Presbyterian pastor wants U.S. Christians to write letters

by Alexa Smith, Presbyterian News Service
[5-21-04]

LOUISVILLE -- May 19, 2004 -- The executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia has asked U.S. Christians to mount a letter-writing campaign to protest the government's targeting of church leaders who defend Colombians whose rights have been violated.

The Rev. Milton Mejia, the church's executive secretary, told the Presbyterian News Service earlier this week that he'd like to see two such campaigns -- one from Presbyterian congregations in the United States, the other from Presbyterian leaders in Congress.

Mejia made the request after learning that security forces are using video surveillance to monitor visitors to the church's synod office in Barranquilla, a facility that includes a college, administrative offices and a small human-rights staff.

"My big worry is that they're preparing a case saying that we're supporting terrorist groups," said Mejia, whose life has been threatened by foes of his human-rights work. "Right now, the government is aggressively attacking people who fight for human rights. They're treating human rights workers as terrorists."

When 11 displaced Colombians were arrested recently, military and intelligence interrogators showed them videotapes of their visits to the church office, where they were signing up for church programs and seeking help in applying for government assistance. The men reportedly were grilled about the church's work and its staff.

Mejia is asking U. S. Christians to urge the Colombian government to safeguard its citizens who work on behalf of the millions of Colombians who are internal refugees because of civil strife. He said letter-writers should also ask for due process for those who are detained. (Click HERE for a sample letter.)

Mejia asked that letters be faxed to the offices of President Alvaro Uribe Velez in Bogata (fax # 011-57-1-342-0592 and 337-5890); Vice President Francisco Santos (fax # 011-57-1-334-1138); and Rafael Bustamante, an official of the Interior and Justice Ministry (fax # 011-57-1-560-4630).

More than six million Colombians are living as refugees in their own country, casualties of 50 years of violence by illegal armed groups. These displaced people are an unwelcome burden on already strained government budgets and only worsen rampant unemployment in Colombia.

The 11 men involved in the recent incident are facing terrorism charges, according to Mejia, who insists that they are not terrorists. He hopes U.S. Christians will help pay their legal expenses and support their indigent families during the trial.

Maria Arroyo, the coordinator for Latin America in the Worldwide Ministries Division, has responded to his plea by sending $13,000. Mejia said $10,000 will go to a lawyer representing some of the men, and $3,000 will be used to care for their families.

Presbyterians can contribute by sending money to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Specify Extra Opportunity Account # 047871 and specify legal fees. Churches and Presbyteries may use the same account.

Leaders of Colombia's religious community testified before Congress in March that a crackdown on rebel forces by the Uribe administration has jeopardized the lives of church workers, union organizers, journalists and human-rights activists. (To see a related story, click here: "In the Valley of the Shadow," Jan. 23, 2204)

The new controls include measures that undercut basic democratic rights. The religious leaders say the government has created a massive network of informants, and more and more people are being detained by police and by military. In his public statements, Uribe has suggested that rights workers and some non-governmental humanitarian agencies are disloyal to the government.

Armed groups in Colombia killed 45 Protestant pastors last year, and shut down 300 churches. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that 57 Catholic priests, bishops, nuns and seminarians have been killed in the past decade, and countless others have been injured or kidnapped.

Mejia said Tomas Ramos, an employee of a union for workers in the healthcare industry and member of the Presbyterian church, was intimidated last week when armed men ransacked his father's house.

"In the last weeks, it has gotten really bad," Mejia said, referring to the spiral of violence and pressure. He said international pressure helps protect church workers.