United Church of Christ Action Alert
Many of you in the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network have followed the work of Ricardo Esquivia, a close friend and partner in UCC/DOC efforts to advocate for peace and justice in the war-torn country of Colombia. At General Synod 23, Ricardo Esquivia received an award from the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries in recognition of his peace-building efforts. Recent UCC General Synods have urged support for reconciliation efforts by church leaders like Ricardo, rather than an increasingly militarized response that has only served to escalate the violence.
Ricardo Esquivia is a Mennonite Church leader, a courageous voice for justice, peace and human rights for many years. He has met with many UCC members, congregations and conferences both in the United States and in Colombia, providing helpful insight and analysis of the Colombian conflict.
Because legitimate debate and political activity have at times been mistaken for subversion in Colombia, many social and religious leaders have come under increasing pressure. We have received unconfirmed reports that the Colombian authorities are planning to arrest Ricardo Esquivia on fabricated charges. His arrest would be a grave violation of his rights by the Colombian government.
Contact Colombian President Uribe, Colombian Vice-President Santos, and U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood to ensure that Ricardo Esquivia's work is not jeopardized.
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