Nonviolent Peaceforce E-News

April 2006

Recently, Latin America and Caribbean Regional Coordinator Alvaro Ramirez-Durnini and three others visited Colombia to explore a possible deployment in several “communities of peace” threatened by ongoing violence.

Alvaro brought back many stories illustrating the climate of fear in which many Colombians live and the difference international protective presence can make in their daily lives.

“One of the stories that marked my trip and experience in this community was that several women and children asked that we accompany them to bathe in the river, which is really close, perhaps just 500-700 meters from the community.

This request caught our attention because the fear and terror they felt in just going to wash off after an arduous day of work was understandable. We talked as the investigative group and decided to do it. There were about 35 of us: women, children, teenagers, and dogs. For three years they had not been able to go in such a large group. There were children in the commu nity who did not know the river because their parents were afraid to take them.

There we enjoyed the best bath of our trip, in refreshing crystalline waters after a morning of hot sun, with a space to play for everyone. Some ventured to fish, which they were able share at the good-bye dinner.

I paused for a moment to see the people enjoying the river, playing in the water, everyone smiling. Our presence in the community that day was planned by destiny, by life, by God, by whatever…and I am happy with what we were able do. The importance of this international accompaniment was evident in the simple smile of gratitude by a mother who hugged me and told me how marvelous it was to be there, or with a child who asked us to play with him in the water.”