Urgent Action on behalf of RICARDO ESQUIVIA!
Risk of arrest and imprisonment on false charges by the Colombian
government.
Bogotá, 15 January 2004
Dear Sisters and Brothers.
May the Gospel of peace of Jesus Christ guide your lives in the path of
justice and peace.
We write to inform you of the imminent threat by the Colombian government
against the freedom of RICARDO ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS and request urgent action.
The current administration of President Alvaro Uribe Vélez has been
implementing a policy of all out war against the guerrillas. In keeping
with this policy, so-called security measures have been increased, as has
the overall military apparatus. This includes a curtailment of
Constitutional protection for human rights and due process.
We, as churches, have been working for human rights and peace through a
variety of initiatives, including Justapaz and the Commission for
Restoration, Life and Peace of the Evangelical Council of Churches of
Colombia, Cedecol. We attend victims of the violent conflict, train people
of the churches, denounce abuses, and give witness to a new society of
justice and peace. Last year the Colombian churches (non-Roman Catholic)
suffered the assassination of more than 40 pastors and church leaders, who
left behind a great number of widows and orphans.
RICARDO ESQUIVIA has been director of Justapaz and is currently national
coordinator of the Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace, as well as
being vice-president of Cedecol. We have now received information from a
variety of sources that government authorities are building a case based on
fabricated and false evidence to arrest RICARDO and accuse him of being a
member of the guerrilla, thus keeping him from carrying out his work. As
part of this plan, their intention appears to be to use paid informants.
This is similar to the course of action used against many other leaders of
social movements, labor leaders and members of NGO's, who are now under
arrest.
We ask that you support us by participating in this international urgent
action campaign to denounce these activities by Colombian authorities. By
unmasking their plan and demonstrating international support, we seek to
keep the Colombian government from carrying out its plan and protect our
brother and friend, RICARDO ESQUIVIA.
We ask that you:
§ Share this information with your churches, organizations and
communities, and hold the matter in your prayers.
§ Write an urgent action letter and fax it immediately to the people
listed below. To assist in this, we are including some points to include
in such a letter. Or, if you do not have time to draft your own, we are
sending a sample letter that you can use.
§ Send copies to your Congressional representatives or members of
Parliament with a note of explanation, and ask that they also apply pressure
on Colombian authorities. If you do so, please indicate in your letters to
the Colombian officials that you are copying your elected government
representatives (cc: Senator...,).
Finally, we would appreciate receiving a (blind) email copy of your letter
at justapaz@colnodo.apc.org
Your support, brothers and sisters, is very important, because the Colombian
government is sensitive and attentive to international opinion-perhaps above
all else. Help us to save RICARDO´s life, liberty and work.
We thank you in advance for your collaboration.
With gratitude,
Peter Stucky, President of the Mennonite Church of Colombia
Jenny Neme, Interim Co-Director of Justapaz
POINTS FOR AN URGENT ACTION LETTER:
We ask that you fax, call, or telegram the Colombian officials listed
below. Address, in your own words, the following points:
· Salutation: Dear ....... (Mr. President, Admiral, Attorney
General, etc....)
· A greeting, in which you express your prayers and support for
initiatives for peace with justice in Colombia.
· State that you have received unconfirmed information that Colombian
authorities are planning for the arrest of RICARDO ESQUIVIA on fabricated
charges that he is a member of the guerrilla group, FARC; and that this plan
includes using persons who have demobilized from armed groups, who will
testify false information.
· Add to this, in your own words, that you are acquainted with
RICARDO ESQUIVIA, his long-time membership in the Mennonite Church, a
historic peace church, and know of his Christian commitment and of his
activities for peace in Colombia.
· It could be useful to add the idea that you are convinced that what
Colombian authorities are planning is untrue. You could add that for the
Colombian government to act in such a manner is in complete contradiction
with the commitments that the Colombian government has made nationally and
internationally in defense of and respect for human rights. As well, such
an action would be in violation of the right of freedom of worship.
· Recognition of the presence of the Evangelical (Protestant)
churches in Colombia, and of their work to address human needs, and in
fostering holistic human development and sustainable peace. Add also that
you understand that they have engaged in mediation for humanitarian
dialogues with the various armed groups that operate in the country, and
that they have been quite straightforward in this intention. You could cite
the fact that these illegal groups assassinated over 40 pastors and leaders
of these churches in 2003 alone.
