CPTnet
March 16, 2002
COLOMBIA EASTER ACTION : "Life Lists" and Tax Resistance

Dear Constituencies,

This Lenten and Easter Season, we on the CPT Colombia team invite you to
ACTIONS, including letter-writing, Life-List-writing and tax resistance.
See below for

1) the LOCAL SITUATION that inspires us to call you to action
2) ACTIONS you can take
3) Description of CPT's Lenten / Easter actions
4) Life List suggestions
5) Sample letters

Thank you for your support.

CPT Colombia

LOCAL SITUATION:
CPT accompanies campesinos (farmers) of the Valle Cimitarra who fear for
their lives when guerrilla, army and paramilitaries have gun battles in
civilian areas. The civilians of the area have a great deal of fear that
paramilitaries are integrated with the Colombian military. CPT members
have been eye-witnesses to the cooperation between military and
paramilitary forces.

CPT accompanies campesinos of the region of the Cienaga del Opon who were
displaced October / November, 2000 by paramilitary violence. Some of the
campesinos have returned home but continue to live under the shadows of
guerrilla and paramilitary presences.

Many of those who have not yet returned home to the Cienaga del Opon are
living under degrading refugee conditions in the city. Paramilitaries are
systematically terrorizing communities in order to prevent the campesinos
from returning home. Some campesinos' homes were burned by paramilitaries
in front of CPT members' eyes. Paramilitaries "disappeared" and probably
killed one of the most well-liked leaders of the community, and remaining
leaders are under threat.

Our hearts are heavy because the paramilitaries seem to have nearly
succeeded in stopping a return home of these campesinos.

2) ACTIONS you can take

a) Put up a tent at the front of your sanctuary or another public place as
a reminder of the millions of displaced people in Colombia whose lives and
ways of life are on "Death Lists." Write a "Life List," including "all the
displaced in Colombia" as well as others suggested below.

b) Send a "Life List" and a letter (see sample) to your government
representatives urging them to stop the flow of weaponry to Colombia,
thereby taking Colombians off of "Death Lists."

c) PAY YOUR 46% (USA) OR 7% (CANADA) WAR TAX TO A LIFE-GIVING CAUSE RATHER
THAN TO YOUR TAX COLLECTION AGENCY. Send a letter of explanation (see
sample) and a "Life List" to your tax-collecting agency and to your elected
representatives.

For information on re-directing taxes, see, in the U.S.A.:
http://www.warresisters.org/index.html

and in Canda:
http://perc.ca/PEN/1999_04/tax.html
or contact Conscience Canada at:
peacetax@islandnet.com

3) CPT's Lenten / Easter Actions description

This Lenten and Easter season, CPT Colombia and churches in North America
have been burning death lists each week. In Colombia, there are thousands
of people marked for death by one armed group or another. Amnesty
International reports that in 2001 alone there were more than 4000
politically-motivated killings in Colombia, 300 people "disappeared" and
30, 000 newly displaced. Displacement destroys communities and ways of
life. CPT wants to see all "Death Lists" destroyed.

Starting the Thursday before Easter, CPT will camp in a tent in front of
the Mayor's office in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, drawing attention to two
communities we work with that are displaced and threatened with
displacement, as well as to other people and groups marked for death. We
will leave a "Life List" at the Mayor's office including names of the
latter.

4) "Life List" suggestions

Colombians: That they will free from foreign-supported violence

Campesinos of the Valle Cimitarra: That they can live free from the threat
of armed battles in their communities

Campesinos returned to the Cienaga del Opon: That they can live outside the
shadow of armed groups

Campesinos not yet returned to the Cienaga del Opon: That they may return
home

Maria Leon,* Colombian Human rights worker: That she may live free of death
threats

Juan Lazarus,* Colombian paramilitary leader: That he may live free

Cesar,* Colombian Guerrilla leader: That he may live free

* pseudonyms

NOTE: see CPT's website for further "Life List" Suggestions:
http://www.cpt.org/publications/pubs.php and go to "New Resources for Lent 2002"

5) SAMPLE LETTER to tax collection agencies (copied to elected
representatives) Dear