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Delegation 2004 to Colombia - First-Hand
Reports
Cacarica: July 18-August 7, 2004
San José de Apartadó: July 18-31, 2004
Organized by
Chicagoans for a Peaceful Colombia
and Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)
First Report:
Miami, Florida
July 19th, 2004
Greetings from Miami! We are happy to be here and ready to embark on
our journey to Colombia. Yesterday, 16 people from all over the US met
here and began training for a delegation to visit the communities of San
Jose de Apartado and Cacarica in the Uraba region of Colombia. The delegates
range in age from 24 to 66 and come from areas like Chicago, New York,
LA, Minneapolis, Madison (WI), rural Kentucky, and San Francisco. Professionally
we are students, teachers, activists, writers, lawyers, and even involved
in Dental Sales. Today, we spent the day getting to know each other and
prepared ourselves for the different challenges we will face in Colombia
We discussed the history of the country, focusing in particular on instances
of US intervention. We talked about how the peace communities work and
how important our role is as international observers. Our work in Colombia
will to be present in the peace communities, ensuring their safety, and
showing solidarity with their efforts to remain neutral and nonviolent
in the face of Colombia's decades long civil war. We are also going to
learn about the efforts of different Colombian organizations also dedicated
to promoting a just social, economic, and political system that will address
the root causes of the armed conflict.
Tomorrow, we will fly to Bogota where our work will begin in earnest.
We are all looking forward to connecting with the people of the peace communities
as well as the valuable learning opportunity while in Colombia. At the
same time, we are also apprehensive about the obstacles we will be facing
and the possibility that these obstacles may prevent us from accomplishing
the goals we have set out to achieve. It is our responsibility as US citizens
to use our power and privilege to help those in need and promote the values
of justice, equality, and democracy that we all hold so dearly. Please
keep our delegation in your hearts and prayers as we set out to accomplish
our goals. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.
With love and con carino,
The Colombian Delegation 2004
____________________________
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean
2017 Mission St. #305
San Francisco, CA 94110
phone: (415) 495-6334, fax: (415) 495-5628
www.forusa.org
©2004
Fellowship of Reconciliation |
