He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2:4 (NRSV)
The Interchurch Dialog for Peace, DiPaz, expresses its joy for the official signing of the peace accord between the government of Colombia and the FARC guerrilla today in Cartagena.
The thousands of persons who have been killed, disappeared, displaced, tortured, had their land stolen, been slandered and unjustly prosecuted during these 52 years are on our mind today as this armed confrontation comes to an end. Today the Lord calls us to celebrate, as he taught us, “do this in remembrance of me”.
Our efforts from here forward will be to work for the implementation of the accords because, even in the midst of our joy, we remember the failures of previous peace accords that led to new cycles of violence.
We trust that this moment of profound hope is accompanied by the political commitment of the Colombian state and the FARC to fulfill them, to honor that which they have pledged before the watchful eye of myriad sectors of Colombian society and the international community.
We also celebrate the ELN guerrilla’s pledge to begin a unilateral ceasefire in order to facilitate the plebiscite on the peace accord on October 2nd. We interpret this announcement as demonstrating a real commitment and desire to seek a peace accord and we hope for the Colombian government to respond in kind.
At this meaningful moment for our country, we ask the Lord, God of life and peace, to renew our hearts each day that we may grow in love, in solidarity and in justice in every place where there are Colombians today.
Interchurch Dialog for Peace, DiPaz
