wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Presbyterian peace delegation returns from Colombia

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Note #7657 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Presbyterian peace delegation returns from Colombia
03172
April 3, 2003

Presbyterian peace delegation returns from Colombia

by Rev. Roger Scott Powers

MIAMI - Fifteen Presbyterians returned from Colombia March 29 after a 10-day
visit hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and Witness for Peace. 
They were part of a 19-member delegation organized by the Presbyterian Peace
Fellowship and the Witherspoon Society.
	
The delegation visited the Colombian capital of Bogota and the Atlantic coast
cities of Barranquilla and Cartagena.  It met with Colombian Presbyterian
leaders as well as with women's organizations, labor leaders, human rights
advocates, displaced persons, Afro-Colombian leaders, former guerrillas, and
U.S. Embassy officials.
	
The delegation heard stories of massacres and assassinations carried out by
guerrilla and paramilitary groups, violence that has plagued Colombia for
more than forty years.	The armed conflict has caused thousands of deaths and
the internal displacement of 2-3 million people.  
	
U.S. military aid to the Colombian government has only worsened the
situation, intensifying the violence, Colombians told the delegation. "We ask
you to tell your government to let us resolve our own conflict.  We live it
every day.  We need to solve it ourselves without U.S. intervention," said
one human rights advocate, echoing a message the delegation heard again and
again.
	
The Rev. Milton Mejma, executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of
Colombia, welcomed the delegation to the church headquarters in Barranquilla
and expressed his hope that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) would have a
stronger presence in Colombia in the future.  Currently, the Rev. Alice
Winters is the only P.C.(U.S.A.) mission worker serving in Colombia.  Miami
Presbytery in Ohio also maintains a mission partnership with the Colombian
Presbyterian church.
	
Rev. Mejma asked that the P.C.(U.S.A.) send Presbyterians to Colombia to
provide accompaniment for church leaders and human rights workers who have
been threatened by armed groups.  "The presence of internationals helps to
protect us," he said.
	
The Rev. Derney Ramos, president of the Reformed University of Colombia,
expressed appreciation for the support the school has received from the
PCUSA.	"The university is committed to the transformation of society," he
said.  The Reformed University of Colombia offers a degree program in
reformed theology and provides a public space where different groups in the
society can come together for dialogue.  "We believe we are helping to build
peace in Colombia," Ramos said.
	
The delegation included participants from 10 presbyteries: Lois Baker, 81,
Houston; Anne Barstow, 73, New York City; Heather Cragie, 25, Tucson, AZ; Tom
Driver, 77, New York City; Lisa Duffy, 25, Washington, DC; Pablo Flores, 54,
Huacho, Peru; Catherine Gordon, 33, Washington, DC; Jane Hanna, 71, Santa Fe,
NM; Melissa Haslam, 63, Santa Fe, NM; Peggy Howland, 69, Yonkers, NY; Betty
Kersting, 66, Santa Fe, NM; Ellen Law, 83, Ontario, CA; Tamara Leonard, 29,
Chicago; Barbara Medina, 67, Santa Fe, NM; Roger Powers, 43, Oakland, CA;
Susan Quass, 45, Oakland, CA; Stacey Rector, 31, Nashville, TN; Dena Ross,
55, Santa Fe, NM;  and Jane Wood, 70, Houston.

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