Restore peacemaking in Colombia
On June 2nd, FOR's Bogotá office was raided and vandalized. Two computers containing confidential information on FOR's work in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó were stolen and electronic equipment was broken. Other stolen items included cash and a field team member's clothes. The information held in the computers potentially puts the lives of San José de Apartadó's peace workers at risk. In the face of past and continuing threats to FOR peace workers and other human rights organizations, the political motivation behind this attack is obvious.
Please donate to continue this essential work for peace and justice.
On Friday, July 13th, FOR suffered another setback in our peace work in Colombia. Dairo Torres, a leader in the San José de Apartadó Peace Community, was shot and killed by two gunmen who were known to have made threats against the Peace Community and its members. Moments before the shooting, the same two men were seen conversing with Colombian police. Torres is the second peace worker to lose his life on the front lines in two months. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
We have found the presence of trained international peace workers to be a deterrent to paramilitary and guerrilla attacks. Our presence provides our Colombian brothers and sisters with greater visibility and international security. Please help us to support and strengthen our Colombian partners to continue their work for peace.
Specifically, we need to raise at least $3,500. This will enable our team to restore the Colombian office, accompany the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Medellin Youth Network, Antioquia Peasant Association, and others, and continue to contribute to the movement to demilitarize U.S. policy in Colombia. To learn more about the June 2nd burglary, click here.
