In Colombia, an insurgency-counterinsurgency war has left over 200,000 people dead since 1964 and displaced over three million others from their homes. CPT's Colombia delegations will meet with church, human rights and social justice organizers in Bogotá and in Barrancabermeja, the industrial city in the Magdalena Medio region where CPT's full-time team has been based since 2001. In addition, delegates will spend several days in the countryside where communities have been subject to attack and threats by various armed groups. The September delegation will focus on Tiquisio.

Tiquisio is located at the foot of the northern tip of the Sierra de San Lucas – the mountain range in which most of the artisanal gold mines in south Bolívar are located. After massive displacements many residents have returned and have made great progress in community formation and development. The community process is threatened because of heavy military presence in the area. Recently the Pastoral Team in Tiquisio displaced because of paramilitary death threats, but the local catholic priest has since returned despite the threats. Delegates will meet with grassroots organizations and learn about the struggles of building and maintaining community in the midst of armed conflict in which neither state nor illegal armed actors respect the community’s neutrality and autonomy.

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CPT is an ecumenical violence-reduction initiative with support and membership from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations. CPT has had a continuing presence in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia since May 2001.

FUNDRAISING EXPECTATION: $2200 US or $2400 Cdn (covers roundtrip airfare from a designated U.S. or Canadian city. If traveling from another country, contact CPT office for details).