The Broken Rifle, 74

No 74, M ay 2007

Editorial

Support Cons cie ntious Obje ctors in Col om bia

15 May – Inte rnationalCons cie ntious Obje ctors ' Day Col om bia is one ofth e countrie s w ith th e l onge s th is tory of arm e d confl ict– by now m ore th an 50 ye ars . De cade s ofw ar and viol e nce by th e s tate 's m il itary force s , param il itarie s , and diffe re ntgue ril l a force s l e ad to a m il itaris ation ofth e e ntire Col om bian s ocie rty. Afte r s e ve ralfail ed pe ace proce s s e s , th e "w ar on te rror" and its Col om bian counte rparts , th e "Pl an Col om bia" and "Pl an Patriota" l e ad to an e s cal ation ofth e arm e d confl ict.

In th is w ar, al lpartie s to th e confl ictcom m itatrocitie s and h um an righ ts viol ations . In te rm s of practice on th e battl e fie l d, itis im pos s ibl e to dis tinguis h be tw e e n any ofth e arm e d force s – be th e y gove rnm e ntforce s , param il itarie s , or gue ril l as .

Cons cie ntious obje ction

ButCol om bias youth h ad h ad e nough . Enough ofw ar and viol e nce . Enough ofbe ing round up on th e s tre e ts by th e m il itary, and be ing re cruite d by force . Enough ofrunning afte r th e "l ibre ta m il itar", th e m il itary card, w ith out w h ich th e y cannotgraduate from unive rs ity, ge ta driving l ice ns e or pas s port– jus tl ive a norm all ife .

Th e officials tatis tics s h ow th at al arge proportion ofyouth doe s notfol l ow th e s tate 's "cal lto arm s " agains tth e gue ril l a.

H ow e ve r, w h il e m os tdo jus tnot re gis te r for m il itary s e rvice and l ive an ins e cure l ife w ith outth e ir m il itary card, ris k ing re cruitm e nt ate ve ry ch e ck pointor random raid ofth e m il itary, an incre as ing num be r ofyouth is now pre pare d

Ge nde r and M il itaris m

W RI/Ne w Profil e s e m inar in Te lAviv, Is rae l , 23– 26 Augus t 2007

Today itis be com ing incre as ingl y cl e ar th atcons is te ntfe m inis m cannotdo w ith outa th orough anal ys is ofm il itaris m and th atcons is te nt antim il itaris m cannotdo w ith outa de e p unde rs tanding ofge nde r is s ue s in both th e ory and practice .

Th e Ge nde r and M il itaris m Se m inar, to be h e l d in Is rae lin Augus t 2007 w il lbring toge th e r activis ts and acade m ics from al love r th e w orl d to s tudy th e m utualconne ctions be tw e e n m il itaris m and ge nde r. Th e s e m inar is organis e d by W ar Re s is te rs ’ Inte rnationaltoge th e r w ith th e Is rae l i fe m inis tantim il itaris tm ove m e ntNe w Profil e . Th is proje ctbuil ds on a l ong h is tory ofw ork on is s ue s ofge nde r and m il itaris m by both organis ations , and continue s and de e pe ns th e l ong-s tanding coope ration be tw e e n th e m .

M ore inform ation: h ttp://w ri-irg.org/ne w s /2007/council 2007-e n.h tm .

to ope nl y confrontth e s tate and de cl are th e ir cons cie ntious obje ction. Al th ough cons cie ntious obje ction is notre cognis e d in Col om bian l aw , th e CO s cl aim th atth e ir righ tis guarante e d unde r inte rnationals tandards , w h ich – according to th e Col om bian cons titution – are autom atical l y partofCol om bian l aw , on par w ith th e fundam e ntalrigh ts guarante e d by th is cons titution, and ignore d by th e s tate .

Th e l as tye ars s aw th e com ing toge th e r ofCO groups from diffe re ntre gions ofCol om bia, and today 13 groups from al l ove r th e country are partofth e NationalAs s e m bl y ofCons cie ntious O bje ctors .

Prote ction and s ol idarity

Bas e d on th is ne w s tre ngth , th e NationalAs s e m bl y ofCons cie ntious O bje ctors s tarte d a proce s s to cre ate a nationaland inte rnationals upportne tw ork for cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia. Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day 2007 – 15 M ay – is partofth is proce s s . Butw h il e th is one -offinte rnationale ve ntin M e de l l in is im portantbe caus e of th e vis ibil ity itprovide s to th e m ove m e ntfor cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia, m ore im portantw il lbe ongoing s upport. In coope ration w ith th e National As s e m bl y ofCons cie ntious O bje ctors , W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalis pre s e ntl y s e tting up a databas e ofCO s in Col om bia

(s oon avail abl e ath ttps ://l is ts .w riirg.org/codb), and an inte rnational s ol idarity ne tw ork . And 15th M ay w il lal s o s e e th e publ ic l aunch of th e "Libre ta obje tor/a de concie ncia" – W RI's cons cie ntious obje ctor card, w h ich w il lbe a vis ibl e s ym bolofcons cie ntious obje ction as an inte rnational l y re cognis e d h um an righ t.

In s om e w ay, th e l ibre ta obje tor/a de concie ncia is a form of "virtualaccom panim e nt", s im il ar to th e ph ys icalaccom panim e nt Pe ace Brigade s Inte rnationaltrie s to provide to s om e th re ate ne d h um an righ ts activis ts in Col om bia (and e l s e w h e re ). H ow e ve r, al l th is can onl y w ork w ith a s trong s ol idarity ne tw ork , th atre acts q uick l y to atte m pts to re cruitor arre s ta cons cie ntious obje ctor.

