Mennonite Weekly Review

WASHINGTON — Colombia’s Mennonite churches are calling on U.S. congregations to join the cry for justice, peace and healing in Colombia during Days of Prayer and Action for Peace April 18-19.

In response to the call, the Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office has prepared activities on the theme “Face the Displaced” for congregations and other groups to use. The activities include calls to prayer and opportunities to witness to the violence and injustices in Colombia.

With nearly 5 million internally displaced people, according to CODHES, a Colombian human rights organization, Colombia is home to a severe yet hidden humanitarian crisis. Many people have fled their homes in the face of the armed conflict between government forces, newly re-formed paramilitary groups and guerrillas, all vying for power and territory.

An MCC partner, the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action, or JustaPaz, and other organizations participated in a delegation in October to observe the humanitarian and human rights situation in the southern district of Córdoba.

The delegation found a growing humanitarian crisis, deteriorating respect for human rights and increased violence due to paramilitary actions.

Colombia has an inequitable distribution of wealth, with two-thirds of the population living in poverty, according to the Colombian National Institute of Administration and Statistics, while a small portion is wealthy.

Across the country, municipal and departmental governments are compromised through paramilitary links. Analysts and church communities report that powerful economic interests in the drug trade and other big business, such as palm oil and mining, are behind the violence and forced displacement.

These economic injustices exacerbate a conflict that is now four decades old. The conflict produces grave violations of humanitarian law, displacement of people and a high murder rate — 2,500 to 3,000 a year, according to government, international news and human rights sources. Between January and October, paramilitary groups assassinated six church leaders and caused the displacement of five communities, a total of 1,230 people.

Colombian Mennonite churches ask congregations, faith-based groups and organizations to worship, reflect and pray for the victims, perpetrators and peacemakers April 18.

They ask churches to make a public witness by sharing stories, speaking with government officials, holding public vigils and doing other advocacy activities April 19.

As a part of the “Face the Displaced” campaign, organizers are asking groups to assemble portraits of the faces of displaced Colombians for public display. After April, the portraits will be sent to Washington for display and presentation to policymakers.

Instructions for hosting portrait-making gatherings are included in the MCC U.S. Washington Office’s packet of worship resources and advocacy materials. The packet also includes prayers, a bulletin insert and a sample letter to lawmakers.