by Stewart Vriesinga

Imagine being told that the home you built, or were born in, or lived in all your life is no longer legally yours and that you must leave.  Further imagine that all of your relatives and neighbors are being told the same thing, and that failure to leave will result in death.  This is what is happening to the communities of Garzal (population 346) and Nueva Esperanza (population 284) in the municipality of Simití in the south of the province of Bolívar, Colombia.

by Sarah MacDonald

Before arriving, I had heard that the southwestern province of Nariño, long a stronghold of guerrilla forces and currently a focused target of national military operations, is one of the deadliest zones in the Colombian conflict. I had read releases from the indigenous organization CAMAWARI (Council of Elders of the Awa of Ricaurte) describing how Awa civilians have been assassinated by armed actors, killed by landmines, or forced to displace and then not allowed to return to their lands. Teammates carefully briefed me on security protocols for living there. So I came expecting to find the situation risky and tense. What I’m experiencing, though, is more nuanced.

by Stewart Vriesinga

In 2005 the Uribe government implemented the Peace and Justice Law, which resulted in the demobilization of thousands of right-wing paramilitaries responsible for the majority of human rights abuses in Colombia.  In February 2008, the largest march against the left-wing FARC guerrillas in the history of Colombia took place in cities across the nation, involving hundreds of thousands. 

by Peggy Gish and Michele Naar-Obed

In December, CPTers based in northern Iraq began investigating Turkish bombing raids on the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) which escalated to the point of Turkish planes crossing the border, entering Iraq and attacking Kurdish villages.  The U.S. government  provided Turkey with U.S. intelligence information and opened Iraqi airspace to Turkish fighter jets.  CPTers met with some of the families who fled the area and who gave details of the attacks.

In late January 2008, Kurdish authorities withdrew CPTers’ visas and ordered the team to leave Iraq within a week.

On December 1, more than 200 Israelis, Palestinians and internationals walked from at-Tuwani to the nearby village of Tuba.  The walk highlighted the violent harassment faced by villagers in the South Hebron Hills which continues to worsen with the growth of unauthorized* Israeli settlement outposts.

Located a few kilometers outside the larger Palestinian city of Yatta, at-Tuwani serves as a gateway to trade, education and healthcare for a handful of more remote villages.

 

by Joy Ellison

You won’t see these shepherds and farmers in their red keffiyehs and mud-stained boots on the evening news.  But while Israeli politicians ignore the activities of extremist Israeli settlers, these Palestinians from the South Hebron Hills are successfully resisting settlement expansion without violence.

“I haven’t been to this valley in three years,” Issa* said as we stood overlooking the Havot Ma’on settlement outpost.

by Joy Ellison

When I saw Heba* talking to the Ma’on settlement guard, I went running towards her with my video camera poised.  In at-Tuwani, Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian children walking to school, as well as Palestinian adults working on their own land.  But as I hurried towards Heba, I realized this seven-year-old was about to teach me a lesson in nonviolent resistance.

Photo Essay...

During the winter days in the Hebron District, Israeli army demolitions, incursions, and threats of demolitions were everyday signs of the times. Soldiers in 55 Israeli military jeeps stormed the village of Beit Ummar on February 13, 2008. CPTers arrived to accompany villagers and document the siege.

by Doug Pritchard

On January 25, CPT Hebron received news that two Palestinians from Beit Ummar, closely related to friends of the team, were killed when they invaded a school library in the adjacent settlement of Gush Etzion.

The two cousins, Mahmoud and Muhammed Sabarnah, both 21, armed with a gun and a knife, stabbed an Israeli student, who also pulled a gun.  A school counselor then shot the two Palestinians.

In January, CPTers joined 2000 people in a huge convoy, organized by Israeli peace and human rights groups, carrying seven tons of food and supplies to protest the Israeli attacks and blockade of Gaza.

In Dialogue, we highlight exchanges regarding CPT’s vision and peacemaking ministry, Undoing Racism has been a component in CPT’s peacemaker training since the program began in 1993. We asked CPTers to reflect on the importance and challenges of undoing racism in CPT. Following are excerpts from a few of the many responses.