W h il e th e NationalAs s e m bl y of Cons cie ntious O bje ctors and W RI w il latte m ptto dis tribute inform ation as q uick l y and w ide l y as pos s ibl e w h e ne ve r a cons cie ntious obje ctor is in dange r, th is inform ation ne e ds to be acte d upon as fas tand w ide l y, to h ave an im pacton th e Col om bian auth oritie s . Contactth e W RI office now ifyou w antto be part ofth is "prote ctive s h ie l d" for obje ctors in Col om bia.

Andre as Spe ck W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational 5 Cal e donian Rd, London N1 9 DX Te l+ 44-20-7278 4040 info@ w ri-irg.org h ttp://w ri-irg.org/e n

Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day 2007 focus e s on Col om bia, a country w ith m ore th an 50 ye ars of(civil ) w ar and viol e nce . A country al s o, w h e re cons cie ntious obje ctors face ch al l e nge s diffe re nt from e l s e w h e re – th e th re atof invol untary re cruitm e ntnotonl y com ing from th e s tate m il itary, butal s o from th e various irre gul ar force s and gue ril l as in th e country.

Col om bia is al s o a ch al l e nge for th e inte rnationalm ove m e ntfor cons cie ntious obje ction. In te rm s ofinte rnational l e gals tandards , th e q ue s tion is h ow th e s e can be appl ie d to non-s tate actors , s o th atth e y too re cognis e th e righ tto cons cie ntious obje ction. Butth e n, th e Col om bian s tate al s o doe s notre cognis e CO , and notonl y m igh tCO s e nd up in pris on on ch arge s ofdis obe die nce or de s e rtion, m ore l ik e l y e ve n is th atth e y s udde nl y find th e m sel ve s in m il itary barrack s , afte r be ing pick e d up ata ch e ck point or a raid by th e pol ice . Le galor il l e gal– w ith outus inte rve ning, th e Col om bian s tate and th e m il itary w on'tcare , atl e as tnot untilitm igh tbe too l ate for th e CO conce rne d.

Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day is abouts ol idarity w ith CO s and CO m ove m e nts . Th e re are onl y a fe w countrie s w h e re th is is as urge ntl y ne e de d th an in Col om bia, and w e as w ar re s is te rs ne e d to s tand up to th e ch al l e nge s pos e d by th is s pe cific s ituation. W e k now from e xpe rie nce th atinte rnationals ol idarity can m ak e a diffe re nce , and in th e cas e ofCol om bia th is is e ve n m ore im portant, and re q uire s our conce rte d e fforts .

And w h o, ifnotus ?

M ore inform ation is avail abl e on W RI's Col om bia cam paign page ath ttp://w ri-irg.org/co/ col cam paign-e n.h tm .

Andre as Spe ck

Th e Brok e n Rifl e Th e Brok e n Rifl e is th e ne w s l e tte r ofW ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , and is publ is h e d in Engl is h , Spanis h , Fre nch and Ge rm an. Th is is is s ue 74, M ay 2007.

Th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e w as produce d by Andre as Spe ck . Spe cialth ank s go Lie s be tNive au, Andre a O ch oa, and th e As am bl e a Nacionalde O bje tore s y O bje toras de Concie ncia. Ifyou w ante xtra copie s ofth is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e , pl e as e contact th e W RI office , or dow nl oad it from our w e bs ite .

W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , 5 Cal e donian Road, London N1 9 DX, Britain te l+ 44-20-7278 4040 fax + 44-20-7278 0444 info@ w ri-irg.org h ttp://w ri-irg.org/pubs / br74-e n.h tm

2

Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 74, M ay 2007

Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day – Col om bia

Re cruitm e ntand Cons cie ntious O bje ction

Fre e dom ofcons cie nce and obl igatory m il itary s e rvice in th e Pol iticalCons titution ofCol om bia Th e Pe ace Com m unity ofSan Jos é de Apartadó

To ce l e brate th e 10th annive rs ary ofth e Pe ace Com m unity ofSan Jos é de Apartadó de l e gate s from oth e r Col om bian pe ace com m unitie s and vis itors from 14 countrie s m e tin s e ttl e m e nts La Unión and San Jos e s ito de Apartadó (w h e re th e Com m unity re s e ttl e d afte r pol ice ins tal l e d th e m sel ve s on th e te rritory ofth e originalcom m unity) in th e m unicipal ity ofApartadó, Antioq uia province .

W h il e pe opl e k e e p de m anding th e w h ol e truth and jus tice aboutth e s ys te m atic viol ation ofh um an righ ts in Col om bia, th e State continue s to l os e l e gitim acy, th rough its viol e nce and corruption, and a parl iam e nt th atl e gis l ate s for th e be ne fitof its m e m be rs . As th e firs tPe ace Com m unity com pl e te s 10 ye ars ofre s is tance , itcounts 178 de ad, m ore th an 500 crim e s of aggre s s ion de nounce d in 15 pe titions pre s e nte d to Pre s ide nt Uribe . Th is te nth annive rs ary th e re fore h ad th e ch aracte r ofa m e e ting pl ace for various form s ofs ol idarity w al k ing a path of dignity and col l e ctive m e m ory.

O n 23 M arch , a s il e nt m arch th rough th e s tre e ts of Apartadó pas s e d th rough th e ce m e te ry e n route to th e ce ntre ofSan Jos é de Apartadó. During th e m arch , 178 s ym bol ic coffins w e re l e ftouts ide th e office ofpubl ic pros e cutor to re m ind th is ins titution ofits re pe ate d fail ure to carry outits cons titutionalfunction.

