Peace & Community

“Body guards are not going to protect our lives. What it’s going to protect us is understanding that our work is legal and legitimate… a strong rejection by those holding political power to (threatening) pressures” said yesterday Claudia López, a prestigious Colombian researcher with New Rainbow Corporation, now victim of threats for their work on links between paramilitary and politicians.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that yesterday, when the Organization of American States held an emergency session to deal with Andean crisis, the United States was the only country that spoke out in support of Colombia’s strike. Every other country in the Hemisphere condemned Colombia’s military strike in Ecuadorian territory as a breach of sovereignty.

Those who follow Colombian affairs know well that life there is anything but boring. Kevin Coulombe, a Canadian volunteer in our Colombia Peace Presence team told me yesterday "One day in Colombia is like one year in Canada." In Colombia, amazing events happen all the time and at a speed that often leave you breathless. So, I can't say that the current Andean crisis, with ambassadors expelled, embassies closed, tanks and troops moved to the border is that extraordinary. Do you remember when the now all but forgotten para-politics scandal broke?