Newsletters

Date: July 24th 2008

"Nuestra bandera es la tierra: es cultivar la tierra para que el pueblo coma."

"Our flag is the land: it is cultivating the land so that the people can eat."


These words of commitment were shared with us by a simply dressed humble man with a green cap, who appeared at the Presbytery office for our appointment to hear about ANDESCOL. This humble man, Juan Antonio Ariza, is the president of the local association of ANDESCOL, a project created by and for displaced farmers which the Presbiterio de la Costa supports and accompanies. We sat down with Antonio and he asked us, "Where shall we begin?" What followed was a moving and revealing story, of the common struggles for the human dignity and flourishing of 35 campesino families.

Antonio himself has been displaced three times, persecuted continuously since his first displacement, and threatened to be killed on multiple occasions. He is a farmer who believes in the land, and in education and communal well-being, which, as Antonio explained, are all a part of "sembrando semillas," or planting seeds. But 'seed planting' is dangerous in Colombia's current environment. Though the Colombian government has a law in its Constitution, Ley 387, that guarantees social aid and access to land for displaced campesinos, the process of gaining access to these services is incredibly time consuming and complex. Difficult challenges stand as roadblocks to the farmers' access, such as steep prices for required notarized forms and signatures.

In addition to this sometimes frustrating governmental process, ANDESCOL and its members face constant violent threats from outside groups. Antonio's most recent threats, as of our meeting, had arrived last March. Then, shortly after our meeting, we found out that another threat had come in, this time against ANDESCOL as a whole, and against any group working for human rights in Colombia. We can't help but feel that all of this would be enough to make the average person throw up their hands and give up. But Antonio emphasized to us again and again, "We're doing what we should be doing. Our dreams are to have land, be organized, work, and sell food at a favorable and just price. This is a simple and sensible dream."

Antonio's dream extends to education as well, and we saw in our meeting that he not only speaks of this dream, but sets an impressive example. We were in awe when we saw this farmer pull from his pack a book which was the Constitution of Colombia. He quickly flipped the pages and then pointed to the paragraph where it was stated that Colombians were entitled to an education from 5-14 years of age. He said that the campesinos of ANDESCOL expect and dream of this for the future of their children, and then went on to show us where the Constitution talked about health care. Antonio uses that copy of his country's Constitution and his astute knowledge of it to refute those who would claim that he and his friends are guerrillas. After all, he is only asking for what his government promises him. As he summed up with a somber face, "When we pull out this constitution and use it, that's where the persecution begins."

Thoughts occurred to us: How many people in our country carry the Constitution and the Amendments in our backpacks or bags? Imagine, first, that we had the necessity of carrying it around to prove our rights. Then, imagine that we had the desire, will, and courage to do so. Then, imagine if each of us had the knowledge of that document to flip from page to page, showing how our dreams for human rights and dignity are guaranteed constitutional rights. We certainly treasure our rights. There is many an agency, NGO or lawyer in the United States who will help us to claim them. That is not the case here, but ANDESCOL is helping to fill the gap. Campesinos are using legal pathways to claim their rights and the church walks alongside them in hope and solidarity for 'the least of these.' It has been an honor of ours to join in this walk, and we will continue this part of our accompaniment as long as our friend Antonio, ANDESCOL, and the Presbiterio de la Costa desire our partnership.

In Christ,
Susan Heily and Carrie Fox

July 22, 2008