A grow ing num be r ofcom m unitie s and organis ations , both ins ide and outs ide Col om bia, are form ing l ink s ofs ol idarity and broth e r/s is te rh ood w ith th e Com m unity, s tre ngth e ning its proje cts for l ife and te rritory.

Al re ady m any ofth e m h ave be e n w itne s s e s ofth e barbarity ofth e State agains tcom m unitie s th rough outCol om bia and e s pe cial l y agains tth e Pe ace Com m unity ofSan Jos é de Apartadó. So on 17 M arch an Inte rnationalM is s ion ofSol idarity w ith Col om bian Com m unitie s ofNonviol e ntCivilRe s is tance m e tin Bogotá be fore trave l l ing on to tak e partin th e te nth annive rs ary e ve nts and th e m e e ting ofcom m unitie s in re s is tance in th e Pe ace Com m unity its e l f. Inte rnationalparticipants cam e from Aus tria, Be l gium , Engl and, Ge rm any, Ital y, Portugal , Spain and th e USA. Th e y agre e d to w ork for th e l egitim atiz ation and inte rnational re cognition ofth e h um anitarian z one s cre ate d by th is pe ace com m unity as a m e ch anis m of prote ction ofth e civilpopul ation in th e m ids tofarm e d confl ict. w w w .cdps anjos e .org

Th e l e galfram e w ork ove r re cognition ofcons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia re m ains th e contradiction be tw e e n Articl e s 18 and 216 in th e 19 9 1 Cons titution.

In th e ch apte r on fundam e ntal righ ts , articl e 18 guarante e s fre e dom ofcons cie nce : “nobody w il l be obl ige d to actagains tth e ir cons cie nce ”. H ow e ve r, in th e ch apte r on th e publ ic force s , articl e 216 s tate s th at“al lCol om bians are obl ige d to tak e up arm s w h e n th e re is a publ ic ne e d for th is in orde r to de fe nd nationalinde pe nde nce and th e publ ic ins titutions . Th e l aw w il lde te rm ine th e conditions w h ich atal ltim e s q ual ifie s an individualfor e xe m ption from m il itary s e rvice and th e privil e ge s for s e rvice .”

W h e n cas e s aboutcons cie ntious obje ction h ave be e n brough t, th e Cons titutionalCourt, ins te ad ofs e arch ing for a h al fw ay pointbe tw e e n th e tw o articl es, h as opte d for putting th e cons titutionalobl igation to tak e up arm s above th e righ tto fre e dom ofcons cie nce . Its argum e nts are th atcol l e ctive inte re s ts tak e priority ove r individual , th atCO to m il itary s e rvice is note xpl icitl y re cogniz e d in th e Cons titution, th atth e righ tto fre e dom ofcons cie nce doe s not e xte nd to th e conce ptofCons cie ntious O bje ction, and th atm il itary s e rvice is cons ide re d a form ofcitiz e n training. Ne ve rth e l e s s , re ce ntl e gis l ation h as re cognis e d s om e oth e r form s ofcons cie ntious obje ction – for ins tance by m e dicals taffor by m e m be rs of Congre s s w h o do notacce ptth e de cis ions ofth e ir partie s .

Am ong CO groups in Col om bia th e re is an agre e m e ntnotto de m and ne w re gul ations re cognis ing cons cie ntious obje ction and im pl e m e nting articl e 18. Th at path w oul dl e ad to th e Col om bian s tate pl acing re s trictions and conditions on obje ctors . Ins te ad th e ir argum e ntis th atinte rnational norm s , s e toutin a s e rie s ofinte rnationaltre atie s or Conve ntions ratifie d by th e Congre s s [1].

O bl igatory m il itary s e rvice and re fus e rs

Th e s tructure ofobl igatory m il itary s e rvice in Col om bia is ch aracte riz e d by th e h uge num be r of youth s cal l e d up, th e h igh proportion e xe m pte d, and th e re l ative l y fe w w h o re al l y do m il itary s e rvice .

Since 2003, th e te nde ncy h as be e n to incre as e th e num be r cal l e d up, re duce th e num be r e xe m pte d and s o incre as e th e num be r obl ige d to do m il itary s e rvice , a w orrying s ituation above al l w h e n you tak e into accountth at m os tofth e m com e from l ow -incom e fam il ie s w h o cannotafford to buy th e ir w ay outofm il itary s e rvice (paying for a m il itary s e rvice card) or bribe official s.

As CO to m il itary s e rvice is notre cognis e d l e gal l y, w e h ave to us e th e te rm s us e d by th e m il itary to as s e s s th e e xte ntofre fus alof cons cription and force d re cruitm e ntin Col om bia. Th e official data provide e vide nce ofth re e cate gorie s ofyouth s w h o h ave s aid no to coope ration w ith th e s ys te m ofre cruitm e ntand th e conditions

Action agains tre cruitm e nt ofcons cription. Th e s e th re e cate gorie s are : re m is os (th os e w h o failto re port), de s e rte rs and de s obe die nte s (th os e w h o dis obe y). Th e re m is os are cate gorie d as h aving bre ak ing th e l aw conce rning re cruitm e nt, in th e ory be ing s ubje ctto fine s butnotde te ntion. De s e rtion and dis obe die nce , h ow e ve r, are cons ide re d as bre ak ing th e m il itary pe nalcode and are punis h abl e w ith l os s of fre e dom . In practice , re m is os h ave be e n trie d as s ol die rs for crim e s ofde s e rtion [2].

Th e q uantity ofre m is os h as

M il itary card and cons cie ntious obje ction

O ne al te rnative for re fus e rs of obl igatory m il itary s e rvice is trying to fitone ofth e l e gale xe m ptions or pos tpone m e nts , s o th atth e y w il lq ual ify to pay th e m il itary a q uota of"com pe ns ation" and re ce ive a m il itary card ins te ad ofbe ing re cruite d.

