FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Deutsche Welle

The number of casualties and the humanitarian impact of the armed conflict has decreased since peace talks between the government and the FARC began, according to a report of the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

graph from OCHA report

The armed conflict from which Colombia has suffered for more than half a century has declined since 2012, when the government and the FARC guerrillas in Cuba began the peace process, according to the study which was presented in Bogotá.

Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Colombia, Fabrizio Hochschild said that since the negotiations began there has been a decline of up to 48 percent of the number of victims of the conflict.

Hochschild said that from November 2012 to June 2015 the percent of people forced by the conflict decreased by 27% compared to the 32 months prior to the peace process.

Fewer acts of war

The OCHA study, entitled “Humanitarian and Peace Trends from November 2012-June 2015” also indicates that, overall, there was a decrease during this period in the number of military actions of the guerrilla group, attacks on civilians, victims of landmines and kidnappings.

According to Hochschild, the figures decreased largely as a result of the six ceasefire declarations that have made by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) during the peace process, which have helped to reduce by 60% and 52% respectively the figures for guerrilla attacks and displaced persons.

The FARC has upheld since last July 20 a ceasefire, which was answered by President Juan Manuel Santos by an order to the Air Force to suspend the bombing of guerrilla camps as part of an agreement to start a phase of de-escalation of the conflict.

Hope and concern

The delegate of the UN cataloged the current scenario as “encouraging” and highlighted the progress of the peace process, but said the OCHA study continues to show worrying data for violence in Colombia.

Hochschild said the state must take measures to prevent other armed groups from beginning to act in places where the FARC guerrilla group makes peace with the government and demobilizes.

He also said that so far this year 69 human rights defenders and political leaders have been killed, which he described as “alarming”, because in the same period in 2014 the figure was 35.

“That’s a major setback which is very unfortunate in terms of social protection and community leaders,” he said.

(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article of HSB Noticias (reprinted by permission)

Cuidad Salud is among the municipalities hardest hit by violence because of its proximity to Viotá, the epicenter of the violence of the Alto Magdalena.

Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, accompanied by Deputy Carlos Ferro, and other officials in the forum.

For several years now Colombia has been speaking of post-conflict which is expected soon when finally a number of outstanding agreements for the Peace Accord are signed in Havana. It is a peace that many see far away, but are beginning to be felt in municipalities that were seriously affected by the violence and now living with other kinds of social problems. This is the case in Tocaima which suffered from the problem of insecurity and armed groups and currently faces the problem of drug trafficking but is hoping that initiatives such as that of the government can enable them to live in harmony and peace.

An advance

Municipalities are advancing in strength for their capacities to work on reconciliation with communities in the peace process. In order to implement strategies to resolve conflicts between communities through alternative justice of conciliation, the secretaries of government and municipal representatives participated in a departmental meeting that laid the essential foundations to address the peace process and lighten the load of the courts.

Coexistence

During this first regional meeting, progress was made in strengthening the national policy of coexistence and security in the issue of reconciliation. Jerome Gordillo, secretary of Government of Cundinamarca, said that Cundinamarca is the first post-conflict department in the country, and it is the responsibility of mayors and ombudsmen to efficiently handle the peace process. “We work directly with communities, especially for the qualification of municipal authorities to advance the promotion and establishment of a culture of peace with foundation in reconciliation that allows the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The message is peace,” he said.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior, Carlos Ferro, explained the importance of strengthening the capacities and knowledge of ombudsmen for the issue of conflict resolution in the municipalities. “From the Ministry we are already in the process of enlisting municipalities for this. We help empower them with regard to reconciliation and post-conflict peacebuilding in all municipalities. Peace begins in the territory when we recognize the reasons that caused the conflict and design tools and strategies to solve them,” said Ferro.

(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

A new book from the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is pleased to share with you our first publication in the 2015 Monograph Series. The ICNC Monograph Series brings to fruition the scholarly work of the recipients of the 2014 ICNC Research Monograph Award, which aims to support academic research and writing that enhances the strategic practice and global understanding of civil resistance.

Confronted with civil war, local civilians typically either collaborate with the strongest actor in town or flee the area. Yet civilians are not stuck inexorably within this dichotomous choice. Collectively defying armed groups by engaging in organized nonviolent forms of noncooperation, self-organization and disruption is another option. 

