Memorandum submitted by Christian Solidarity
Worldwide
INTRODUCTION TO
OVERALL SITUATION
Colombia has been torn apart by violence for
the past four decades due to the rise of different leftist guerrilla
groups, and more recently the rise of right-wing paramilitary
armed groups. These groups have lost most of their original ideological
base and all employ similar violence and intimidation as they
vie for territory—both in terms of land and the narcotics
trade. Some, such as the leftist FARC and the ELN[5]
have forged "partnerships" as they continue to battle
the government, others, like the rightwing AUC have splintered
into factions as some accept a ceasefire and others do not and
now often fight amongst themselves, as well as against the guerrillas.
The Colombian military has itself often taken
an ambiguous position in regard to violence between the different
groups, and unfortunately, has actually been accused of either
passively siding with or actively fighting alongside rightwing
paramilitary groups.
The current government, under the leadership
of Alvaro Uribe, has pushed a hardline agenda aimed at wiping
out terrorist organisations. However, international observers—including
NGOs and governmental organisations (including UN agencies, the
US government and the EU) have expressed concern at the methods
employed in this endeavour. Uribe attempted to push through legislation
that would have severely curtailed civil rights—however,
this went to a national referendum and was soundly defeated. He
has, in the meantime, however, attempted to pass some of the points
on the referendum through the Congress.
In addition, Uribe has sought an increasingly
close relationship with the Colombian military, which, as stated
above, has a highly dubious record on human rights and respect
for civilians. Unfortunately, Uribe has very little tolerance
for any form of criticism directed at his policies and has also
caused great concern in the human rights community, both domestic
and international, by publicly referring to human rights organisations
(without specifying which ones) as supporters of terrorist or
guerrilla organisations. This type of public declaration, in Colombia,
is widely understood to give a green light to paramilitary organisations
to carry out targeted assassinations of human rights workers.
Most worryingly, following a historical precedent
set in other Latin American countries to eliminate not only violent
groups but also any peaceful voices of opposition, it appears
that the Uribe administration, along with elements in the Colombia
military, has begun to target social activists, including union
leaders, peace activists, human rights workers, and even members
of the clergy. It is important to emphasise that many of these
individuals have no connections with any armed group, and, in
fact, actually eschew violence. However, they have been detained
and apparently framed by authority figures—who accuse them
of supporting terrorism. Worryingly, this looks more and more
like a campaign to consolidate Uribe's base of power and purge
all voices of opposition and criticism. Considering that many
of these individuals have been utterly committed to peace initiatives,
this does call into question what exactly Uribe means by his avowed
commitment to peace in Colombia. CSW is especially concerned because
of the role that significant sectors of the Church, both Roman
Catholic and Protestant, have taken up at the forefront of peace
and human rights movement.
INDIGENOUS AND
AFRO-COLOMBIAN
RELATED ISSUES
International observers and human rights groups
have repeatedly drawn attention to the particular plight of indigenous
and Afro-Colombian groups within the conflict. These groups have
historically been neglected by Colombian society and particularly
by the government authorities. The Colombian constitution allows
for the autonomy of these groups but this freedom from government
control has also resulted in the severe marginalisation of the
groups. This in turn means little or no protection from groups
or individuals who in a bid to control territory often display
a total lack of regard for the human rights of these groups.
Many of these groups have asked to be left alone
by the armed groups and want no part of the violence. Unfortunately,
all of the armed groups, including the Colombia military, have
not only disregarded these pleas but have even set up camp on
the peripheries of their villages, a move which often puts the
inhabitants at the epicentre of any local conflict.
With reference to religious persecution CSW
was told that armed groups regularly singled out Christians in
these groups for harassment. In some cases, already impoverished
communities of indigenous or Afro-Colombian Christians were evicted
from their land solely because of their profession of faith. In
one example, when FARC guerrillas took control of land where one
particular indigenous group was based, they rounded up the entire
village into the middle of the settlement and then asked all of
the Christians to step forward, first the children, then the women,
and finally the men. They were told to leave the settlement at
once and found themselves landless and completely destitute, their
community broken. According to Church leaders who work with these
groups, such cases are not uncommon.
CONFLICT RELATED
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
CSW conducted its first fact-finding visit to
Colombia in September 2003 after hearing a number of reports that
the Church in Colombia has been suffering persecution within the
context of the greater conflict in that country and that they
are in desperate need of solidarity and advocacy. What the delegation
found in Colombia was far more serious and disturbing than expected.
Much of the violence takes place in and around
civilian communities—both urban and rural. None of the groups
appears to have any hesitation in taking civilian lives and actively
seek out non-combatants for threats and acts of aggression if
those persons are perceived to be unsupportive of the group in
question. The implications of this policy on the Church and especially
on church leaders in sones of conflict are extremely serious.
Church leaders who speak out publicly against
the violence, injustice, corruption, and the narcotics trade often
become instant targets. The assassination of men and women who
are successful in persuading other people not to take part in
the violence, whether those people are only potential recruits
or actually former members of the armed groups who made the decision
to defect, has been designated a valid military objective by high-level
commanders in each of the armed groups. In addition, Christians
who refuse to cooperate[6]
with the armed groups that control the areas in which they live
have often been forced to leave their homes and now make up a
siseable portion of Colombia's internally displaced population,
which numbers anywhere from one to four million people.