Anybody w h o re fus e s to pay th is q uota ofm il itary com pe ns ation (be caus e contributing financial l y to w ar is agains tth e ir e th icalor pol iticalconvictions ) is in a s pe cials ituation. Le gal l y th e y

Diagram . Pe rce ntage ofre m is os am ong pe rs ons obl ige d to do th e m il itary s e rvice : 19 9 5– 2003 be e n re l ative l y h igh agains tth e num be r ofpe rs ons obl igate d to do th e m il itary s e rvice . Th e ave rage pe rce ntage for th e pe riod of 19 9 5 to 2003 h as be e n around 26% . Al th ough th e ge ne ralte nde ncy h as be e n dow nw ards , th e re w as a dram atic incre as e in 2003 to 48.5% ofth e totalofpe rs ons obl ige d to do th e m il itary s e rvice .

As w e can obs e rve in tabl e 1, th e cas e s ofde s e rtion and dis obe die nce in th e arm y e norm ous l y outnum be r th os e in th e pol ice . Th e annualave rage is th at th e re are 230 cas e s ofdis obe die nce w ith in th e arm y, and 1847 de s e rte rs . Th e re fore w e can confirm th atth e re e xis ts notonl y a num e rous group ofyoung pe opl e w h o h ave re fus e d cons cription for s om e re as on and e nd up catal ogue d as re m is os , butal s o a s ubs tantialpre s e nce ofpe opl e wh o re fus e to s tay or to be obe die nt w ith in th e w ith in th e rank s ofth e State ’s m il itary force s .

are no l onge r obl ige d to do m il itary s e rvice . H ow e ve r, w ith outth e m il itary card th e y w on’th ave th e opportunity to graduate from s upe rior s tudie s or to s ign w ork contracts .

Furth e rm ore , th e gove rnm e nt h as be e n trying to ch ange th e l aw s o th atth e m il itary card is de m ande d on appl ying for a pas s port, re gis te ring atunive rs ity or for a profe s s ionalq ual ification, obtaining a driving l ice nce , or tak ing a publ ic or private pos t. In th e m e antim e , al th ough in a ve ry incipie nt m anne r, s om e groups ofcons cie ntious obje ctors try to addre s s th is s ituation by cre ating cas e s and l aw s uits cl aim ing dis crim ination and viol ation offundam e ntal righ ts .

Re cruitm e ntby th e Col om bian State : irre gul ar and il l e gal Al th ough th e re cruitm e ntl aw l ays dow n proce dure s to e nl is tre cruits , in m any cas e s th e due proce s s is notful fil l e d and its s uppos e d im partial ity is riddl ed

Tabl e 1. Dis obe die nce and de s e rtion in th e m il itary force s and th e pol ice : 19 9 5– 2003 Dis obe die nce m il itary

Dis obe die nce pol ice

De s e rtion m il itary

De s e rtion pol ice

Ye ar 2001– 2003

Ye ar 19 9 5– 2003

Ye ar 2001– 2003

Ye ar 19 9 5– 2003

69 0

pe rs ons

118

pe rs ons

5541

pe rs ons

13

pe rs ons

w ith arbitrarine s s and corruption.

Batidas (raids ) are practice s offorce d re cruitm e ntcarrie d out in publ ic pl ace s , ge ne ral l y in poor ne igh bourh oods or ruralz one s .

Th os e w h o do noth ave a m il itary card are im m e diate l y s e iz e d, put in a truck and incorporate d into th e arm y. According to th e re cruitm e ntl aw its e l f, th is is il l e gal : nobody s h oul d be force d to join im m e diate l y, and th e m axim um al l ow e d is to force pe opl e to re gis te r th e m s e l ve s to be gin th e w h ol e proce s s ofre cruitm e nt(or oth e rw is e re s ol ving th e ir s ituation).

Eve n th e l e gale xe m ptions and pos tpone m e nts are notobs e rve d or re s pe cte d by th e arm y.

Indige nous pe opl e , fath e rs , dis pl ace d pe opl e , pe opl e w ith ph ys icaldis abil itie s , and col l e ge s tude nts , are tak e n into th e rank s de s pite th e e xis te nce ofrul e s th at e xe m ptth e m or pos tpone th e ir m il itary s e rvice .

Re cruitm e ntofch il dre n by i l l e galgroups Th e 2004 gl obalre portofth e Coal ition to Stop th e Us e ofCh il d Sol die rs e s tim ate s th ata q uarte r ofs ol die rs in il l e galarm e d groups in Col om bia are younge r th an 18 ye ars ol d. Th e s e ch il dre n participate in com bats , trans ports uppl ie s , actas m e s s e nge rs and guards , and pl ace e xpl os ive s and m ine s . Som e ofth e m join to e s cape from pove rty, une m pl oym e ntor dom e s tic abus e , w h il e oth e rs s e arch to ave nge th e de ath ofa fam il y m e m be r or frie nd. M os tare de nie d contact w ith th e ir fam il y. Th e girl s are coe rce d into s e xualre l ations h ips w ith m al e com m andants .

W ith th e ne w l aw ofch il dh ood and adol e s ce nce , ch il dre n of15 ye ars ol d invol ve d in activitie s of i l l e galarm e d groups , ch ange d from be ing victim s ofth e confl ict to be ing punis h abl e , w h ich is in contradiction w ith th e re com m e ndations ofth e Inte rnationalCom m itte e ofth e Ch il dre n’s Righ ts in its l as tre port.

