Semana Por La Paz
NATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION AND ACTION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
REFLECT - Offer your prayers and action for peace in Colombia.
ADVOCATE - Call your Senators and Representatives: numbers at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov or through the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.
If your senator or member of Congress is on the Foreign
Operations Subcommittee, your call is especially important. The committee
will combine the House and Senate versions of the foreign operations appropriations
bills by late September. This important piece of annual legislation determines
the amount of aid to be sent to Colombia in 2006, how it will be spent,
and conditions assistance. The Senate language on Colombia is
much better the House version because it:
- Limits military aid and increases development assistance;
- Puts restrictions on funds used for harmful drug crop fumigation;
- Contains strict conditions on aid to demobilized paramilitaries in order to encourage a full dismantling of illegal paramilitary groups.
Tell your senators and members of Congress to support the Senate language on Colombia in the foreign operations appropriations conference committee.
Suggested script: Introduce yourself, state where you are from, and ask to speak with the foreign policy advisor. Share with the person on the phone or over voicemail:
For senators/representatives on the foreign operations subcommittee:
“I am a constituent participating in Semana Por La Paz, a week for peace in Colombia. I believe that peace in Colombia cannot be achieved through U.S. military aid and drug crop fumigation. I would like to urge Representative/Senator __________, as a member of the foreign operations appropriations subcommittee, to support the Senate language on Colombia during conference committee. The Senate version of the bill calls for greater development assistance and less military aid to Colombia, and lays out strict guidelines for U.S. funding of Colombian paramilitary demobilization. I ask that your office do all in your power to support peace in Colombia by supporting the human rights of all, protecting the victims of war, and promoting social and economic development in Colombia.”
For senators/representatives NOT on the foreign operations subcommittee:“My call today is in recognition of the people of Colombia who are striving together for peace in their homes and in our world. This week churches and communities throughout Colombia are participating in a celebration of peace that is held in the present and the peace that Colombia aspires to attain. I ask that your office do all in your power to support peace in Colombia by promoting human rights of all, protecting the victims of war, and promoting social and economic development in Colombia.”
