Colombians for Peace Campaign

Colombians for Peace is an organisation of high-profile Colombian figures, including former Presidents, journalists, politicians, and academics, which is supported by human rights organisations and the trade union movement. It has secured the successful release of several FARC hostages and has played an important role in advancing prospects for negotiations as well as managing to engage the international community - particularly in Latin America.

Most recently they have been working closely with ASFAMIPAZ - the organisation representing relatives of soldiers and police in FARC captivity in order to secure the safe release of the last hostages.

Colombians for Peace have asked for support from Europe to help increase pressure on all parties to engage in dialogue, and to place the need for a peace process in Colombia higher up the international agenda.

Given the longstanding and close Ireland/UK/Colombia relationship, as well as the experiences with Northern Ireland, it is hoped that the Justice for Colombia campaigns, both here in Ireland and in the UK, can play an important role in increasing support for this issue. JFC [UK] formally launched the Peace Campaign in October 2011. Check here for more information.

Leading representatives visit Dublin seeking support for their peace process

Leading membeFlyer for public meeting on Colombia April 2013rs of the Colombians for Peace organisation will visit London, Belfast and Dublin next week [April 21st - 25th] in a bid to increase awareness of the dangerous situation in which the Colombian people live and to garner international support for a just peace process which includes all members of civil society.

This follows on from the highly successful visit of last year's delegation, although the measure of success for the individuals concerned on these visits is generally judged by the increased security risk when they return to their homes, which is a clear and constant danger.

The work and lives of all those involved in the struggle for peace in Colombia is truly remarkable and deserves, unreservedly, our support and assistance. The visit to Dublin begins on Tuesday 23rd April and will comprise meetings with politicians, TDs, trade union officials and civil society organisations. It will culminate with a public meeting at 6.30pm in the Connolly Room, Liberty Hall where all are welcome to attend.

A full report from the delegation will be posted here shortly after the visit takes place.

High level peace delegation visit Dublin

On May 22nd 2012, a high level delegation from the Colombians for Peace campaign, visited Dublin following their Belfast visit and before their trip to London.

The delegation comprised Dr. Carlos Lozano Guillen, Congressman Ivan Cepeda Castro and Ms. Marleny Orjuela, all of whom have campaigned tirelessly for their individual organisations but who also have put their lives in danger through their campaign for peace.

Colombians for Peace have asked JFC [UK & Ireland] to help raise the issue of the need for peace talks at all levels; amongst policy makers, a broad section of cross-party politicians and within public opinion, in order to put the issue firmly on the international agenda.

The aim of the visit was to meet with government officials, political parties and trade unionists, to further raise the awareness of the current situation in Colombia but also to bring pressure to bear on the Colombian goverment, to enter a just peace process to ensure peace for the Colombian people.

The visit was organised in co-operation with the JFC UK branch and we are very thankful to their help.
It began early with a meeting in Leinster House with Joe Costello, Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Each member of the delegation spoke about their experiences, the work they are conducting in Colombia and their hopes for the future.

The delegation also met members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and TDs involved in the parliamentary group "Friends of Colombia".

The visit finished up with a meeting in Congress of trade unionists and members of both the Global Solidarity Committee and Justice for Colombia.

The delegation raised a number of issues during the visit which included:

the destablising effect of the conflict not just in Colombia but on the entire region
mass displacement still continues
human rights abuses have continued
a welcome shift in the President's thinking regarding the existence of conflict and an openness to a peace process.
FARC has made a significant gesture and commitment to peace with the release of all their hostages, this presents a short window of opportunity which needs to be taken quickly.

They also highlighted the importance of the visit and some outcomes which they would like to see from the visit which included:

Take advantage of the moment of opportunity which currently exists in Colombia to put in place a workable peace process.
The international community to put the peace process further up their agenda.
Colombians wish to use the valuable experience the Irish government has in the NI peace process.
Request that the government don't give their support to the EU-Free Trade Agreement [see other sections] because they believe it facilitates the current situation, promotes inequality which feeds the conflict and rewards the perpetrators.

A full report of the visit will be available shortly.

Threat of assassination received by Dr Carlos Lozano Guillen

Shortly after their visit we received some very disturbing news regarding Dr. Lozano, editor of VOZ newspaper and a lead member of the Colombians for Peace campaign.

We have now learned that Dr. Lozano has been the subject of an order of assassination by the paramilitary group Los Urabeños, which has placed a $200,000 contract on his life, and has hired assassins already in Bogota to kill him. It has been denounced all over the Colombian press by the opposition and Colombians for Peace. To date the Colombian government haven't made any adjustments to increase his security measures and are not taking it seriously. Carlos receives death threats on a daily basis but this is now very serious.

Congress and Justice for Colombia [Ireland] have now written to the Colombian President, via the Colombian Ambassador in Colombia, to express grave concern at the situation and urge the government to provide Dr. Lozano, and others under threat, with improved security measures.