Colombia

Since the founding of War Resisters' International in 1921, the right to refuse to kill - conscientious objection - has been at the core of WRI's work. Although this right to today recognised as an international standard, it is in practice often not granted, and those who claim their right are thrown into prison, or worse (see for example the article on Eritrea in this Broken Rifle).

In the previous month, the WRI office issued the following co-alerts:

(a full archive of co-alerts is available at wri-irg.org/news/alerts)

ISRAEL: Woman CO Hadas Amit sentenced to second prison term of 10 days Concodoc project, 02 January 2007
TURKEY: Conscientious objector Halil Savda remains in custody Concodoc at W

Monsanto has been by far the most prominent and controversial corporation promoting the introduction of biotechnology in agriculture. The company has a long and messy history of manufacturing hazardous chemicals. Their products have included chemical warfare agents (Agent Orange), industrial materials (PCBs), food additives (NutraSweet), agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Monsanto was the first major agrochemical and pharmaceutical company to pursue the ‘life sciences’ concept.

War profiteers are not only those that benefit from the arms industry, but also those that impulse military action and elaborate strategies to profit from war. Among war profiteers we can include:

Large private corporations

Here we refer to the transnational and multinational corporations that need control over our natural resources and our national territories in order to support their hegemonic project and so that relations of economic and political solidarity cannot be improved (which would permit true development of Latin American countries).

This issue of The Broken Rifle focuses on war profiteers. During War Resisters' International Conference "Globalising Nonviolence" that took place in Eringerfeld Germany between the 23-27 of July 2006, we had a theme group who worked on war profiteers. This theme group was an essential step in the develop of WRI's Global Initiative Against War Profiteers. Most of the material you will find in this issue comes from the work of that week.

From 18-20 July 2006, the International Meeting on Solidarity with Conscientious Objectors in Colombia took place in Bogota.

The opening speech was given by WRI's Right to Refuse to Kill staff person Andreas Speck, who provided a general panorama on conscientious objection in the world, setting the framework for the meeting.

In the run-up to a nationwide conscientious objectors' conference from 18-20 July 2006, CO groups in Colombia are confronting the situation in their country more openly. On 31 May, Red Juvenil de Medellín launched a one-year campaign "for the visibility of conscientious objection in Colombia" in front of the IV brigade.

On 25th and 26th April a delegation consisting of H.V Greisy Rodriguez, Martín from WRI affiliate Red Juvenil, Niko, a volunteer with Fundación IPO, and Eduardo Sagamoso accompanied Gustavo Monroy to the military barracks at Saravena Arauca, to settle a disciplinary case against Gustavo, following his conscientious objection.

Two Colombian youth were briefly detained by the military on 8 August. Gustavo Monroy and Alfredo Cáceres were detained because they did not carry a document exempting them from military service. Both were released later, but the incident pointed to the lack of recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Colombia (see below). Following this incident, Gustavo Monray declared his conscientious objection in a letter to the Colombian Ministry of Defence on 11 August 2005.

Art.

The War Resisters' International - an international pacifist network with affiliated groups in about 40 countries countries - was horrified to learn of the torture, killing and mutilation of Luis Eduardo Guerra and seven of his companions, including three children, from the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. Horrified, but - unfortunately - not surprised.

CCPR/CO/80/COL
26 May 2004

(...)

17. The Committee notes with concern that the legislation of the State party does not allow conscientious objection to military service.

The State party should guarantee that conscientious objectors are able to opt for alternative service whose duration would not have punitive effects (arts. 18 and 26).

(...)

Source: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G04/419/12/PDF/G0441912.pdf?OpenElement

Although War Resisters' International's focus for International Conscientious Objectors' Day is Chile and Latin America, activities in different countries obviously respond also to the local situation, while drawing attention to the focus region at the same time.

Britain

There will be a memorial event for conscientious objectors past and present at the commemorative stone for conscientious objectors in Tavistock Square, central London, on 15 May. The event will start at noon.