To: Latin America Advocates
From: Theo Sitther, Legislative Associate
Date: July 2, 2007
Re: Church Organization Attack

Issue:
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) is circulating a “dear colleague” in Congress urging members to sign a letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The letter highlights the alarming increase in attacks against human-rights organizations including the break-in at Justapaz, a ministry of the Colombian Mennonite church and a close partner to MCC. Contact your member of Congress and urge them to sign on to the letter.

Background:
On June 14 just before 3 AM the office of Justapaz was burglarized. The assailants entered through the roof and targeted computers that contained sensitive information. Two computers were stolen with information on people and churches that are active in work for peace and human dignity, and on people from churches that are victims and witnesses to human rights violations. They passed by 9 other computers, telephones, a safe and other valuables, and removed two specific computers located at the other end of the office. They also broke into the desk of the coordinator for a program for protection of persons at risk.

This is the first of such direct attacks on a church organization. This crosses a line that has not been crossed before. The two computers that were stolen were used by MCC service workers (Janna Hunter-Bowman and Shalom Wiebe) in a project directly sponsored by MCC. This places MCC staff, partners, and projects at risk.

This attack occurred 12 days after the Fellowship of Reconciliation’s office was burglarized and one computer was taken which contains information about international accompaniment to the Comunidad de Paz of San José de Apartado. Similarly, in January of this year (2007), the office of the Permanent Assembly of Civil Society for Peace was broken into and one computer was taken, which contained sensitive information on participants and organizations, photographs, and documentation of their activities. This attack against Justapaz repeats a pattern of human rights violations which give evidence that the perpetrators have precise knowledge of the office and use sophisticated procedures to gain access to specific information, which in turn puts people, organizations, and churches at risk. It is significant that this is the first time that a church is subjected to this type of attack in relation to its work for peace, human rights and the safety of victims and potential witnesses to human rights violations.

Faith Reflection
A statement released by Justapaz said, “Justapaz and the Mennonite Church of Colombia reaffirm their commitment to nonviolence, justice and peace, which they understand as part of their calling to follow Jesus and to work for God’s vision of a society that resolves its differences nonviolently, guarantees the right to life with dignity for all, protects the victims and the general population against all armed action, and promotes solutions to the armed conflict within a framework of truth, justice, the call to repentance, reparation and reconciliation.”

Our Mennonite sisters and brothers in Colombia are calling on us to be faithful witnesses for peace and justice. They are calling on us to encourage our government to take action.

Action
Call your Representative and urge them to sign on to the letter to President Alvaro Uribe. Call the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak with your Representative and call on them to sign the letter and take action.

Copy of the letter

Visits, e-mails, phone calls, faxes and letters are all good ways to contact your legislators. E-mails, phone calls and faxes are good for time-sensitive issues. Postal mail travels slowly in the Capitol, but letters have long-term impact. Be sure to include your mailing address in all correspondence to confirm your residency in a particular district and state.

We would be grateful for copies of your correspondence and any responses you receive! Please send them to