*Sample Letter to send to representatives of the Colombian Government and International Community: Dear [OFFICIAL], I am writing to express my deep concern for the physical safety and right to due process of Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas. According to credible sources, he faces threats and accusations intended to lead to his imprisonment or affect his physical safety. This is similar to events that took place in 1989, 1993 and 2004 in which Colombian authorities actions against Ricardo based on false accusations, which were later dismissed as unfounded. Ricardo Esquivia is the Director of Asociación Sembrando Semillas de Paz (Sembrandopaz) a church-based organization located on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia and which has received support from the United States Institute for Peace and Mennonite Central Committee, among others. Sembrandopaz accompanies and supports communities affected by the armed conflict to peacefully reconcile differences and build a better future. The threat comes in the context of Sembrandopaz’s recent work supporting citizen initiatives of small farmers in the Montes de María region for the right to reparation, the return to their lands in safety and State assistance in addressing the agricultural crisis caused by the death of avocado plantations in more than 40 rural communities. In addition to the threats against Ricardo Esquivia, leaders of this citizen movement have also been threatened, and in one case already detained. Ricardo Esquivia has promoted peace and community development in the region for over 40 years, as evidenced by international peace awards from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He is co-founder and former Director of the Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace of the Evangelical Council of Churches of Colombia (CEDECOL). He is also the founder and former Director of the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action of the Mennonite Church of Colombia. For many years he represented all non-Catholic religious groups on the National Peace Council, which advises the President of Colombia.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 16:41:13 +0000
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