Colombia: Building Peace in a Country at War – a talk by Fr. Alberto Franco November 9, 2010

Fr. Alberto Franco’s two decades of human rights work in Colombia has brought him praise but also death threats. On Tuesday, November 9, he is sharing his story with Ann Arbor at First Baptist Church (517 E. Washington St.).
Colombia’s ongoing war has had a devastating impact on the civilian population. Human rights organizations report that the conflict has killed 30,000 civilians since 2000 and driven another three million out of their homes. During that time, the U.S. government has provided $6 billion in military assistance to the Colombia armed forces—the fighting force with the worst human rights record in the hemisphere and responsible for killing thousands of innocent civilians in recent years.
From testifying before the European Parliament to supporting indigenous and Afro-Colombian farmers caught in the war, Fr. Alberto has taken a stand for the victims of that South American conflict while speaking out against human rights abuses.
“Many innocent civilians have been killed and driven off of their land,” says Fr. Franco. “In many cases these horrible human rights violations were carried out to make way for economic development projects.”
“But these brutal killers did not expect farmers to stand up for their rights and their land,” says Fr. Franco. “Today we work with farmers in humanitarian zones, helping them continue their lives despite the war.”
Fr. Franco will be speaking at First Baptist Church (517 E. Washington St.). The event is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice and open to the public.
Witness for Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas and U.S. foreign policy reform, is sponsoring Fr. Franco’s tour to the United States.