Ricardo Esquivia:
GIVE PEACE A PLACE IN COLOMBIA… AND IN YOU
Colombia has endured nearly 50 years of conflict. Violence, homelessness and deprivation affect millions of its citizens. The problems facing the nation have proved intractable. Solutions so far – including the U.S. anti-narcotics program, Plan Colombia – have simply made the crisis worse.
Yet Colombians struggle forward in faith toward peace. As advocate for the displaced, as defender of communities in need, as founder of a national federation for peace, few have struggled longer or more effectively than Ricardo Esquivia. Esquivia directs Justapaz, a partner organization in Lutheran World Relief’s ‘Give Peace a Place in Colombia’ program.
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LWR: You have an expression in Colombia, “The country is our country but the war is not our war.” What makes this true?
Esquivia: Ever since Colombia began moving towards independence, the heirs to the Spanish colony began reorganizing the country to maintain their own power. They did not recognize Afro-Colombians, indigenous peoples, or the poor. Many feel that these same people are still manipulating state power for their own benefit and that this same group of power holders supports the escalation of the war, for which the rest of the country suffers.
LWR: So is this sort of an excuse for civil society today to be disengaged from the war? Do people think: “We are Colombians but we are powerless?”
Esquivia: This is true. Some use this feeling of powerlessness as an excuse and others carry it like a weight. Our powerlessness has paralyzed our communities. The idea leads people to not respond to the crisis of war. The war is seen as “not my problem”.
LWR: If the peace movement had the equivalent of one day’s budget of Plan Colombia (approximately $1.25 million dollars that the military receives every day), what would you do with it?
Esquivia: The war in Colombia is ultimately about social injustice and the unequal distribution of wealth. A large group is without work, without anything, and the only economic opportunities available are to arm themselves and join the army, guerillas or paramilitaries; to go to the fields to harvest coca; or to do other illegal activities that earn enough for survival. A person with one million dollars could begin by creating alternative economic development programs among displaced people.
LWR: How could you resolve the problem?
Esquivia: People need work. Agricultural trade rules set by the U.S. have made it impossible for Colombian goods to compete and ruined the agricultural market in Colombia. All of the people who made a living from corn and coffee are now surviving by growing coca. If we were able to eradicate coca production and organize other ways to make a living, we would be able to build stronger and more sustainable communities.
Live out the talk
LWR: When one thinks of 40 years of war one asks: What is the next step? What is the essential next step for the churches of Colombia?
Esquivia: We are at war because of our riches and our inability to adequately distribute those riches. The church as a whole in Colombia has an impressive amount of power. We have almost 6,000 congregations most of whom have church buildings, we have a University, radio stations, TV stations, millions of committed Christians, a history of the gospel, and a vision. These are powerful things that we share. If we were able to commit 20 to 40 percent of our talents and our resources to peace making we could accomplish so much. We need to advocate and educate together, promoting peaceful alternatives.
The Church Sanctuaries of Peace movement in Colombia has been doing this – illustrating for the people we serve that we not only talk the talk but we live it out. The Church Sanctuaries do direct service with people, work to protect vulnerable communities from violence, and are committed to building a culture of peace.
For the church of Colombia to be a powerful, unified voice for peace the church must first give itself to the people so that the people can give themselves to the church.
LWR: What is the next essential step for the government?
Esquivia: The Colombian government has to understand that national security is more than public order, security is not always secured by weapons but security is found in food security and medical security. These basic securities have been lacking for many Colombians and that has been the main factor that has allowed the perpetuation of the guerilla movement.
LWR: What is the next essential step for the guerillas?
Esquivia: The guerillas need to regain political relevancy. They have become militarists instead of creating a legitimate political base which they would need to re-enter society. They also must stop having fear and contempt for the entirety of Colombian society.
Ultimately, U.S. must ask why so much
drug consumption?
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LWR: What is the next essential step for the United States government?
Esquivia: If the U.S. wants to stop illegal drug trafficking and immigration they must first stop seeing the rural poor as delinquents and instead realize that coca production and economic immigration are social problems. Attacking those who grow coca will not bring solutions because this does not deal with the socio-economic causes of coca production. If the U.S. fought the war on drugs by solving the social problems that lead to coca production they would invest less money and solve more of the problem.
Ultimately the U.S. government must also ask why there is so much drug consumption in the U.S. As long as someone is willing to purchase cocaine someone will be willing to harvest coca and process it into cocaine. Every time they fumigate the coca crops the price of cocaine goes up in the United States and a vicious cycle is created . The U.S. government must come up with a way to break this vicious cycle and make it a virtuous circle before moving forward.