The Power of Staying Put: Nonviolent Resistance Against Armed Groups in Colombia by Juan Masullo J. explores this option through a case study of sustained and organized civil resistance led by ordinary peasants against state and non-state repressive actors in Colombia’s longstanding civil war. It tells the story of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó (PCSJA), formally established in 1996, which has used a vast array of nonviolent tactics ranging from public declarations to establishing alternative educational institutions and markets. This impressive tactical diversity has gained considerable international support and, to this day, helps sustain the Community’s resilience. 

The PCSJA case leaves us with an important message regarding the scale at which ongoing peace efforts in Colombia can be advanced. National peace negotiations usually take place between high-level representatives of warring parties, without involving authentic grassroots peacemakers such as the PCSJA. 

The author, Juan Masullo, is a Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute (EUI). A Colombia-native and frequent visitor of the village of San José, his research interests include nonviolent strategies, social movements and collective actions.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

This discussion question applies to the following articles:

Colombian villagers practice non-violent resistance
Legacy of a Nonviolent Political Leader: Governor Guillermo Gaviria of Colombia
Working for a Culture of Peace in the Valley of the Cauca, Colombia
Remise des Prix de la Fondation Chirac pour la prévention des conflits
Chirac Foundation Prize for Conflict Prevention
The University and the Peace Process in Colombia
La paz supera coyunturas y fronteras (Colombia y Venezuela)
Peace is not stopped by borders (Colombia and Venezuela)
Campesinos colombianos celebran primer acuerdo agrario de paz
Colombian Govt and FARC Reach Agreement on First Stage of Peace Talks
Colombia Campaña de la ONU “La Paz es mía”
UN Campaign in Colombia:
Presidente colombiano reactivará la Comisión Nacional de Paz
Colombian President to Reactivate National Peace Commission
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano avanzan en acuerdos para la paz
FARC-EP and Colombia Government advance in their peace accords
Colombia debe ser también la Nación más educada en derechos humanos: Presidente Santos
Colombia should also be the most educated nation in human rights : President Santos
Gabriel García Márquez and the peace process in Colombia
Colombia amanece con un presidente reelecto, esperanzada en la paz
Colombia awakens to hopes for peace with the re-election of their president
Mujer, ruralidad y memoria, entre los temas del congreso de paz (Bogotá, Colombia)
Women, rurality and historical memory among the themes of the Peace Congress (Bogotá, Colombia)
Sonia Ines Goéz Orrego on a speaking tour in the U.S. to share her experience building peace in Colombia
Pax Christi International Peace Award 2015: Women Collective for Reflection and Action (Colombia)
FARC-EP y Gobierno colombiano crearán Comisión de la Verdad
Planning for a Peace Assembly in the Colombian Caribbean
Inician construcción de Asamblea por la Paz en el caribe colombiano
Colombia: Ministerio del Trabajo acompañará, garantizará y facilitará Segunda Asamblea Nacional por la Paz
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
Colombia: The Labor Minister will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace
San Agustín, Colombia: escenario de la Bienal internacional de educación y cultura de paz
San Agustin, Colombia to host International Biennial of Education and Culture of Peace
Carta de Colombia
Letter from Colombia

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Amada Benavides de Pérez, Fundacion Escuelas de Paz (FEP), translated by CPNN

Dear CPNN:
 
 Please receive our warm greeting.
 
 It is a pleasure to contact you again in our journey together for this exciting issue of peace education.

 I want to keep you abreast of events that have happened this semester in Colombia. I imagine you are aware of most of these stories, but in any case, I’d like to put them into the overall context.
 
 The process of negotiating a peace agreement with the FARC has advanced many topics, including education for peace. For the first time in Colombia it is being mentioned explicitly, and not by other names, and in this sense we have several new initiatives.
 
 1. Chair of Peace. The launch of the Regulatory Decree of the Department of Peace is just one of many scenarios that are moving forward in the country on the subject. Since we have been working more than 15 years to put forward the necessity of peace education in Colombia, this is really a very exciting time.
 
