Bogota, Colombia - The Mennonite Church of Colombia has sent a letter to President Clinton urging the US government to support nonviolent alternatives in the peace process in their violence-ridden country instead of providing increased military aid.

Disappointed by the US government's expanding military involvement in their country's problems, the Colombian Mennonite Church in its letter, dated February 11, calls for a process "in which the parties can encounter each other as human beings and transform their relationships."

The letter, which was signed by all the members of the Executive Committee of the Colombia Mennonite Church, indicates their deep desire for an approach which will be modelled after the peace and justice values of the Kingdom of God and which will result in a process that will help to rebuild the social fabric of the country by including both victims and aggressors. The letter outlines their yearning for a transformation in the agricultural, marketing and judicial areas and for "economic development that strengthens small and medium-sized producers and the rights of ethnic groups, the active participation of civil society, and a national budget that addresses basic needs as a priority."

In a background statement they list some of the flaws in the so-called logic of the US government's approach.

They point out, for example, that "the logic of violence and military force to resolve social problems and counteract the initiatives of armed opponents has not led to peace, but it has brought with it an increase in the size and number of armed groups as well as one of the highest rates of violent deaths in the world; it has not reduced drug production and consumption: between 1992 and 1998 the area under drug production increased from 40,000 to 100,000 hectares; it has multiplied civilian deaths and forced departure from their homes: more than two-thirds of the deaths in our war are civilian, there are 1.5 million refugees (more than in Kosova or East Timor) and of these, 700,000 are children; it has led to drug trafficking, and to an increase in kidnapping and extortion by insurgent groups to finance their need for arms; and so it is to be expected that an arms buildup by the government through its armed forces will lead to a similar process among the insurgent groups, to an intensification of the war, and to setting back the peace process. We need international support for implementing nonviolent alternatives, for bringing the sides to dialogue, for assuring respect for the civilian population, for creating options for farm production and marketing which are viable economic alternatives to coca production."

The US government plans to contribute $1.6 billion to the Colombian government and the Andean region this year. Approximately $1 billion will be used for police and military aid, $93 million for human rights, judicial reform and training in negotiation, and $145 million for economic development alternatives. "While we acknowledge the need for international support in overcoming the problematic situation we find ourselves in as a nation," says the Colombian Mennonite Church's letter, "we are convinced that the time has come for a fundamental change in paradigm, leading to a refocusing of the initiative."

The letter, which was signed by all the members, goes on to say to President Clinton, "We ask you, and our sisters and brothers in the United States, to substitute your proposed increased military involvement in our country for a large scale social investment in lasting peace. We have no doubt that you can do it."

The officers of the Colombia Mennonite Church are: Peter Stucky, President; Islandes Lozada, Vice-President; Lilia Prieto, Secretary; and Luis Correa, Treasurer.

- Larry Kehler, Mennonite World Conference News Editor