SOA Protesters on Trial Today
Sixteen people who crossed the line last November at the annual protest of the School of Americas stood trial and were sentenced today. Complete details are available at www.soaw.org.
One of the defendants is PPF member Phil Gates, who recently served as an accompanier in Colombia. Phil's sentence is 60 days in federal prison. Please keep him and the other soon-to-be prisoners of conscience in your prayers as they continue in this witness.
Recently Phil wrote the following before travelling to the trial:
"[Below is] a letter from Gloria Ulloa (translated by Presbyterian Missionary Alice Winters), head of the National Presbyterian Church of Colombia (whom I got to know personally while serving as a Presbyterian Church USA accompanier in Colombia the summer of 2005)...[It says] much about how important what we 16 are doing from their perspective, and how shameful it is that good citizens have to go to the length of being incarcerated to try to get our government leaders to do what is so obvious. If you want to help by contacting your representatives in Congress, please go to the following website for assistance: www.lawg.org"
The Letter:
Alicia gracias por la traducción y por enviar la carta a Phil;
Alice, thanks for the translation and for sending the letter on to Phil
Barranquilla, Colombia, Enero 11 de 2007
Hermano
PHIL GATES
Apreciado hermano,
Dear Brother,
Reciba un saludo de amor del Presbiterio de la Costa Norte de Colombia acompañado de nuestras oraciones dando gracias a Dios por su fuerza espiritual, coraje y valor para afrontar la situación por la cual está pasando.
This is a loving greeting from the Presbytery of the North Coast of Colombia and it comes with our prayers giving thanks to God for your spiritual strength, courage and bravery as you deal with the situation you are now facing.
La Rev. Alicia Winters nos compartió su carta en la LXXXI Plenaria el pasado 16 de diciembre. Sus palabras llegaron hasta lo más profundo de nuestros corazones por el valor que ha demostrado frente a las fuerzas de la muerte que destruyen la vida y las posibilidades de los países dominados por el régimen militar de los Estados Unidos. Su testimonio es una muestra de amor hacia la causa de nuestro Señor Jesucristo presente en nuestro pueblo colombiano. Lo sentimos como el Samaritano que se acercó al herido de muerte para brindarle lo que tenía. Gracias por hacerse nuestro prójimo aún corriendo el riesgo de ser privado del don más hermoso que Dios nos ha dado, la Libertad. Podrán aprisionar su cuerpo pero no su espíritu combativo, su espíritu de luchador por un mundo más justo que sólo es posible por la fuerza del Espíritu de Dios.
Rev. Alice Winters shared your letter in the 81st plenary session of presbytery last December 16. Your words reached deep into our hearts because of the courage you have shown as you faced the forces of death which destroy lives and possibilities for the countries dominated by the United States military regime. Your testimony is a demonstration of love for the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ in our Colombian people. To us you are like the Samaritan who approached the man who was mortally wounded and offered him all that he had. Thank you for becoming our neighbor, even to the point of risking the loss of God's most beautiful gift God, your freedom. They may imprison your body, but never your spirit of combat, that fights for a world of justice that is only possible through the strength of the Spirit of God.
Gracias, muchas gracias le damos en nombre del pueblo colombiano y de nuestro presbiterio con los cuales compartió días maravillosos en su viaje con el Presbiteryan Program Fellowship; viaje que confirmó los anhelos de su corazón por asumir un compromiso concreto frente a la defensa de los Derechos Humanos.
We give you thanks, many thanks, in the name of the Colombian people and of our presbytery. You shared with us a wonderful time during your visit through the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship; a visit which confirmed your heart's desire to take on a concrete commitment to defend human rights.
Nuestras iglesias en Barranquilla, Pital, Cartagena, Valledupar y Sincelejo están orando por usted. Nuestra petición a Dios es que El intervenga para que haya un justo juicio, significando con esto que su libertad sea su premio, que se haga realidad el cierre de la Escuela de las Amèricas. Si la dureza del corazón humano persiste en este juicio, oramos al Señor que la fortaleza de su Santo Espíritu le acompañe en todo momento y que su vida salga aún más fortalecida de esta experiencia. Estaremos unidos en oración desde el comienzo del juicio hasta que tengamos noticias suyas.
Our churches in Barranquilla, Pital, Cartagena, Valledupar and Sincelejo are praying for you. We ask God to intervene so that justice will be done in your trial, meaning that freedom will be your reward and that indeed the SOA will be closed. If the hardness of the human heart persists throughout the trial, we ask the Lord to give you strength through the Holy Spirit at all times and that your life be an even greater force as a result of this experience. We will be united in prayer from the start of the trial until we have had news from you.
Que la presencia consoladora de Dios esté con toda su familia y allegados.
May God's consoling presence by with your family and loved ones.
Atentamente en Cristo, en nombre del Presbiterio de la Costa,
Sincerely in Christ, in the name of the Coast Presbytery,
Rev. GLORIA ULLOA
Secretaria Ejecutiva
Executive Secretary
