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WFP Plan Colombia Alert

June 15, 2005 

Dear Witness for Peace Colombia advocates, 

With a Colombia vote the week of June 27, I’m hard pressed to communicate the urgency and importance of legislative pressure at this time.  

Peace is Possible in Colombia, but not through more “fuel for the fire.”  Later this month Congress will vote on the administration’s request for $742 million to renew Plan Colombia in 2006. But time is up for Plan Colombia, and we reject additional funding for futile military strategies. Urge your members of Congress to support amendments cutting military spending for Colombia.  Make this call to create an opening for peace before June 27. Let’s make Witness for Peace leaders in local efforts!   

In this message: Colombia flash-movie release, a letter from Colombia, a legislative update, and Days of Action (June 20-24). 

  1. PEACE IN COLOMBIA FLASH-MOVIE JUST RELEASED!

Featuring images illustrating Plan Colombia failure, words from peace church leader Ricardo Esquivia, and YOU, the video makes it easy to share about U.S. involvement in Colombia and contact your members of Congress.  

Check it out! www.peaceincolombia.org/colombiafinal.html  

  1. LETTER FROM COLOMBIA

“The military aid sent to the Colombian government by the U.S. government through the so-called “Plan Colombia” has been more than throwing kindling on the fire.  It’s been like gasoline enflaming the fire that consumes the Colombian society, prolonging and multiplying its lethal effects.  (Plan Colombia funding) has not helped to stop the war, but rather has contributed to its growth.”  Ricardo Esquivia and Peter Stucky, Colombian Protestant, Mennonite church leaders. Read more of this letter from these Witness for Peace partners at http://go.sojo.net/campaign/peaceincolombia/explanation  

  1. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The vote is expected in the House of Representatives the week of June 27 as the foreign operations appropriations bill reaches the floor. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) will offer an amendment to the bill that will cut military aid to Colombia. Only a handful of world affairs are debated when the foreign operations bill comes up each year, so it is significant that Colombia is one of them. Through continuous opposition to Plan Colombia, we have achieved our goal of making Colombia policy a controversial issue in Congress! 

The foreign operations budget this year is under pressure due to the enormous expenditures of the Iraq war, and we have a better chance than usual this year at cutting military aid. See www.lawg.org  and click on “Rethinking Plan Colombia” for more background information.

Call your Representative and ask him or her to vote YES to any amendment cutting military aid to Colombia. A sample script and talking points are available at http://www.peaceincolombia.org/callscript.htm. 

  1. DAYS OF ACTION: Five days of Action for five years of Plan Colombia. 

June 20-24 Action Days for Colombia
5 days of Action for 5 years of failed Plan Colombia
Resources available at peaceincolombia.org 

Monday, June 20: Fax and Mov ie

Promote the flash-movie to all your networks! Send a faxed message to your representative asking him/her to cut military aid to Colombia. Send the movie link to friends! 

Tuesday, June 21: Media Day

Make the realities of US involvement in Colombia public!  Use our sample letter to the editor and send to your local paper. See www.peaceincolombia.org.

Wednesday, June 22: Phone a Friend

Talk to two friends about the importance of opposing “Plan Colombia II” and then triple the impact of Thursday’s Call in Day by helping them contact Congress.  

Thursday, June 23: CALL-IN DAY 
202-224-3121

Call your representative to tell him/her to vote YES on amendments that cut U.S. military aid to Colombia, or that transfer military assistance to social aid. Remember, congressional offices are sensitive to calls (more so than emails) from constituents, which makes this action very important. Go to  http://www.peaceincolombia.org/callscript.htm for a sample script and talking points.

Friday, June 24: Solidarity Actions

Show solidarity with the Colombian people by lighting a candle for peace, chalking your sidewalk, or sharing your knowledge and experience of Colombia with your church and community.  Take pictures and spread the word! 

And, GET FREE ‘PEACE COFFEE’ https://www.peacecoffee.com  that supports an end to violence in Colombia! The first 100 people to report back on the actions that they took during the week will receive a free sample of fair trade coffee produced by the Nasa in Cauca, Colombia. You may have visited Nasa communities on a Witness for Peace delegation.   

This is our chance to influence the course of U.S./Colombia policy. Let me know how your members of Congress plan to vote and about local organizing.  And please contact me if we can help you in any way. Thanks for stepping up your heartfelt work!  

Peace and hope, 
Janna