On February 15, Judge Douglas Cunningham sentenced Algonquin leader Bob Lovelace (59) to six months in jail and a $25,000 fine for his role in protecting traditional lands from uranium exploration and mining by Frontenac Ventures Corporation.

Lovelace, a former chief, father of seven, and instructor at Queen’s University, left the Kingston, ON courthouse in handcuffs saying, “I want to obey Canadian law but Algonquin law instructs that I must preserve Creation.  I must follow Algonquin law.”

CPT has sent three delegations to Congo and Uganda in October 2005, October/November 2006, and November/December 2007.

CPT’s 2007 exploratory delegation visiting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) witnessed streams of people fleeing their homes throughout North Kivu province because of fighting between DRC troops and the rebel army of Laurent Nkunda.

CPT delegates visiting the Philippines February 14-29 joined members of the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up and former base workers in a ritual of prayer and cleansing at what used to be the largest U.S. military bases beyond its borders.

“We cry out with the people who live in the shadows of Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Station, who have suffered from U.S. militarization and who live with the legacy of toxic waste,” the group declared.

by Anton Flores

Steering Committee member, Anton Flores, was part of CPT’s Borderlands visioning meetings December 7-9, 2007 in Douglas, AZ.

“Excuse me,” the young Border Patrol agent interjected, “but did you give or receive anything through the fence?” I paused, then replied, “Yes, I gave and received a handshake.” “Well, my supervisor would like to speak with you. You’ll have to wait right here.”

Colombia Action

Join hundreds of congregations in North America and Colombia to pray for an end to the Colombian conflict and act for policy changes that better reflect the values of God’s kingdom. Sunday, April 27: Day of Prayer – join in worship with Colombians who endure great suffering yet respond in faith and sow seeds of peace. Monday, April 28: Day of Action – witness and call on policymakers to promote peace and justice in Colombia. See www.mcc.org/colombia for details on how your faith community can participate.

Romans 12:21 says not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. Unfortunately, you seem to have twisted this passage’s meaning. You are hiding behind a handful of misapplied scriptures to justify your perverted social agenda in Iraq. An initial step toward honesty and forthrightness would be to remove the “Christian” label from the name of your organization. We pray for your salvation.
- John Larson and Family, Internet

Thirteen people participated in CPT’s winter training (Dec. 27-Jan. 27).  Two joined CPT full time (FT); eight became part-time Reservists (R); three completed the training and will continue other peace work (CT).  Left to Right - Top section: Dan Gerber (Chicago, IL) - CT; Alwyn Knight (Kent, England) - R; Erika Friesen (Toronto, ON) - CT; John Hudson (Snow Rd. Station, ON) - R; Phil Hart (Columbus, OH) - R; Sylvia Morrison (Brampton, ON) - FT; Middle section: Rosemarie Milazzo (Maryknoll, NY) - R; Christie Schmid (Seattle, WA) - R; Carolyn Hudson (Snow Rd.

Peacemaker Delegations:
•    Palestine/Israel: May 27 - June 9, July 22 - August 4, October 14-27, November 19 - December 2.
•    Colombia: May 14-27, July 16-29.
•    U.S./Mexico Borderlands: May 27 - June 5.
•    Aboriginal Justice - Ontario: tba

Peacemaker Trainings:
•    Summer: July 15 - August 15; Chicago, IL; application deadline: May 1, 2008.
•    Winter: December 27, 2008 - January 27, 2009; Chicago, IL; application deadline: October 15, 2008.

CPTers active in the last three months....

Signs of the Times is produced four times a year.  Batches of 10 or more are available to institutions, congregations, and local groups for distribution.  Any part of Signs of the Times may be used without permission.  Please send CPT a copy of the reprint.  Your contributions finance CPT ministries including the distribution of 21,000 copies of Signs of the Times.  The work of CPT is guided by a 20-member STEERING COMMITTEE: Lois Baker, Jan Benvie, Tony Brown, Ruth Buhler, Nora Carmi, Anton Flores, Ben Fong, Victoria Marie, Susan Mark Landis, Ra