Note s :

[1] Th e righ tto cons cie ntious obje ction is im pl icitl y re cogniz e d in th e articl e 18 ofth e Unive rs alDe cl aration of th e H um an Righ ts , in th e articl e 18 of th e Inte rnationalPactofCiviland Pol iticalRigh ts , approve d by Col om bia by th e Law 74 of19 68, and by th e articl e 12 ofth e Am e rican Conve ntion aboutH um an Righ ts , approve d by Col om bia by th e Law 16 of19 72, rul e s th ataffirm th e righ tto fre e dom of th ough t, ofcons cie nce and re l igion (M ADRID M ALO , 2006,3), and e xpl icitl y in th e re s ol ution 33/165 of19 78 th e Ge ne ralAs s e m bl y ofth e UNO , th e re s ol ution ofth e H um an Righ ts Com m is s ion ofth e 5th ofM arch of 19 87, and th e re s ol ution 2002/45.

[2] Th e l aw 522 from 19 9 9 de fine s dis obe die nce as : Notcarrying outor m odifying a l e gitim ate orde r by th e office r in com m and according to l e gal form al itie s , carrying a punis h m e ntof be tw e e n 1 and 3 ye ars ' im pris onm e nt (Articl e 115). A de s e rte r can be h e l d from s ix m onth s to tw o ye ars . O n com pl e ting th is s e nte nce , th e accus e d w il l be re q uire d to com pl e te h is m il itary s e rvice , incl uding al lth e tim e h e h as be e n abs e ntor in de te ntion (Articl e 128).

Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 74, M ay 2007

Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day – Col om bia

Ante ce de nts for cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia In Col om bia, cons cie ntious obje ction firs tbe cam e a topic in 19 88 w h e n a group ofpe opl e (acade m ics , ph il os oph e rs , l aw ye rs , inte l l e ctual s and ch urch m e m be rs ) be gan to q ue s tion obl igatory m il itary s e rvice .

In 19 9 1, tak ing advantage of th e ch ange in cons titution in Col om bia, th e Col l e ctive of Cons cie ntious O bje ction and th e program O bje ctors for Pe ace from th e M e nnonite Ch urch , during th e NationalCons titutional As s e m bl y, m ounte d a cam paign to h ave CO incl ude d in th e de bate . Publ ic actions in th atye ar incl ude d m arch e s , pre s s inte rvie w s , m obil iz ing s ch ool s and col l e cting 6000 s ignature s th at w e re de l ive re d to th e National Cons titutionalAs s e m bl y. Th ank s to th is w ork , th e th e m e w as dis cus s e d and articl e 18 w as incl ude d in th e ne w cons titution, guarante e ing fre e dom of cons cie nce ofth e Col om bian pe opl e (articl e 18).

Atth e s am e tim e , th e Re d Juve nilofM e de l l ín w as born, a com m unity organiz ation th at affirm s th e righ ts ofyoung pe opl e, s uch as cons cie ntious obje ction, tak ing an approach bas e d on nonviol e nce and civil dis obe die nce .

In 19 9 4 a s ignificante ve nt h appe ne d: on pre s e nging h is publ ic de cl aration of cons cie ntious obje ction, Luis Gabrie lCal das w as tak e n to pris on and th e n force d to l ive cl ande s tine l y untilAm ne s ty Inte rnational , h aving adopte d h im as a pris one r ofcons cie nce , e xe rte d s ufficie ntpre s s ure to re s ol ve h is s ituation.

In th e s am e ye ar, Col om bia participate d in th e firs tLatinAm e rican M e e ting of Cons cie ntious O bje ctors in Paraguay, and w as th e ve nue of th e 9 th Inte rnationalM e e ting of Cons cie ntious O bje ctors , ge tting m e dia atte ntion.

In th e ye ar 2000, th e group

Acción Col e ctiva por l a O bje ción de Concie ncia e n Col om bia w as cre ate d in Bogotá th rough th e conve rge nce oforganis ations inte re s te d in s tre ngth e ning th e w ork on cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia.

Be tw e e n 2002 and 2004 th e cam paign cal l e d ‘Juve ntude s de s de l a Noviol e ncia Activa Re s is tie ndo a l a Gue rra’ w as prom ote d by various youth groups from diffe re ntre gions of Col om bia. Itw as one ofth e firs t s te ps for th e cre ation ofa national ne tw ork aboutcons cie ntious obje ction th at, in Se pte m be r 2005, w as conve rte d into th e NationalAs s e m bl y of Cons cie ntious O bje ctors .

Since th e n, 4 national as s e m bl ie s h ave tak e n pl ace s , pl us a w ork s h op aboutl e gal al te rnative s for cons cie ntious obje ctors and, in Jul y 2006 in Bogotá, an inte rnationalm e e ting ofs ol idarity for th e cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia, w ith th e

pre s e nce ofvarious inte rnational de l e gate s ofm ove m e nts ofw ar re s is tance and cons cie ntious obje ction. Th is rais e d w h e re th e ide a ofcre ating an inte rnational s upportne tw ork for th e cons cie ntious obje ction in Col om bia.

As th e Col om bian conte xtis ve ry diffe re ntfrom oth e r countrie s and th e cons cie ntious obje ction h as be e n de ve l ope d in th e m iddl e ofan arm e d confl ictbe tw e e n th e State , gue rril l a and param il itary groups , w ith m ul tipl e caus e s and factors th atpl ay a rol e , th e righ t to obje ctfor cons cie nce doe s n’t re fe r onl y to officialm il itary s e rvice , butal s o to any coe rce d s e rvice in any arm e d group invol ve d in th e confl ict, to al lth e e xpre s s ions ofm il itaris m in th e dail yl ife (l ik e auth oritaris m ), and to th e s ys te m s s uch as th e ne ol ibe rale conom icalm ode l , th at s us tain m il itaris m .

firs ttim e y h ad l e fth is vil l age , h e h ad com e from Bogota to w ork in a s h op w ith h is cous ins . H e w oul d s ay "nots ure ifI w il lge tus e d to itbe caus e in s uch big citie s you are a nobody, atl e as tin m y vil l age , pe opl e k now you and ifyou're bore d, th e n I ge tto w ork on m y s traw be rrie s and potatoe s and am us e m ys e l f, w h e re as in a big city, w h atdo you do?"

