Remember and Truth-telling

Things in Colombia are as always. By that I mean, the courageous people of Colombia continue to struggle and demand their rights to the land and dignity, while at the same time the war wages. Since my time started here, day by day, it has becomes clearer that this war in Colombia is about multinational takeover of land.   Often times, it is difficult to understand the war because like all wars it is senseless.  One must, step back and take the long view to see the complete picture. Yes, there are drugs in Colombia, Yes, there are leftist and rightist armed groups, Yes the United States is giving millions of dollars in military aid to Colombia. Yes, all the armed groups are killing civilians.  All that is true but we need to ask ourselves the question "for what reason?"

When we ask ourselves this question and take the long view of the situation, we will notice that Colombia has the largest coal reserves and the largest gold reserves in the western hemisphere. It is rich in emeralds and in oil – all of which are now being explored by multinational corporations.  Furthermore, the soil is so rich in some parts that the farmers can plant corn three times a year - land that is now being used for palm oil mono-cropping. When we remember these things, we begin to understand why 2 mining leaders where assassinated on February 10th. (Read blog entry)   We can look with new eyes at why the Colombian Government is places false charges on the leaders of small mining organizations,  small farming organizations, and human rights leaders  that are organizing and struggling for their rights to the land. (Read the story here). We will realize that the 4,915,579 people that have been systematically displaced in the last 25 years is not because of random violence. Rather, it is about having 5.5 million hectares of abandoned land and reducing the campesino population by 1 million in order for multinationals to gain access and use the land for mono cropping and mineral exploration. (read the report here).  From this perspective, this confusing war begins to make some sense.   

Last night, I spent time with the families and the only survivor of the February 28th massacre in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. A horrific event as all massacre are. During the ceremony, the question arose about "how do we honor the victims." At first, I was overwhelmed by the question.  I thought " there are so many victims in this war, what could I do to possible honor all of them?" A women in the ceremony then said, "The only way to honor the victims is to remember the dead and continue to tell the truth." I believe these are wise words. I plan to take these thoughts and questions in my Lenten journey this week.  Lent is a time to remember and reflect.  This season, we are remembering Jesus' walk into Jerusalem - to the cross, execution by the state. But as the woman in the ceremony reminds us, we cannot stop there.  If we want to honor them we must do some truth-telling.  It is in both actions, remembering and truth-telling, that we honor the victims.