wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Fearful Colombian asks for help

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Note #8240 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

04238
May 19, 2004

Fearful Colombian asks for help

Presbyterian pastor wants U.S. Christians to write letters

by Alexa Smith

LOUISVILLE - The executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia
has asked U.S. Christians to mount a letter-writing campaign to protest the
government's targeting of church leaders who defend Colombians whose rights
have been violated.

	The Rev. Milton Mejia, the church's executive secretary, told the
Presbyterian News Service earlier this week that he'd like to see two such
campaigns - one from Presbyterian congregations in the United States, the
other from Presbyterian leaders in Congress.

	Mejia made the request after learning that security forces are using
video surveillance to monitor visitors to the church's synod office in
Barranquilla, a facility that includes a college, administrative offices and
a small human-rights staff.

	"My big worry is that they're preparing a case saying that we're
supporting terrorist groups," said Mejia, whose life has been threatened by
foes of his human-rights work. "Right now, the government is aggressively
attacking people who fight for human rights. They're treating human rights
workers as terrorists."

	When 11 displaced Colombians were arrested recently, military and
intelligence interrogators showed them videotapes of their visits to the
church office, where they were signing up for church programs and seeking
help in applying for government assistance. The men reportedly were grilled
about the church's work and its staff.

	Mejia is asking U. S. Christians to urge the Colombian government to
safeguard its citizens who work on behalf of the millions of Colombians who
are internal refugees because of civil strife. He said letter-writers should
also ask for due process for those who are detained. (following story for
sample letter.)

	Mejia asked that letters be faxed to the offices of President Alvaro
Uribe Velez in Bogata (fax # 011-57-1-342-0592 and 337-5890); Vice President
Francisco Santos (fax #  011-57-1-334-1138); and Rafael Bustamante, an
official of the Interior and Justice Ministry (fax # 011-57-1-560-4630).

	More than six million Colombians are living as refugees in their own
country, casualties of 50 years of violence by illegal armed groups. These
displaced people are an unwelcome burden on already strained government
budgets and only worsen rampant unemployment in Colombia.

	The 11 men involved in the recent incident are facing terrorism
charges, according to Mejia, who insists that they are not terrorists. He
hopes U.S. Christians will help pay their legal expenses and support their
indigent families during the trial.

	Maria Arroyo, the coordinator for Latin America in the Worldwide
Ministries Division, has responded to his plea by sending $13,000. Mejia said
$10,000 will go to a lawyer representing some of the men, and $3,000 will be
used to care for their families.

	Presbyterians can contribute by sending money to Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA
15264-3700. Specify Extra Opportunity Account # 047871 and specify legal
fees. Churches and Presbyteries may use the same account.

	Leaders of Colombia's religious community testified before Congress
in March that a crackdown on rebel forces by the Uribe administration has
jeopardized the lives of church workers, union organizers, journalists and
human-rights activists. (To see a related story, click here: "In the Valley
of the Shadow," Jan. 23, 2204)

	The new controls include measures that undercut basic democratic
rights. The religious leaders say the government has created a massive
network of informants, and more and more people are being detained by police
and by military. In his public statements, Uribe has suggested that rights
workers and some non-governmental humanitarian agencies are disloyal to the
government.

	Armed groups in Colombia killed 45 Protestant pastors last year, and
shut down 300 churches. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that
57 Catholic priests, bishops, nuns and seminarians have been killed in the
past decade, and countless others have been injured or kidnapped.

	Mejia said Tomas Ramos, an employee of a union for workers in the
healthcare industry and member of the Presbyterian church, was intimidated
last week when armed men ransacked his father's house.

	"In the last weeks, it has gotten really bad," Mejia said, referring
to the spiral of violence and pressure. He said international pressure helps
protect church workers.

	He said the Presbyterian Church of Colombia is also asking for a
full-time U.S. "accompanier" to help keep workers safe.

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