Anyone w h o s aw h is h ands coul d re cognis e h is trade , as Don Juan Matus ' facts tal k for th e m s e l ve s , w h ich is w h atTibe rio Os orio re fl e cte d s o th e l ie ute nantl e th im go.

At2:15p.m . a truck arrive d to pick us up bound for Facativa. On th e w ay, pe opl e w e re ge tting s e ttl e d, te l l ing jok e s , w e s pe cul ate d aboute ve ryth ing, h ow w e w oul dl ook in uniform , w e w ork e d on de cl arations th atw oul d prove th atw e w e re nots uitabl e to e nte r th e m il itary s e rvice , s uch as : I h ave fl atfe e t;I s uffe r from as th m a;th atone h ad attack s ;a brok e n h and;and s o on, a th ous and w h ite l ie s in orde r to e vade th e m il itary s e rvice , w e did th is al s o to k il ltim e w h il e on th e road in th e truck .

W e arrive d atInfantry Battal ion num be r 38, Migue lAntonio Caro at4:30 p.m ., w e gotin l ine and th e us ualins pe ction ofth e pil e ofide ntity cards , w h ich incide ntal l y w e re notconfis cate d atth e tim e w e w e re de taine d. I'd l ik e to cl arify th atI w as ne ve r m ade to form w ith th e oth e rs , from th e firs tm om e ntw e arrive d in Facativa, a s e rge antcal l e d m e ove r, h e as k e d m e w h e re I w as from and tol d m e to s tick by h im . Frank l y, h e tre ate d m e ve ry w e l l , h e h ad m e accom pany h im th e w h ol e tim e as ifI w e re h is gre at frie nd, h e w oul d te l lm e s torie s and h e w oul d as k m e th ings . Th e funny th ing w as th ath e s e e m e d m otivate d by m y s torie s abouttraditionalIndige nous Me dicine s , th atw as th e are a h e w ante d to e xpl ore , on one ofh is rounds h e pre s e nte d m e to h is col l e ague s w h o im m e diate l y s aid: th is young m an m us t be s uitabl e for th e s e rvice , h e 's th e righ t s iz e – th e s e rge ant's re pl y w as am us ing: no th is young m an cannots tay, be caus e h e cons um e s m e dicine .

W h e n th e Major arrive d to q ue s tion pe opl e on th e re as ons for notdoing th e ir m il itary s e rvice , itw as a good opportunity

for m e to putacros s m y de cl aration as Cons cie ntious Obje ctor, as I am ce rtain th atm any young pe opl e h ave ne ve r h e ar anyth ing ofth e s ort, nor did th e y be l ie ve th atitw as pos s ibl e , or be tte r s til l , to be re l e as e d, as I w as w ith outfurth e r e xam ination, nor any oth e r probl e m s , th e onl y th ing h e as k e d m e w as to pre s e nta s igne d and s e al e d w ritte n de cl aration.

Four ofus w e re re l e as e d, al lw e h ad to do w as to confirm th e inform ation in th e dis trict, w h ich th e oth e rs did as th e ir paym e ntre ce iptw as in proce s s , as for m e , I h ad noth ing to confirm , th e re fore , I w as fre e to go.

Il e ftth e battal ion at5:50 p.m . accom panie d by Se rge antPe na, w h o I as k e d if h e coul d give m e s om e docum e nts o th at th e y w oul d notde tain m e again on th e w ay, be aring in m ind al s o th atI h ad al re ady l os t$35.000 cos tofth e fare ), buth e s aid, don'tw orry m ate , th e y w on'ts top you, buts h oul d th e y do s o, tak e m y m obil e num be r and cal lm e im m e diate l y.

I w as s urpris e d atth e tre atm e ntI got, I th ough tth atth e y m ay h ave re ce ive d

Th e National As s e m bl y of Cons cie ntious O bje ctors

Th e NationalAs s e m bl y of Cons cie ntious Obje ctors ANOOC is a ne tw ork oforganiz ations and groups of diffe re ntre gions ofCol om bia w h o, w ith a nonviol e ntapproach , prom ote cons cie ntious obje ction agains tal l– l e galand il l e gal– arm e d groups .

One ofth e m ain conce rns ofth e NationalAs s e m bl y h as be e n th e re cruitm e ntprobl e m and th e cons tant m il itariz ation ofcivill ife by th e diffe re nt actors invol ve d in Col om bia’s arm e d confl ict. Th at’s th e re as on w h y w e de cide d on th e fol l ow ing l ine s ofaction: - Mutuals tre ngth e ning ofdiffe re nt groups ofcons cie ntious obje ction by e xch anging e xpe rie nce s and s pace s for training.

- Nationalcoordination ofdire ct nonviol e ntaction and publ ic acts .

- Accom panim e ntand pe rm ane nt com m unication be tw e e n th e diffe re ntgroups on cons cie ntious obje ction.

- Cons truction ofa nationaland inte rnationals ol idarity ne tw ork for cons cie ntious obje ctors .