 2. The development of a CONPES document that addresses public policy on human rights education and culture of peace. [Note: CONPES is the Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social).
 
 3. At the same time we are beginning to develop the creation of various collectives that may link up the various isolated efforts.  One of the things we have noticed from the document on education for peace in Colombia, was the lack linkages need for a comprehensive approach.
 
 4. The FEP is specifically leading preparations for the National Meeting on Education for Peace, to be held on 1 and 2 October. It has been a very interesting process, because it is in the framework of the Committee to Support the National Peace Council, and we developed the attached document with more than 29 organizations among which account the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education of Bogota, several universities and institutions of society civil. In the framework of this meeting, it is planned to invite the participation of some international experts.

(Click here for the original Spanish of this aricle.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by the Editor of Diario del Huila (translation by CPNN)

The Faculty of Education of Surcolombiana University (USCO) will hold the first International Biennial of education and culture of peace from 13 to August 15 in the city of San Agustin.

The organizers of this academic event are the USCO, the Faculty of Education, the Masters Program of Education and Culture of Peace and the Peace Education Collective. The academic committee is composed of Myriam Oviedo, coordinator of the Master’s Program and teacher at the USCO; Marieta Quintero Mejía, national coordinator of the Peace Education Collective and professor at the District University; Diego Escobar, professor at the National University of San Martin (Buenos Aires); Miriam E. Kriger, a researcher at CLACSO, Conicet and University of Buenos Aires; Alexander Ruiz, director of the doctorate in Education at the Pedagogical University; and Monica Mazariegos (Guatemala, Universidad Internacional Tierra Ciudadana (UITC).

Participants may be leaders or members of social and training programs and projects, or initiatives related to education and culture of peace. Also invited are program managers and participants of training centers and university institutes specializing in peace studies, research groups, promoters of magazines and publications in the field, teachers, students, professionals, activists and social leaders.

“The First International Biennial of education and culture of peace is conceived to be a stage to share, discuss, disseminate, encourage and promote peace initiatives undertaken by institutions, communities, groups, associations, unions and groups. In this sense, the biennial is intended not only as a space to recognize the voices of the conflict, but also as an opportunity to unite our voices to build multiple possibilities of peace,” the organizers explained.

They added that this first version of the Biennial will be held in the municipality of San Agustin (Huila), “a land of art and peace located between the cold Massif of Colombia and the arid valley of the Magdalena. It was chosen to host this event in view of its ancestral, heterogeneous and multicultural “character

(Click here for the original Spanish of this aricle.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from the Ministerio de Trabajo de Colombia (translation by CPNN)

The Minister, of Labor, Luis Eduardo Garzon, says that the Government will provide full guarantees, facilitate and promote the Second National Assembly for Peace, which seeks to contribute from the energy and mining sector a plural and participatory peace that is comprehensive, stable and durable.

“I see here three organizations that differ in many ways, but are united in the quest for peace,” Lucho Garzón

Garzon referred to the participation of Ecopetrol and the Workers’ Trade Union of the Petroleum Industry (USO). He also highlighted the contributions made from the Academy of the National University of Colombia to the Second Assembly, which is conceived as a space for deliberative and purposeful construction at local, regional and national levels.

“I think it is extremely important for the country and the Ministry and the government itself are committed to help stimulate initiatives like this,” said the head of the Labor Ministry.

“I see here three organizations that differ in many ways, but are united in the quest for peace,” he said.

For the National President of USO, Edwin Castaño Monsalve, the issue of oil has an important role in keeping peace. “This union is betting on scenarios to build peace and we are fully committed to the peace process.”

In turn, the rector of the National University of Colombia, Ignacio Prada Mantilla added that “The university is fully committed to the peace proces, that is, we want contribute to it from all areas of knowledge.”

The National Assembly for Peace will include four conversations and 10 regional assemblies. they will take place in Antioquia, Barrancabermeja, Cartagena, Choco, Villavicencio, Neiva, Puerto Asis, Tibu, Arauca and Popayan. They will focus on three themes: 1) mining and energy policy; 2) regional development and peacebuilding and 3), culture of peace and followup to the peace accords.

(Click here for the orignal Spanish of this aricle.)

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?