LWR: Justapaz has been working for 15 years to build up the local capacity for peace. What is the best way, from your experience, to build capacity for peace?
Esquivia: I have learned from my 35 years of working in Colombia that to speak of peace is to speak of life. Peace is a quality of life. Peace is the response to the needs of the people.
I am reminded of the Bible passage that says peace a fruit of justice.
Our approach at Justapaz has changed over the years to meet the needs of the community.
Peace cannot be separated from any part of life. Peace is love, peace is identity, peace is health… We need to continue to see peace as an integration of life.
Think with the heart, feel with the brain
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LWR: It sounds like awareness is the way to build capacity. What does Justapaz do lead to help people move forward?
Esquivia: First we teach people to respect one another, that each person is part of the effort to build peace. If we want to build respect we must begin with dialogue. To start a dialogue one must have certain skills and spiritual abilities. We also teach people how to approach one another peacefully so we do not create violence within our interactions. As one of our community members commented, “We have to think with the heart and feel with the brain.” At times our attitudes can cause more damage than bullets.
We must develop a new consciousness that acknowledges that we are all dependent upon one another. We look to Jesus who taught us not to be only those who speak of the Word but to be also those who act on the Word.
LWR: What do you need most from U.S. churches?
Esquivia: The exchange of ideas often results in changes in churches in the U.S. and in Colombia and direct partnerships have been created between them.
It is always good for us in Latin America and in the United States to see a church that is alive and active. The church could do more to accompany us in our work for peace with justice, by commenting on the injustices of this war against our people. Many churches in the U.S. have been working for peace in Colombia but there is much more to do.
Believe in seeds of hope
LWR: As a small agency working in a large country with complex problems, what difference can Lutheran World Relief make in Colombia?
Esquivia: We believe in seeds of hope. Very large and powerful things can grow out of small seeds. Institutions can be small and still have powerful impacts. I believe that Lutheran World Relief and other church organizations can invest in Colombia and make a big difference in providing models for development, community and life. This model can then be taken to other areas of the world where the church has been concerned. Ultimately through these models and these partnerships we create little seeds of hope and little seeds of justice – these are the seeds for preventing war. This is what LWR is helping to create, with sustained support we will one day hope to see a real peace grow from these seeds.
LWR: Can you describe a place in Colombia where peace has a real place?
Esquivia: One area where peace has a place in Colombia is in Tio Alto, Cordoba. In Tio Alto there is a church that is committed to helping those who are suffering not only through pastoral assistance but also by accompanying the people to participate in projects, find homes and find work in the area.
In a place like Tio Alto you are able to see the real manifestations of peace. They receive the victims of war and the internally displaced people with a sense of joy at their arrival. When displaced people arrive the communities receive them and begin sharing what little resources they have. Helping one another survive – this is where peacebuilding begins.
LWR: Many individuals in the U.S. want to know,
“ What can I do?”
Esquivia: First you must look at Colombia as a country with potential, not as a country lost to its own crisis. Colombia is a country full of possibilities. You can get involved by helping organizations currently working there, serving them, participating in advocacy activities, educating others. Another way to help is by making personal connections through churches that partnerships in Colombia. If you are able, visit Colombia.
The very least that we all can do is to talk about the situation in Colombia and in that way remove the stigma that Colombia has come to have. We want to build solidarity and understanding between the people of Colombia and the people of the U.S.
Work for peace for your own tranquility
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LWR: But many people also wonder “Why should I care about Colombia?”
Esquivia: It is just like when Cain answered God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” I think we are one global family of faith. In these times whatever occurs in one part of the world affects the whole world.
One example of our connection is that we know they are permanently fumigating coca crops in Colombia. What the people often do not realize is that they are fumigating the last of the ‘lungs’ of vegetation that we have in the world – the Amazon. When we breathe we are sharing the same air and the contamination of this forest harms us all.
If you are not motivated to help for love of humanity or because of the words of God, you should then work for peace in Colombia for your own personal tranquility.
LWR: What do you think Jesus meant when he said blessed are the peacemakers?
Esquivia: Jesus indicates that peace is life in abundance – come to me all who are heavy-laden and I will give you life, life in abundance. All those sowing seeds of peace and seeds of justice will reap a harvest and they will be blessed.
LWR: What can U.S. church peace advocates learn from Colombian peace advocates?
Esquivia: We are few but where there is faith we can achieve our shared goal.