Pre s e ntl y, th e NationalAs s e m bl y ofCons cie ntious Obje ctors incl ude s th e fol l ow ing groups :

Ch ronicl e O fO bje ctor Andre s Danie lGiral do and h is l ibe ration (2006) De parting at21:00 from Bogota on th e bus fl e e tRápico Och oa bound for Me de l l in, th e bus w as h e l d up at12.45 a.m . by th e NationalArm e d Force s ofth e Municipal ity ofGuaduas , Cundianam arca. W e w e re h e l d up on th e m otorw ay til l 1.55 a.m . and l ate r th e arm y al l ow e d us to re s tatth e Guadua Infantry Battal ion, by w h ich tim e itw as 2:11 am , th e ve ry tim e one s tarts to im agine w h atm ay h appe n. Th e re w e re 13 youth s in th e h angar w h e re e ve ryone w as am us ing th e m s e l ve s on th e ir m obil e s or jok ing around. I conve ye d m y pos ition as Cons cie ntious Obje ctor to l ie ute nantGóm e z .

Ins pe ction at5:20 a.m ., l igh ts on, off to w as h our m outh s and re ady for l ine form ation w ith Quinte ro and w aiting to be tak e n to Facatativa. Bre ak fas toffrie d cornm e alcak e w ith ch ocol ate , and, inde e d a day ful lofs urpris e s th atLie ute nantGom e z h ad in s tore , from a bal lfor footy, dom ino, ping pong rack e ts , de ck s ofcards and continuous com pany, ful lof l augh te r and col d h um our ofm il itary nature , w ith com m e nts s uch as "cons cie ntious obje ctor, s tay cal m m ate , you'l ls oon forge taboutal lofth atw h e n you grab a rifl e and w atch th e cartridge s fal l ing, now th at's w h atI cal le xciting". Laugh s from e ve ryone and w h e n th e y w e re im aging m e w ith oute arrings and in cam oufl age th e y l augh m ore .

At8:30 a.m . th e y took outth e ir cone s and ge ar for m otorw ay control , re turning atapproxim ate l y 12:30 p.m ., w ith 15 youngs te rs pl us th e battal ion, w e pl aye d a gam e offootbal l , th e y tol d s torie s aboutth e Arm y and h ow good it w as , ofne w pol icie s , ofth e tre atm e nt w ith in th e ins titution, and s o on. Am ong th e young m e n, th e re w e re 3 from La Paz , 2 from H uil e nce s , 2 from Bogota, one indige nous re ins e rte d in th e force s , and th e re w e re 21 from diffe re ntparts of th e Atl antic Coas t, nam e l y Val l e dupar, Barranq uil l a, Santa Marta, Since l e jo).

Atth e tim e w e h ad to cl im b onto th e truck , th e re w e re 23, as th e s ituation h ad be e n s orte d its e l foutfor 5 ofth e m . Th e cas e ofone ofth e s e w as q uite nice , th at ofTibe rio Os orio, a 22-ye ar ol d young m an from th e Unión de Antioq uia, h aving onl y com pl e te d 3 ye ars atprim ary s ch ool , w as ve ry frigh te ne d, as itw as th e

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s om e inte rnalcom m unication and th at w as w h y th e y w e re s o am icabl e , butth at w as im pos s ibl e due to h ow l ate itw as in th e day. One ofth e concl us ions I arrive d atw as th atI trie d to tal k to th e m a l ot aboutth e l e galas pe ctofit, q uoting m any articl e s and l aw s , and al s o, I al w ays s us taine d th atI did notagre e w ith m il itary s tructure in ge ne ral , re gardl e s s ofw h e re itcam e from and th atw e apons w as not th e w ay to re cons tructa com m unity;th e y m ay h ave q ue s tione d th is th e m s e l ve s and itm ay h ave give n m e a bitof ch aracte r.

None ofth e youngs te rs w ante d to do th e ir m il itary s e rvice , butth e y al lgave e xcus e s and none cam e forw ard w h e n th e Major as k e d w h o w ante d to be in th e NationalCol um bian Arm y. Th atm us t h ave e nrage d h im . Th e re m aining 17 youngs te rs h ad to proce e d to tak e m e dicale xam s and w aitto re ce ive a final ve rdict.

Andrés Danie lGiral do

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Re d Juve nilPaz Caribe Col e ctivo Obje tarte Cal i Re d Juve nilMe de l l ín Acción Col e ctiva de Obje tore s y Obje toras de Concie ncia Bogota Movim ie nto Juve nilArte s anos Conce jo Municipalde Juve ntude s Pue rto Caice do – Putum ayo Corporación Col om bia Jove n Vil l a Rica – Cauca Se rvicio Paz y Jus ticia Barranq uil l a As ociación Juve nily Es tudiantil Re gionalAruaca Movim ie nto de Obje tore s y Obje toras Quinto Mandam ie nto Barrancabe rm e ja Movim ie nto Juve nilÁl varo Úl ce Cauca Kas im ba Cal i FUNSAREP Cartage na More inform ation is avail abl e at: w w w .obje cioncol om bia.org

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Inte rnationalCons cie ntious O bje ctors ' Day – Col om bia

Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 74, M ay 2007

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W om e n cons cie ntious obje ctors in Col om bia Itw as back in 19 24 th atth e re w as th e firs tins tance ofw om e n obje cting to com pul s ory m il itary s e rvice . Union l e ade r Carl ota Rua, during th e firs tW ork e rs ' Congre s s , ope ne d th e de bate on th e obl igation ofm il itary s e rvice by arguing th atyoung w ork e rs and pe as ants s h oul d notbe tak e n from th e ir l and, w h e re th e y contribute d to th e country w ith th e ir w ork , to be force d into de s troy it as partofth e arm . Th is s am e initiative prom pte d anoth e r group of w om e n to oppos e th e re cruitm e nt ofth e ir s ons and h us bands during th e w ar agains tPe ru, m ak ing th e ir obje ction publ ic and ge ne rating de bate ins ide th e country [1].

