Peacemakers from Colombia, from Latin America, and from all around
the world came to Bogota April 8-11 with a common purpose. The
Inter-ecclesial Dialogue for Peace in Colombia, (here
is a past blog about the group) DIPaz, organized this event to hear from grassroots
Colombians involved in initiatives for the construction of peace, to hear from
church leaders from other countries who have gone through peace and
reconciliation processes, and to hear from representatives from international
organizations that have been involved in peace processes. The common purpose or agenda was to create a
plan for DIPaz, answering the question: “What should the role of the churches
be in the construction of peace in Colombia?” The Conference was titled: The International Ecumenical Encounter for
Peace in Colombia.
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| Here is the flyer (in Spanish) advertising the conference. |
Wednesday, April 8, started with a public event at the
University Javeriana with presentations from Bishop Dr. Emeritus Gunnar
Stalsett from the Lutheran Church in Norway, the Reverend Doctor Maake Masango
from South Africa, John Nduna from Zambia and Secretary-General of ACT
Alliance, Jenny Neme Director of a Justapaz (a Colombian peace and
reconciliation organization), and Angie Juliet Muelas from the Kisgo Indigenous
Reserve in Cauca, Colombia. It was a time of powerful stories and experiences from
within and from outside of Colombia regarding peace-building and reconciliation
practices, initiatives and challenges.
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| On every cross is the name of a victim from the conflict. During the opening event the name would be read, and everyone would sing "Presente!" (Present!, like in a roll call) as an act of remembering those that have been lost. Beautiful and moving experience. (photo by Milton Mejia) |
Thursday started with two possible events. The first option
was to participate in the national march for peace and to remember the victims
of the conflict. This march happens every April 9, and was attended by tens of
thousands of Colombians (and international representatives) in cities all over
the country. The second option was to attend a meeting with the Ministry of the
Interior presenting DIPaz as an important actor/partner in the construction of
peace in the country. I went to the meeting.
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| The group from the conference is in front with "SIN OLVIDO" or "Without Forgetting" referring to the victims of the armed conflict. (photo by Milton Mejia) |
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| IELCO Pastor Zulanlly Chaparro. (photo by Milton Mejia) |
The remainder of the conference (Thursday afternoon, all day
Friday, and Saturday morning) were about working together - from the grassroots
representatives to the national representatives and to the international
representatives - in discussing how churches have been involved in peace
processes in other countries, what worked, what didn't work, and what else could
they have done. During the conference, perspectives on the talks between the
Colombian government and the guerrillas were shared, along with experiences from
civil society members who have participated in the negotiations in Havana, as
well as churches and individuals who have contributed to peace processes and
reconciliation globally.
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| Listening to a presentation about the latest news from the talks in Havana, Cuba. (photo by Milton Mejia) |
The key messages which will guide the actions of DIPaz are:
·
We believe that the Fullness of Truth which
comes from the Light sets free both victim and perpetrator and makes possible
peace founded on justice and reconciliation.
·
We reject the militarization of our society. We
call for non-violent action and we work to build a culture of peace, so that
new cycles of violence can be avoided.
·
We witness to the efforts of those communities
which impose new sorts of penalties, so that perpetrators are reintegrated into
the community and forgiveness is possible. This is done in the framework of
Restorative Justice.
·
We note that for any territory to achieve
reconciliation there must be just distribution of the land which guarantees
dignified work, health, decent housing, rights which belong to human beings
and to God’s created order.
·
We will make available our local churches and
the facilities of our organizations as spaces for training, hosting and
accompaniment for the work of peace-building and reconciliation.
·
We offer our churches and organizations as
bridges across divides, facilitating difficult and improbable dialogues between
opposing factions.
·
We understand that true peace-building goes
beyond the accords signed by the Colombian government and the guerrillas of the
FARC and the ELN.
·
We understand that the fervent yearning of God
is for the people to experience a Shalom which transcends the generations, a
Shalom that insures that people can have decent living conditions and live in
wholeness.
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| Representatives of grassroots communities discussing local projects they are considering to work towards peace and reconciliation. (photo by Milton Mejia) |
Here are just a few examples of
possible actions which participants have engaged in or could engage in, and
which were discussed during the conference:
·
Participation in
commissions charged with the humane removal of landmines.
·
Participation in
efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
·
Involvement in
the design and construction of a Campesino (peasant farmer) University.
·
Involvement in
design and development of reception centers in local neighborhoods where
combatants who have laid down their arms can be welcomed and reintegrated.
·
Support for child
soldiers (both boys and girls) who leave the insurgency.
·
Participation in
an eventual Truth Commission, and as part of that process.
·
Bringing to light
circumstances in which members of our churches have been victims of violence,
and
·
Bringing to light
cases in which members of our churches have been perpetrators of violence.
·
In addition,
bringing to light information about investment of church funds in companies
which are implicated in human rights violations in Colombia.