· Express your support for the work of the Commission for
Restoration, Life and Peace (formerly Commission on Human Rights and Peace)
of the Evangelical Council of Churches of Colombia, Cedecol, (Comisión de
Restauración, Vida y Paz del Consejo Evangélico de Colombia, CEDECOL), which
is coordinated by RICARDO ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS, a member of the Mennonite
Church of Colombia and vice-president of Cedecol. And your support for the
work of JUSTAPAZ, the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Non-violent
Action of the Mennonite Church of Colombia, of which he has been director
for the past 12 years.
· Request that the Colombian government respect and guarantee the
right of Evangelical (Protestant) churches in the peace processes in
Colombia. Urge Colombian authorities to protect the lives and liberty of
all members of churches, and in particular the rights of RICARDO ESQUIVIA
BALLESTAS.
SEND TO:
(Country code included for all numbers. )
ALVARO URIBE VELEZ
President of Colombia
Cra. 8 N. 7-26, Palacio de Nariño
Santa fe de Bogotá
Fax: 011 (571) 342-0592
LUIS CARLOS RESTREPO
High Commissioner for Peace
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia.
Fax: 011 (571) 565-7688
SABAS PRETEL DE LA VEGA
Minister of the Interior
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: 011 (571) 560-4630
CARLOS ALBERTO OSPINA
Commander General of the Armed Forces
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Tel: 011 (571) 315-0111
Fax: 011 (571) 266-0298
LUIS CAMILO OSORIO
Attorney General
Diagonal 22B N. 52-01
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Telefax: 011 (571) 570-2000 (request fax line)
CARLOS FRANCO ECHAVARRIA
Director of Presidential Program for Human Rights and International
Humanitarian Law
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Tel: 011 (571) 336-0311, 011 (571) 444-2120
Fax: 342-9355, 571 566-2387
JORGE NOGERA COTES
Director of the Department of Security Administration (DAS)
Santa fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Telefax: 011 (571) 408-8460 (request fax line)
WILLIAM WOOD
U.S. Ambassador to Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia
Tel: 011 (571) 315-2112
Fax: 011 (571) 315-2038
(Below--within the United States)
MICHAEL KOZAK
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Washington DC
Fax: 202- 647-5283
LUIS ALBERTO MORENO:
Colombian Ambassador to the United States
Washington DC
Tel: 202-387-8338
Fax: 202-232-8643
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ....... (Mr President, Admiral, Attorney General, etc....)
May the Gospel of peace of Jesus Christ guide your lives on the path of
justice and peace.
I write with grave concern for the freedom and human rights of RICARDO
ESQUIVIA, church leader and veteran peace maker. I have received
unconfirmed information that Colombian authorities are planning to arrest
RICARDO ESQUIVIA on fabricated charges that he is a member the FARC
(Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) by using persons who have
demobilized from armed groups to provide false testimony against him.
I am well acquainted with RICARDO ESQUIVIA, and I know of his Christian
commitment and his work towards a non-violent resolution to the conflict in
Colombia. I am fully convinced that what Colombian authorities are
planning, if they indeed are doing so, is based on false information. His
arrest would completely contradict the commitments that the Colombian
government has made nationally and internationally in defense of human
rights.
I am also concerned that Ricardo Esquivia´s arrest would be in violation of
the constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship. I am aware of the
presence of the Evangelical (Protestant) churches of Colombia and of their w
ork at a national level in fostering a network for holistic human
development and sustainable peace. They have been open about their
commitment to engage in mediation and humanitarian dialogues with the
various armed groups that operate in the country. Over 40 pastors and
leaders of these churches have been assassinated in 2003 alone by these
illegal groups.
I support the work of the Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace
(formerly Commission on Human Rights and Peace) of the Evangelical Council
of Churches of Colombia, Cedecol (Comisión de Restauración, Vida y Paz del
Consejo Evangélico de Colombia, CEDECOL), coordinated by RICARDO ESQUIVIA
BALLESTAS, a member of the Mennonite Church of Colombia and vice-president
of Cedecol. I also support the work of JUSTAPAZ, the Christian Center for
Justice, Peace and Non-violent Action of the Mennonite Church in Colombia,
of which he has been director during the past twelve years.
I urge your government to respect and guarantee the right of Evangelical
(Protestant) churches in the peace processes in Colombia.
I request your protection of the lives and liberty of all members of
churches, and in particular the rights of my brother and friend, RICARDO
ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS.
Sincerely,