Colombia: The Seeds of Peace
On a muddy slope, looking up at the quiet little village of Pueblo Viejo perched on top of one of north-eastern Colombia's fertile hills, we listened as people told us about the new agroforestry practices they were learning. Claudia, a precocious eight year old girl, stood beside a peach tree that was not much taller than she was and announced that this was her tree. With a sheepish smile she added that the thriving fruit trees and vegetables actually belonged to everyone in the village. Women and men laughed. They were proud of their project and happy that it had brought the whole community together, even the young children.
Afterwards, in the community meeting, it became apparent that the beautiful rolling countryside was also a place of darkness and fear. This region is a major source of displaced people in a country where more than two million have been uprooted by horrific violence. People spoke of the fighting among the army, the guerrilla and the paramilitaries; of how people in other communities had fled the violence; of massacres; of how dangerous it was to stay. But as they spoke, the fear gave way to an expression of a stronger desire, to stay on the land in which they had invested so much, and to maintain their community.
 Inter Pares staff member David Bruer speaking with women in the community of Pueblo Viejo, Colombia. |
Far away, on another muddy slope in the city of Bucaramanga, other people who were forced to flee their villages in search of safety have now resettled in the community of Brisas de Suratoque, where they are slowly rebuilding their lives. People who were once peasant farmers are now struggling to find ways to survive in the unfamiliar city. They are learning about their rights as displaced people and how to organize to make their voices heard. Like the people of Pueblo Viejo, they also speak of fear. Armed actors fight for control of the neighbourhoods. Every week, people are killed and others "disappear". And yet, despite their fear, they have come together to pressure the municipality for the housing that is guaranteed under Colombian law.
Through agricultural projects, human rights monitoring, and early warning systems, Inter Pares is supporting Pueblo Viejo, and other communities to help people remain on their land, protect themselves and feed their children. We are providing assistance and accompaniment for Brisas de Suratoque and other displaced communities to secure services such as housing, emergency food supplies, and health care. And we support people's ability to organize and participate in the peace process that will come, to help define what that peace will be, and ensure that it includes those who are now suffering the most.
Indications are that the war will get worse before it gets better. The government is pursuing a military solution to the conflict that has dragged on for more than forty years. Yet most people accept that this war is not winnable and there will, in the end, be a negotiated peace.
Yet, while the people of Pueblo Viejo may one day be forced off their land, and families in Brisas de Suratoque may be uprooted once again, many of them have joined forces to try to overcome the ongoing violence through strong social organizations. They are learning to make their voices heard through knowledge and skill that cannot be destroyed, participating in the campaign for peace, and planting the seeds of a new Colombia.
In addition to the support of Inter Pares' donors, we gratefully acknowledge the support of CIDA Americas Branch.
Project Counselling Service (PCS)
In Latin America, Inter Pares acts primarily through the Project Counselling Service, an international organization with its Secretariat in Peru, and offices in Guatemala and Colombia. The mission of the PCS is to support victims of war and political repression by assisting their efforts to promote their own interests, both during conflict and in the process of building peace after the end of hostilities. Our approach within PCS is to help to develop local capacity for social solidarity and mutual support, and to protect the lives and human rights of those who engage in this often very dangerous work. PCS provides material assistance to refugees and internally displaced people, and supports the activities of local organizations carrying out community-based programs in post-conflict situations, while carrying out international advocacy on their behalf.
| Reviewed June 1, 2004 |  |
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