Colombian Mennonites Request Support From Canadian Christians

Mennonite Central Committee
Thursday, 19 April 2001

WINNIPEG, Man.--The Mennonite church in Colombia has called upon Christians in Canada and the U.S. to denounce the deadly violence tearing apart Colombia and help the church there nurture peace.

"We ask you for support to transform this vicious cycle of death and destruction that military aid produces into a virtuous cycle of abundant life and peace," wrote Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas and Peter Stucky, Mennonite church leaders in Colombia. "In this way our people can receive an alternative message from the people of the North, sent by the churches there. This message would show that life, respect and solidarity can also come from the North."

The appeal from the Colombian Mennonite church came in the wake of the announcement of a U.S. government $1.3 billion U.S. "aid" package, entitled Plan Colombia, to the Colombian government. Approximately 80 per cent of those funds go towards military support for the army, ostensibly to combat cocaine production.

Esther Epp-Tiessen, peace ministries coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada, said while the Canadian government hasn't played a direct role in Plan Colombia (See sidebar re Canadian helicopters to Colombia), Christians here shouldn't idly stand by while conflict in Colombia continues.

"These are our brothers and sisters in the faith. Their country is in crisis and they've called on us for help. How can we ignore those pleas?" she said. There are approximately 57 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations in Colombia with more than 3,000 baptized members. Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Brethren and Brethren in Christ conferences have close relationships with Colombian churches.

For the last 50 years, Colombia has been embroiled in a serious social and armed conflict that kills 30,000 men, women and children each year. It has displaced nearly two million people, destroyed economic infrastructure in the country, left an illegitimate government, destroyed the dreams of millions of Colombians and more. Violent actors in Colombia include state armed forces, insurgency groups, counterinsurgency groups, armed assassins and others.

In the last 15 years, the problems of this social conflict have been exacerbated by drug trafficking, financed by international mafia and carried out by Colombians. Drug trafficking is a source of revenue for guerilla, paramilitary and self-defence groups. But far from supporting the U.S. plan, Mennonites in Colombia say military intervention from the U.S. will only make Colombia's problems worse.

"Just as throwing oil into flames produces more fire, more arms produce more war. This military "aid" will not put an end to the war nor eradicate drug-trafficking. It will only increase the number of deaths and the suffering of the Colombian people," the letter states.

Indeed, since the first phase of Plan Colombia began at the start of this year, indigenous farmers have reported experiencing illness, loss of food crops, and a polluted water supply as a result of aerial spraying of coca crops.

Epp-Tiessen said Colombians are driven to grow coca--used to make cocaine--because they have few alternatives. "We in the North need to support initiatives that will provide peaceful alternatives to the violence and injustice," she said.

JustaPaz, the Colombian Mennonite church's 10-year-old justice and peace organization, promotes and witnesses to peace and nonviolence in a variety of ways. It has recently invited churches to declare themselves as peace sanctuaries, where no side in the war is favoured, and where all can safely seek refuge.

Mencoldes, the relief and development agency of the Colombian Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches, helps people displaced by the violence. As well, Mennonite Brethren churches in Colombia have an Education for Peace program that trains both students and members of churches in conflict resolution skills and non-violent ways to live.

There are a number of actions Christians in Canada can take to support the Mennonite church in Colombia.

* Pray for our Colombian sisters and brothers who are striving to sow seeds of peace in an environment of violence and war.

* Make a donation to MCC's Turning Toward Peace fund. The fund will go to support Colombian Mennonite peace work. Send your cheques to MCC, designated "Turning Toward Peace," #5907-7006.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org