and many had feared such an attack would happen, but no one had dared to denounce Juan for fear of retribution. Now Juan and the other young man are recovering from their wounds, but the neighborhood fears the possibility of more violence. After the incident, the team invited neighbors to a prayer vigil on the corner where the shooting happened.

Two days later, community leaders called a meeting for the community to talk about the surge in violence and to plan the 3 July march. Community members expressed their sentiments: "We have to speak up and say no to the violence"; "We need to demand a response from the mayor, who has said nothing about what is happening"; "When we go to the local police station and complain about what is happening, they refuse to take our statements and tell us to go downtown."

At the meeting, someone informed the group that the paramilitaries had just killed a young man they called a "thief" and a "menace to the community." The group decided to conduct a prayer vigil the following night at the site of the killing, and if possible, to vigil every time someone was killed in the community.

On 3 July, community members marched along the main avenue through the neighborhood district, to the bridge connecting the northern and southern parts of Barrancabermeja. The demonstrators blocked traffic to call attention to the violence happening in the area.

"Colombia does not have the death penalty. It doesn't matter what someone has done, they do not deserve to die. And we call on the authorities to respond to the violence that is happening in our community," Father Eliecer Soto said as the group paused at the bridge. The march ended with participants lighting candles and placing them along the bridge as a symbol of peace. (See pictures at http://cpt.org/gallery/Comuna-5-Marches-for-Peace-in-Barranca.)

Awaiting a response from the mayor and the police, the community has solicited a meeting with the authorities to discuss the issues and seek further action. In the meantime, the team continues to work, hope and pray for peace.

*Name changed