True Costs of United State Government Assistance

In mid January I had the privilege of traveling to Colombia with Witness for Peace. During this week and a half I came to respect and love the people who live in this beautiful country, and began to comprehend the true costs of United State government assistance. The United States, through Plan Colombia, pours 1.3 million dollars every day into the Colombian military for drug and guerilla eradication. This aid, largely in the form of weapons and fumigation efforts threatens every thread of Colombian life, especially in areas like Putumayo that are suitable for the cultivation of cocoa. Military and police units, such as the 24th Brigade that operates in the department of Putumayo and receive US military aid and training, have suspected and documented ties with AUC paramilitary groups who terrorize the population with gruesome assassinations and massacres. US supported fumigations fail to eradicate cocoa, cultivation has actually gone up 25% in the last year, but have tremendous costs, killing subsistence crops, poisoning livestock and displacing great numbers of people from their land.

Inside the Sibundoy cathedral a thousand people had gathered for the first ever Peace Mass in Putumayo, sitting and standing for hours in support of peace in the valley. A diversity of people spoke out against fumigations and violence; from a department representative in Bogota to a local indigenous leader, to the Bishop of Putumayo; all at risk of death at the hands of armed groups. None was more at risk than Father Campo, who spoke with eloquence, with emotion and power, condemning the violence of the paramilitaries, guerillas and state armed actors. Ultimately, everyone filling the pews or standing anywhere they could, joined together to raise their voices in song and unity. A great spirit filled that building, bringing a hope to the people that dared to gather there. This desire for life will be tested every moment of these peoplesí lives, and urgently needs the solidarity of people living in the United States to fight against the policies of the US government that only add fuel to the violence that saturates the life of every Colombian.