EDITORIAL
Two months on, the peace talks between
the government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) are
still to recommence. In the meantime, a war for territorial control is
being waged, mainly by the illegal armed groups. This war is characterised
by attacks, massacres, kidnappings and disappearances, and threats against
individuals and communities which are forcing them to flee their lands.
The guerrillas have carried out a number of indiscriminate attacks against
several municipalities, mainly in Antioquia. These, along with the incidents
in the Catatumbo region (Norte de Santander), where most of the rural and
urban attacks have been perpetrated by the self-defence groups, have killed
over 100 people and have displaced between 6,000 and 7,000 since the end
of May.
Even so, unarmed society has responded
and tried to find alternative solutions to the conflict. Different sectors
of civil society joined forces during the 2nd National Plenary
of the Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil para la Paz, APP (Permanent
Assembly of Civil Society for Peace) which took place 28-30 July. Among
its conclusions, the APP called for the peace process to be used "as an
opportunity to reach consensus, among different social groups, concerting
a development model that strengthens social investment, backs industry,
and where the fruits of labour translate into greater social wellbeing…."
Furthermore, the APP called for the respect of human rights and international
humanitarian law (IHL) by the armed actors. It supported the establishment
of minimum humanitarian agreements that seek to ensure full compliance
with IHL, and ratified its commitment to a negotiated solution to the armed
conflict. International solidarity was also requested. These proposals
seek to identify possible solutions and changes to the conflict's dynamics,
mainly in benefit of unarmed society.
We, the DIAL agencies, recognise the
importance of these peace initiatives, as well as that of strengthening
support to the regions and to democratic organisations as a way of dealing
with the war. These processes seek to foment greater grassroots participation
from civil society in general and from the communities with which we work,
and with our NGO counterparts at the local and national levels. DIAL participates
in events like the APP, the activities of the national Peace Week, and
accompaniment at the regional and local level of communities of peasants,
indigenous and displaced persons who are seeking peaceful alternatives.
Our role is mainly as observers of the peace initiatives that are born
of the communities themselves and that reflects their needs and desires;
we promote these processes within the international community. In this
context, in this issue we concentrate on peace, the subject of the main
article "International Action on Peace is also a Priority" by Alberto Gómez,
head of DIAKONIA's Displaced Persons Program.
Despite the national and regional clamour
for peace, there are obstacles, as evidenced by the attack in late August
on the offices of the Popular Training Institute (IPC) in Medellin, a leading
NGO that is a counterpart of members of DIAL and that works promoting peace
initiates; and the murder of Jesús Antonio Bejarano, professor at
the National University and former peace advisor. These acts continue to
darken the road chosen by many, to seek reconciliation for Colombia.
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