CPTNet
January 16, 2004
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Colombian government threatens CPT advisor Ricardo
Esquivia with arrest and detention
CPT's inviting partner in Colombia, the Colombian Mennonite Church, has
issued an Urgent Action on behalf of Ricardo Esquivia who is at risk of
arrest and imprisonment on false charges by the Colombian government.
Esquivia played a key role in opening doors for CPT's work in Colombia and
serves as a primary advisor and legal counsel for the team. The importance
of his leadership for peace, especially among Colombian churches, and his
commitment to nonviolence is unquestionable.
Please take action to protect Ricardo as suggested in the following alert:
From: "Justapaz" <justapaz@colnodo.apc.org>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 08:38:05 _0600
Subject: Alert! Detention Planned for Ricardo Esquivia
Urgent Action on behalf of RICARDO ESQUIVIA! Risk of arrest and
imprisonment on false charges by the Colombian government.
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 guerrilla and has
promised to win. 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, and Cedecol. We attend victims of the violent conflict, train
church people, denounce abuses, and give witness to a new society of justice
and peace. Last year the Colombian evangelical churches 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 guerrillas, 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 a 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, if they indeed are doing so, is a
perverse fabrication totally devoid of truth. 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 Nonviolent 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 VALEZ
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: 011-571-342-9355, 011-571-566-2387
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
Within the United States:
MICHAEL KOZAK
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Washington DC
Tel: 202-647-2570
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 BALLESTAS, church leader and veteran peacemaker. I have
received unconfirmed information that Colombian authorities are planning to
arrest RICARDO ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS 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 BALLESTAS, and I know of his Christian
commitment and his work towards a nonviolent resolution to the conflict in
Colombia. I am fully convinced that what Colombian authorities are
planning, if they indeed are doing so, is a perverse fabrication totally
devoid of truth. 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 the arrest of RICARDO ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS
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 work 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 Nonviolent 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 for the lives and liberty of all members
of churches, and in particular the rights of my brother and friend, RICARDO
ESQUIVIA BALLESTAS.
Sincerely,
_______________
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