As th e ye ars h ave pas s e d, w om e n h ave continue d to organis e initiative s agains tth e inte rnalw ar, in s e arch ofpe ace and s ol utions to th e arm e d confl ictbas e d on m e diation. Itis w orth m e ntioning th e e fforts ofth e w ork ing tabl e “W om e n and Arm e d Confl ict”, th at brings toge th e r dive rs e organis ations and individual s to inve s tigate and q ue s tion th e m ul tipl e form s ofviol e nce th ataffe ctw om e n, young w om e n and girl s in th e conte xtofth e arm e d confl ict

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in Col om bia – w ork h igh l y re l e vantas ge nde r viol e nce w as invis ibl e , de s pite th e h ars h ne s s of viol e ntacts agains tth e fe m al e ge nde r by th e diffe re ntarm e d actors [2].

Eq ual l y im portantis th e w ork ofth e Al l iance “Col om bian W om e n's Initiative s for Pe ace ”, again bringing groups toge th e r on th e bas is ofUN Se curity CouncilRe s ol ution 1325 (approve d 31 O ctobe r 2000) cal l ing for participation ofw om e n's groups in ne gotiations and dial ogue aboutarm e d confl ict and for re cognition ofth e ir contribution to proce s s e s ofre concil iation and re ducing th e im pactof arm e d confl icton w om e n [3].

Th e s e organis ations h ave carrie d outim portantw ork , inte rve ning in pol iticalde bate , as w e l las th rough s ocialw ork and publ ic de m ons trations .

Al th ough w ith in th e cons cie ntious obje ction m ove m e ntits e l f, th e ge nde r pe rs pe ctive is nots o cl e ar, s ince w om e n are as m uch re fl e cte d as m e n in th e principl es ofactive nonviol e nt, antim il itaris m in th e ful lvis ion ofth e s tructural caus e s and atm os ph e re ofw ar as wel las in th e advocacy ofs ol utions and al te rnative s from dive rs e angl e s , w om e n h ave an e s s e ntialre l e vance w ith in th e m ove m e nt. In our country, w h e re onl y m e n are obl ige d to do m il itary s e rvice , th e pos ition ofw om e n h as gone far be yond s ol idarity w ith frie nds , partne rs or s ons , to contribute w ork and initiative s in th e cons truction ofa Col om bia th atis l e arning to trans form its confl icts w ith outre s ortto viol e nce , a Col om bia m ore e q uitabl e and w ith outth e s h arp s ocialinjus tice s th atfue lal lth e country's probl e m s . From th is pointofvie w , th e w ork on cons cie ntious obje ction h as e s pe cial l y s pre ad th rough th e de ve l opm e ntofan al te rnative pe dagogy, re ach ing outto ch il dre n, youth and adul ts ofal ls ocialand cul turaltraditions w ith its prom otion ofnonviol e nce . Atth e s am e tim e , ith as e xte nde d its pe rs pe ctive s to addre s s th e m e s s uch as th e injus tice ofe xce s s ive ch arge s ofpubl ic s e rvice s , th e im portance offair trade (trade th atis jus t, cons cious and in s ol idarity), and th e cre ativity ofdire ctaction. In th e s e are as ofw ork , w om e n h ave m ade

a vitalcontribution.

Itis al s o re l e vantto note as wel lth e s tate 's s ys te m ofcons cription, groups rath e r outs ide th e l aw – s uch as gue rril l as and param il itarie s – re cruitboth coe rcive l y and vol untaril y m e n and w om e n unde r th e banne r ofge nde r e q ual ity.

Th is is w h y ith as be e n s o im portantto h ave w om e n de cl are th e m sel ve s as cons cie ntious obje ctors , re fus ing to participate in any arm y or contribute in any w ay to th e m ach is to, patriarch aland m il itaris t cul ture th atm aintains th e h ars h viol e nce Col om bia s uffe rs .

In th is w ay, w om e n w ith in th e CO m ove m e ntin Col om bia h ave m ade itpos s ibl e to tak e up both th e probl e m and th e propos e d al te rnative s to w ar from a broad pe rs pe ctive , unde rs tanding th e com pl e xity ofth e Col om bian re al ity and th e ne e d to propos e de e p and s tructuralal te rnative s . Itis touch ing th atw e are th e one s w h o h ave m os tpow e r to cal l pe opl e to tak e partin publ ic acts and th atm e n, apartfrom fe e l ing accom panie d in th e ir re fus alof m il itary s e rvice , re cognis e us as e q ual l y im portantw ith in th e m ove m e nt, k now ing th ate ve rybody ne e ds to com m itth e m s e l ve s s oul d, h e artand h ands in th e trans form ation ofe ve ryday l ife and th e pol icie s th ats upportw ar.

Andre a O ch oa O bje tora de Concie ncia, Bogotá, Col om bia.

Note s :

[1] Giral do, Jh on. “La O bje ción de Concie ncia e n Col om bia: una h is toria e n m ovim ie nto” publ icado e n h ttp://w w w .nodo50.org/m oc-carabanch e l /cam pa% F1as /obje cion/ 15m 04_ col om bia_ agre s ion.h tm [2] W e b page ofM e s a de M uje r y Confl icto Arm ado e n Col om bia h ttp://w w w .m uje ryconfl ictoarm ado.org /l am e s a.h tm l [3] W e b page ofIniciativa M uje re s por l a Paz : h ttp://w w w .m uje re s porl apaz .org/