CPTnet
September 27, 2004

COLOMBIA ACTION ALERT: Send prayer to U.S. and Colombian decision-makers

The communities that CPT Colombia accompanies, Los Ñeques and La Florida,
are facing a severe crisis. The recent unexplained murder by the AUC
paramilitaries of a community member, Ancizar Giraldo, and other actions by
the same group have created tremendous fear and concern in the community.
Some community members feel particularly threatened and have decided to
leave the community. Many others are considering leaving, even though
leaving their land will create tremendous economic hardship for these
farmers in a country where unemployment is very high. These small
communities comprising thirty-five families suffered displacement
previously. Since they returned to their homes in 2001,more than five
community members have been killed in addition to three soldiers and another
three civilian workers in the area.

People feel that any day an armed group could arrive and kill them and that
the government will not protect them. The cry of, "How many more must die
....!?", was lifted up this week to political leaders here, who have yet to
make sufficient commitments to protect these fragile communities.

The team in Colombia is asking you to
- immediately send the prayer below (in Spanish and English) to political
leaders in Colombia, Canada, and the United States who have control over the
situation of people living in Colombia

- to pray with us, using the prayer below at home or church, and share this
Action Alert as broadly as possible.

Send the following prayer to

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Vélez
        Fax number: 011 571 342 0592

Edgar Cotes, Mayor of Barrancabermeja
        Fax number: 011 577 622 9091

Pierre Pettigrew, Canadian Minister of Foreign Relations and International
Trade
        Fax number: 613 995 9926

US Senator Richard Lugar, chair Senate Foreign Relations Committee
        Fax number: 202 228 0360

US Secretary of State Collin Powell
        Fax number: 202 647 2283

All of the fax numbers are in the form that people living in Canada and the
U.S. would dial.

After you fax these prayers, let CPT's Chicago office know you have done so
by sending a message to peacemakers [at] cpt [dot] org.

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE OPÓN
ORACIÓN POR LA PAZ EN EL OPÓN

God, we pray together as people of faith in Colombia, Canada and the United
States, that you hear us during these dark times in the Opón River
communities of Los Neques and La Florida.

We pray you may give the people of these rural farming communities strength
as they remember the five brothers, fathers and sons that have been killed
by illegal armed groups in the past three years, and
that you help them face the fear of even more threats and violence.

We pray for those in Los Ñeques and La Florida who have already been
displaced by war, and that the rest of the community may not be forced to
flee their people and their homes.

We also hold up the other victims of violence in the Opón River
communities, including three members of the Colombian Army and three
civilian workers.

We know God, "that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot
overcome it," John 1:5. We pray that the light of love may shine in all our
hearts as we struggle to reject violence and embrace
nonviolence.

We pray that the light of compassion may shine in the hearts of all
political leaders, and especially Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Vélez,
Barranca Mayor Edgar Cotes, U.S. Secretary of State Collin
Powell, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, and Canadian Minister of Foreign
Relations and International Trade Pierre Pettigrew, that they may redouble
their efforts to end the war and displacement and all the pain it causes.

We pray that the light of understanding may shine in the hearts of all
involved in the armed struggle; that as victims of this war and children of
God, they may awaken to all the suffering being wrought by this violence and
that they too may find healing and new lives of hope and reconciliation.

We also pray in thanksgiving for all the people in the Opón,
Barrancabermeja and Colombia who valiantly work to create a loving peace -
that they may feel embraced and supported in their difficult struggle.

We ask this through Jesus, Amen.

O, Dios, oramos juntos como gente de la fe en Colombia, Canadá, y los
Estado Unidos que tu nos escuchas en éstes tiempos oscuros por las
comunidades de Los Ñeques y La Florida en el Río Opón.

Oramos que le des a la gente de éstas comunidades rurales la fuerza
necesaria para recordar los cinco hermanos, padres e hijos que han sido
asesinados por grupos armados ilegales en los últimos tres años,
y que les ayude a enfrentar el miedo de nuevas amenazas y violencias.

Te pedimos por los de Los Ñeques y La Florida que han sido desplazados por
la guerra, y la violencia . Pedimos que los demás miembros de la comunidad
no sean forzados a huir de sus casas.

Levantamos a ti las victimas de la violencia en el Río Opón, incluso a
tres miembros del Ejercito Colombiano y tres trabajadores civiles. Sabemos,
Dios, que, "La luz brilla en las tinieblas, y las tinieblas no la puede
apagar," Juan 1:5. Oramos que la luz de amor brille en nuestros corazones
para que luchemos y rechazemos la violencia y abrasemos la noviolencia.

Oramos que la luz de compasión brill en los corazones de todos los
líderes políticos y especialmente el presidente Colombiano Alvaro Uribe
Vélez, Alcalde de Barrancabermeja Edgar Cotes, Secretario del Estado de
los Estado Unidos Collin Powell, Senador de los Estados Unidos Richard
Lugar, y Ministro Canadiense de Relaciones Exteriores y Comercio
Internacional Pierre Pettigrew, para que redoblen los esfuerzos para dar fin
a la guerra y el desplazamiento y todo el dolor que causan.

Pedimos que la luz de comprensión brilla en los corazones de todos y todas
los involucrados en la guerra; que como victimas de ésta guerra e hijos de
Dios, puedan despertar y ver todo el sufrimiento que causa la violencia y
que ellos también puedan encontrar saneamiento y una nueva vida de
esperanza y reconciliación.

Oramos con gratitud por toda las personas en el Opón, Barrancabermeja y
Colombia q