Christian Peacemaker Teams
CPTnet
November 30, 2002
COLOMBIA:Peace Begins Here

by Charles Bunch Spring

Because the Colombian government has not renewed or granted new visas to CPT
Colombia workers since March, the team, reduced in size, has sought other
ways to make its presence felt.  For the last two months, CPTers have
painted scripture on banners and written their visions of peace with slogans
such as "Peace without weapons. Peace without fear."  Some banners hang in
areas visible to boats and others along foot paths frequently used by
members of armed groups.

The banner project reached a high point on November 16 when the team hung a
huge, colorful banner over the Opón River, with the message, "La Paz
Empieza Aqui," (Peace begins here) to mark the zone of CPT accompaniment.

After consecrating the banner with prayer and song, the team traveled to
locations where they have encountered members of armed groups recently and
prayed for a spirit of peace to permeate the land.  At one location where
paramilitary members have set up living arrangements,, the team found a
dozen of them, heavily armed with assault rifles and grenades, relaxing in
the shade on this hot afternoon.

Each CPTer had two "Child of God" letters to deliver.  North Americans write
these letters to members of armed groups to remind them that
they are children of God and that their lives are precious as are the lives
of the civilians in the area.

Team members read the letters aloud, either to individuals or to a cluster
of paramilitaries.  All the paramilitaries listened attentively but without
much
immediate reaction.  After reading the letters, team members gave them to
selected men and then engaged them in conversation.

The commander said he would rather be in the paramilitary than the army
because, "The army has many rules that restrict their work.  For example,
they can only hold someone for 72 hours."   He compared war to a soccer
game.  Each time someone is killed, the other side gets a point.  Carol
Spring responded "But in soccer, the game ends with the same number of
people as it started with."

One 17-year-old, who joined the paramilitaries a year ago, said that if he
weren't in the paramilitaries, he would be a farmer.  When asked if being in
the paramilitary is hard work, he replied "It's easy, I'd rather do this
than be a farmer."

Because they visited, prayed, and sang with these paramilitary members, the
team hoped that these men would leave the civilian population in peace.
Unfortunately, their hope for the banner over the river fell when Keith
Young and Lena Siegers found only a trace of it a few days after it was put
up.  Some people are not ready for the peace to begin yet.

[Visit the "cpt" album at www.clubphoto.com for pictures of some of the
banners.]


_______________

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among
Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and
Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction
efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508
Chicago, IL 60680; Telephone: 773-277-0253
Fax: 773-277-0291.

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