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WFP Colombia Alert
Calls to Foreign Operations Subcommittee members and WFP events and opportunities at the SOA Convergence
September 20, 2005

Dear friends,

Greetings to all our WFP friends and Colombia advocates!  We’re back from our summer vacations (and a wedding and Colombia honeymoon for some of us), and there are again opportunities for advocacy. And following this alert, see a note about the WFP Colombia Teach-In and Open House in conjunction with the November SOA Convergence.

ADVOCACY: Your call is especially important if your member of Congress is on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee.  The Foreign Ops Subcommittee Member list available at:  http://www.lawg.org/countries/colombia/semanaporlapaz05approps.htm  We need calls before the end of September.

Call your Senators and Representatives: numbers at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov or through the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.

Action: Tell your senators and members of Congress to support the Senate language on Colombia in the foreign operations appropriations conference committee.

Suggested script: Introduce yourself, state where you are from, and ask to speak with the foreign policy advisor. Share with the person on the phone or over voicemail:

For senators/representatives on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee:

“I am a constituent participating in Semana Por La Paz, a week for peace in Colombia. I believe that peace in Colombia cannot be achieved through U.S. military aid and drug crop fumigation. I would like to urge Representative/Senator __________, as a member of the foreign operations appropriations subcommittee, to support the Senate language on Colombia during conference committee. The Senate version of the bill calls for greater development assistance and less military aid to Colombia, and lays out strict guidelines for U.S. funding of Colombian paramilitary demobilization. I ask that your office do all in your power to support peace in Colombia by supporting the human rights of all, protecting the victims of war, and promoting social and economic development in Colombia.”

For senators/representatives NOT on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee:

“My call today is in recognition of the people of Colombia who are striving together for peace in their homes and in our world. This week churches and communities throughout Colombia are participating in a celebration of peace that is held in the present and the peace that Colombia aspires to attain. I ask that your office do all in your power to support peace in Colombia by promoting human rights of all, protecting the victims of war, and promoting social and economic development in Colombia.”

Background Information: The committee will combine the House and Senate versions of the foreign operations appropriations bills by late September. This important piece of annual legislation determines the amount of aid to be sent to Colombia in 2006, how it will be spent, and conditions assistance. The Senate language on Colombia is much better the House version because it:

  • Limits military aid and increases development assistance;

  • Puts restrictions on funds used for harmful drug crop fumigation;

  • Contains strict conditions on aid to demobilized paramilitaries in order to encourage a full dismantling of illegal paramilitary groups.   (Thanks to the LAWG for the above alert.) 

WFP EVENTS at the SOA Convergence: Let me know if you’ll join us for the WFP Colombia Teach-In (Friday, November 18 from 3:30-6:30 pm) and the WFP breakfast open house (Saturday, November 19 from 8:30-10:30 pm).  Both events will be held at the Howard Johnson Hotel, Columbus, Georgia.

We are looking forward to a keynote address from a representative of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community at this year’s Colombia Teach-In, as well as many others sharing their experiences and expertise.  Will you help us bring this San Jose speaker to you? Your financial gift would help defray the costs of co-hosting our special guest and friend.  Go to the “Donate Now” button at www.witnessforpeace.org; the form will allow you to earmark your gift for this purpose. 

Then on Saturday, wake up with a fair-trade cup of coffee and your WFP community at the WFP open house! Watch the WFP website for more information and opportunities.

As always, a heartfelt thanks for your efforts and support.

For peace,
Janna