| April 11, 2003
Dear Friends,
Many of you have seen the article sent out by the Presbyterian
News Service entitled, "Man who threatened Colombian pastor
escapes jail." We are grateful for the overwhelming response
of so many who are asking, "What can we do?"
The pastor in question, the Reverend Milton Mejía, is
a former student of mine. He graduated from our seminary in the
1980s and married a classmate, now the Reverend Adelaida Jiménez.
They have two small children. Adelaida is pastor of the Ninth
Presbyterian Church of Barranquilla as well as chaplain of the
prestigious Colegio Americano ("American School"), one
of a number of elementary-to-high-school complexes operated by
the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.
Milton is moderator of the session of Fourth Church, but he serves
principally as the executive secretary of the Synod of the Presbyterian
Church of Colombia. He is also on the board of the Reformed University
where I serve. If you are one of those who has requested the video
about our university, you will have seen Milton and heard him
speak. (If you have not yet made your request, we still have copies
available for the asking.)
During the past 20 years, as the violence in Colombia has increased,
Milton Mejía has established a national and international
reputation as a defender of human rights. He has developed and
participated in the church's programs for displaced persons, and
he constantly challenges other church groups and individuals to
become involved. He has given leadership to several different
organizations that work for peace and justice in Colombia, and
he can tell you all kinds of statistics about the situation here,
such as the number of labor leaders who have been assassinated.
That number would astonish you—being a labor leader in Colombia
can be dangerous for your health.
Being a defender of human rights can also be dangerous for your
health. Last fall Milton began receiving telephone threats against
his life and that of his family. He reported those threats, and
the police traced the calls to a paramilitary leader, who was
then arrested and held without bail. But while he was awaiting
trial, something happened. This past week Milton learned that
the man who threatened him was no longer in custody. Government
officials say he escaped.
The Colombian church has sent letters to partner churches around
the world asking them to uphold Milton and his family in prayer
and to be ready to provide assistance should an emergency arise.
You too can have a part in protecting Milton and his family:
Pray for him regularly and often.
Write a letter to the president of Colombia. It is important
for the Colombian government to know that many Americans are aware
of Milton's situation and concerned about what may happen. The
President's address is:
Dr. Alvaro Uribe Vélez
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26,
Bogota, Colombia.
Fax:
00 57 1 286 74 34
00 57 1 286 68 42
00 57 1 284 21 86
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
or rdh@presidencia.gov.co
Here is a model letter, drawn up by Milton himself, which you
may wish to follow. (A copy to me would be helpful, and you may
want to add a note for Milton, assuring him of your prayers and
concern):
Dear Mr. President
We have learned that persons who have identified themselves
as representatives of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC)
have been making calls to Milton Mejía Camargo, Executive
Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia. These calls
have tried to intimidate him and threatened both Mr. Mejía
and his family if he failed to cooperate with them.
These calls were denounced to the proper authorities, and
on November 27, 2003, a person was caught in the act of making
such calls. He was identified as Nicolás Alfonso Pezzano
Bornacelly. However, at this time this individual is reported
to have escaped from custody.
As a result, we are asking that special protection be guaranteed
for Pastor Milton Mejía. We would also ask you to clarify
the circumstances under which Nicolás Alfonso Pezzano
Bornacelly left the district jail of Barranquilla.
Sincerely yours,
We will be counting on your prayers for Milton, for his family
and, of course, for the work of the church in Colombia. I am always
encouraged by your prayers for me as well, but I want you to know
that I have not been threatened nor am I likely to be. Milton's
situation in that respect is special. And I continue to feel safer
walking after dark on the streets of Barranquilla than I would
in any city of similar size in the United States. (Barranquilla
has a population of about two million.)
Blessings on you
Alice Winters
P.S. Please note my new email address alicia@aolpremium.com.
My Internet service provider says all previous addresses will
be phased out soon.
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page
262 |
