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By Rebekah Sears with reports from MCC Haiti. Rebekah is the Policy Analyst and Educator for MCC Colombia.
Since September MCC Colombia staff, Sembrandopaz and other partner organizations have been publishing action requests and updates on the situation in the Montes de Maria on Colombia’s Atlantic Coast. Ricardo Esquivia, director of Sembrandopaz and leaders of the High Mountain movement, a non-violent movement and coalition of over 50 communities calling for complete reparations for victims of the armed conflict in the region, have been threatened.
And in early September, Jorge Montes, the leader of this movement was arrested on fabricated charges and remains in a maximum security prison — far from family and legal representation — for more than 70 days now.
In earlier entries for this blog we’ve updated readers and constituents on the urgency of the situation, updates from Jorge Montes from prison, plus different ways anyone can get involved. And we’ve been monitoring national, regional and international responses.
International attention on this issue, from countries with much political and economic influence in the region, such as the U.S. and Canada, is very important. In addition to the responses and participation from the U.S. and Canadian Embassies, there have also been responses, letters, actions and support from various members of Congress in the U.S. and the Canadian parliament. And finally, many international organizations and individuals have written letters, calls for action, and have signed petitions in support of this cause.
But it is equally important that there have been many responses from within this region- including within Colombia. There has been overwhelming support for both Ricardo and Jorge and the movement in general from within the country, from partner organizations, churches and individuals to pressure the Colombian Government. And the support has extended to people from other countries in Latin America and one very strong, interesting and passionate response from an MCC partner in Haiti.
We shared our petitions and requests for Ricardo Esquivia and Jorge Montes with various MCC offices in the region and received an almost immediate response from Patrice Florvilus, a human rights lawyer and director of Defenseurs des Opprimés/Opprimées, DOP (Defenders of the Oppressed) in Haiti.
DOP represents low income Haitians. Many of their clients are victims of the ex-dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, as well as Haitians who have been displaced as a result of violence and are living in internal displacement camps. And today many of the perpetrators in these cases have connections with the state. For this reason, Patrice has received many threats against his life and against his family as well, all for his work in human rights.
As a result of the connections and similarities with the Montes de Maria, Patrice, together with seven other Haitian human rights organizations have written letters to the Office of the President of Colombia and the National Protection Unit, an agency of the Colombian Government. They’ve asked that the government publically absolve Ricardo Esquivia and the leaders of the High Mountain movement and ensure that full and complete human rights are administered in Jorge Montes’ case, and that he be transferred to a location closer to his home, family and legal representatives. Patrice’s passion was an action of solidarity across two countries, between people both involved in struggles for the truth, justice, human rights and peace.
These actions of support on the part of Patrice illustrate a very important type of advocacy: creating connections and generating solidarity between people in similar situations. Although there are many differences between these cases in Colombia and Haiti, there are also many similarities and ways in which people can support each other and encourage others again to work for human rights, dignity, justice and peace.
Like many others, Patrice has received responses to his letters from the National Protection Unit and other offices. These letters have affirmed that the office is looking into this case. But the letter also said that the office has received many letters regarding this topic and requests that MCC and its supporters stop sending letters.
But is there another message behind this letter? Clearly the government has received many letters and is tired of the persistent correspondence. However, as of now there have not been any clear or public actions in support of Ricardo, Jorge or the other leaders of the High Mountain.
Perhaps, like the parable of the persistent widow in the Gospel of Luke, we should not give up and keep petitioning our cause despite the fact that the authorities might be acting unjustly or just don’t care at all. In the parable, after persistently asking and bothering the judge, he eventually responded and granted the widows request for justice.
So, let’s continue sending letters until something changes!