In a clear case of targeted persecution of Christians,
CSW was told that in 2000 a high-level member of FARC[7]
defected from the armed group. This individual confirmed that
an order had been issued from the highest levels of the guerrilla
group that from that point on the assassination of Protestant
pastors was to be considered a legitimate military objective.
Since then over 100 pastors have been assassinated.[8]
CSW also learnt that in many areas controlled
by the armed groups, particularly those areas under FARC control,
more than 400 Protestant churches have been forced to close, the
pastors commanded to stop preaching or even forced to leave, and
local Christians prohibited from praying, singing or meeting in
groups of more than two families. As rationale for this, FARC
has accused Protestant pastors of being agents of capitalist imperialism
and/or working for the CIA. It would appear, however, that they
are more worried about containing church growth as the vast majority
of Christians refuse to cooperate or take part in violence and
pastors often instigate, encourage and support this stance. All
of the armed groups regularly send members of their groups to
attend church services to observe and report on the activities
of the church and its members. As a result, pastors and other
church leaders must exercise extreme caution in their choice of
words and methods of outreach.
It is important to recognise, however, that
while FARC has been the armed group most vocally targeting Christians,
all armed groups are conducting strategic assassinations of church
leaders (both Roman Catholic and Protestant). Christians who are
involved in human rights work or peace initiatives are particular
targets.
GOVERNMENT DISCRIMINATION
As in much of Latin America the Roman Catholic
Church maintains a special relationship with the government and
as such wields considerable influence. While a constitutional
amendment in 1991 allows for "religious equality with liberty"
there are still numerous discrepancies in state treatment of non-Roman
Catholic religious communities. While the Roman Catholic Church
is tax exempt, Protestant churches are often considered commercial
enterprises and unless they receive a special exemption from their
local government (which they often do not) they are taxed accordingly.
Protestant pastors report that their churches
have even, on multiple occasions, been accused by both local and
high ranking government officials of being fronts for money-laundering
operations of the various armed groups in an effort to shut them
down or extort money from the individual churches.
Discrepancies also spill over into state institutions
like the military and prison system. While the Roman Catholic
Church is given a chapel in every prison and responsibility for
providing spiritual guidance to military units, Protestants and
other faiths are not accorded the same right. Pastors reported
that many Protestant youth who had been forcibly conscripted into
the Colombian military have been forced to attend Roman Catholic
masses against their will under threat of disciplinary punishment.
Lastly, Protestant leaders protested that while
the Roman Catholic Church runs a number of highly regarded universities
(as well as primary and secondary schools), universities and seminaries
run by Protestant denominations have run into huge obstacles when
applying for accreditation. While a few have now received government
recognition this remains an ongoing problem.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To the Colombian government and all armed groups
in Colombia:
— While the conflict in Colombia makes
the promotion of human rights across the board extremely difficult,
CSW believes that it is the responsibility of the Colombian government
to act as a model for its citisens by respecting and promoting
human rights and dignity for all of its population.
— CSW also calls upon the Colombia
government, and in particular the administration of Alvaro Uribe
to back up its avowed commitment to peace by supporting grassroots
and civil society initiatives aimed at achieving peaceful and
lasting resolution of conflict. The government should also recognise
and support the valuable contribution that human rights defenders
offer the country through their work.
— At the same time, CSW also calls
upon all of the armed groups, most of which covet international
political recognition, to abide by international standards of
human rights and to work actively towards peace.
— As the Colombian government continues
to pursue a dialogue with paramilitary groups, CSW urges the Colombian
government to continue to apply pressure on the members of these
groups to respect human rights, particularly those of civilians,
in the areas under their control as well as in conflict sones.
To the United Kingdom:
— CSW calls on the UK to encourage
President Uribe to ensure that human rights are respected by government
forces and agents and that religious freedom and equality is guaranteed
to all denominations.
— CSW also calls upon the UK government
to continue to promote the safety of human rights defenders around
the world, and particularly, at this time in Colombia. CSW asks
the UK government to consistently and clearly communicate this
concern to the Colombian government.
— Furthermore, CSW calls on the UK
government, should an opportunity for an active dialogue with
the different armed groups arise, to use its influence to encourage
those groups to respect freedom of conscience and faith in the
areas under their control.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
January 2004
5 The second largest leftwing guerrilla gorup-ELN are
the initials of the National Liberation Army (Ejercito del
Liberación Nacional). Back
6
Cooperation can mean not only participating in acts of violence,
but also working in the coca fields, other types of forced labour
including building of infrastructure, attending indoctrination
meetings, and sexual slavery. Back
7
The largest left-wing guerrilla group in Colombia-the acronym
stands for The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Las
Fuersas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia). Back
8
While CSW was in Colombia a report was received that the pastor
of a Foursquare Church in Arauca was assassinated by FARC. He
was 36 years old, married, and had two small sons. The guerrillas
had not permitted the removal of the body or any church leaders
to enter the area. Back
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