CPTnet
August 20, 2003
COLOMBIA: "Peace Doesn't Grow Here"

Colombia's climate grants a year round growing season. Everything from
cacao (the chocolate bean) and maiz (corn) to papaya and mangos flourish in
the rich soils along the river. Just having harvested the previous corn
crop farmers in this rural area are already planting the next
one. Visiting local families threatened by the movements of various armed
groups through the area, CPTers often ask about the crops by which
campesino families try to sustain themselves.

"So what are you planting today?" a long time CPTer asks one man, "Peace?".
Smiling sadly and shaking his head the man answers, "No. Peace doesn't take
here".

As U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield visits Colombia, members
of Christian Peacemaker Teams Colombia project would like to add our voices
to those clamoring for a climate more conducive to the growing of peace in
Colombia. The seeds of military aid, weapons technology and combat
training that the U.S. is currently planting only produce the bitter fruit
of more war, making life increasingly difficult for campesinos in rural
areas.