Action for peace in Colombia

Father Mauricio Garcia is director of CAFOD partner CINEP [CAFOD]

Father Mauricio García urges international pressure on the Colombian government to continue working for solutions to the country’s long conflict

Millions have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia during decades of fighting between guerrillas, paramilitaries and the army.

The conflict started when small farmers were driven off their land by large landowners, creating support for a guerrilla movement.

During a visit to the UK, Father Mauricio spoke of the importance of campaigning by supporters around the world to ensure policy changes to bring peace in Colombia.

International pressure works

Father Mauricio is director of the Jesuit-run Centre for Research and Popular Education (CINEP ), one of Colombia’s oldest and best-known “think tanks”, and supported by CAFOD.

He says: “These networks help us have an impact. Certainly the government is concerned about international pressure.”

During his trip to the UK he met with the British ambassador to Colombia, the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights group, Julie Morgan MP and CAFOD supporters.

“If the UK government never receives anything on Colombia, they don’t have to worry about it and can have whatever policy they like.

“If they start to receive lots of calls and letters from MPs and CAFOD supporters on the subject, it can make a big difference. They have to do something”.

For many years CINEP has closely monitored Colombia’s conflict, producing research on human rights, and records of all social struggles taking place.

This shows why people are mobilising, their reasons and demands. CINEP also runs workshops to teach social organisations how to defend their human rights.

Father Mauricio adds: “We don’t just look at what is happening but how we can influence what is happening.

“We work with journalists to build a new perspective on the conflict and to see how people can be more open to options for peace.”

While the Colombian government insists their democratic security policy is beginning to work, CINEP’s research shows that the war is not over, and the situation is complex.

Armed groups are still strong and 300 municipalities are affected by the conflict - around a third of the country.

At the same time, human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings by the army are increasing.

The number of people displaced by the conflict also remains high. At least 200,000 people have been displaced by the violence each year in the last seven years.

Father Mauricio concludes: “You ask yourself - why are so many still being displaced if the conflict is nearly over?”

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