New Report Shows Dramatic Ties to Extrajudicial Killings

A detailed report released today by the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) describes how U.S. funding to the Colombian military has been supporting army units whose members have killed hundreds of civilians.

Read a summary and download the full report.

Drawing on extensive data from the Colombian Attorney General’s and Inspector General’s offices, 20 human rights organizations, the U.S. State Department, and the Colombian military, the report shows that massive military training, equipment and intelligence provided under the rubric of Plan Colombia have abrogated U.S. human rights law and contributed to the killing of thousands of civilians by the Colombian Army.

Registration has opened for the International Conference, which will focus on eliminating nuclear weapons and addressing related nuclear issues.  The conference will be held in New York City on April 30 and May 1st to coincide with the official report to the United Nations monitoring the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).   

The conference at Riverside Church features speakers from around the world and opportunities for workshops in four areas: nuclear weapons abolition, peace, environmental sustainability, and economic justice. 

The registration fee is $30 per person (students with ID, $20). Early registration is encouraged.  See the attached registration form available as a downloadable form.  Space is limited to 800 to 1000 attendees.

Volunteer in Colombia Training in San Francisco Note: The next openings on the FOR team in Colombia are in summer of 2010. The Colombia Peace Presence is an accompaniment project begun in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, one of several rural communities in Colombia that have taken an extraordinary stand against war by refusing to support any armed group. FOR also has a team in Bogotá to support this accompaniment and to highlight other Colombian grassroots peace initiatives that youth, rural communities and others are building around the country. Volunteers serve for at least twelve months. FOR seeks committed and skilled volunteers, 23 years or older at the time of service, with sound judgment and proficient in Spanish.