RICARDO ESQUIVIA -
RISK OF ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT ON FALSE CHARGES BY COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - Several sources have confirmed an imminent threat by
Colombian authorities against the freedom of Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas. Ricardo Esquivia served as director of Justapaz and is currently national
coordinator of the Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace, of the
Evangelical Council of Churches of Colombia (CEDECOL) and is vice-president
of CEDECOL. It appears that government authorities are building a case based on
fabricated and false evidence to arrest Ricardo and accuse him of being a
member of the guerrillas, thus keeping him from carrying out his work. As
part of this plan, their intention appears to be to use paid informants.
This is similar to the course of action used against many other leaders of
Colombian social movements, labor leaders and members of NGOs, who are now
under arrest. The current administration of President Alvaro Uribe Vélez has been
implementing a policy of total war against the guerrilla and has promised to
win. In keeping with this policy, so-called security measures have been
increased as has the overall military structure. Ricardo Esquivia through his work with church organizations has been working
for human rights and peace through a varitey of initiatives. This has
included work with victims of the violence, nonviolence training of church
people, denunciation of abuses and general witness to a new society of
justice and peace. Last year saw the assassination of more than 40 Colombian protestant pastors
and church leaders working for nonviolent peace. These assassinated
leaders have left behind a great number of grieving family members and
friends. Justapaz and the Colombian Mennonite Church have sent out an urgent action
appeal, asking their constituents in North America to send letters to
Colombian and North American government officials asking that Esquivia´s
safety and right to non-violently work for peace in Colombian be protected. Your support, brothers and sisters, is very important, because the Colombian
government is sensitive and attentive to international opinion-perhaps above
all else. Help us to save RICARDO´s life, liberty and work. Thank you for
your action of support! We ask that you: * Share this information with your churches, organizations and
communities, and hold the matter in your prayers. * Write an urgent action letter and fax it immediately to the people
listed below. To assist in this, we are including some points to include
in such a letter. Or, if you do not have time to draft your own, we are
sending a sample letter that you can use. * Send copies to your Congressional representatives or members of
Parliament with a note of explanation, and ask that they also apply pressure
on Colombian authorities. If you do so, please indicate in your letters to
the Colombian officials that you are copying your elected government
representatives (cc: Senator...,). Finally, please send a (blind) email copy of your letter to Justapaz
at justapaz@colnodo.apc.org POINTS FOR AN URGENT ACTION LETTER: We ask that you fax, call, or telegram the Colombian officials listed
below. Address, in your own words, the following points: · Salutation: Dear ....... (Mr. President, Admiral, Attorney
General, etc....) · A greeting, in which you express your prayers and support for
initiatives for peace with justice in Colom
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