By Peter Cousins

Colombianos, las armas os han dado la independencia, las leyes os darán la libertad.
“Colombians, arms have given you independence, laws will give you freedom.”
(Francisco de Paula Santander)

On the front of the Supreme Court of Justice in Bogotá’s Bolivar Plaza, are carved these words of General Santander, a hero of the independence era and later President of Gran Colombia. Colombia celebrates its “Proclamation of Independence” on July 20 each year. As in most countries, this sort of occasion turns into a day for the “great and the good” of State – president, mayors, generals, flags – to take center stage, with the added factor that, last month, the country commenced its take-off towards the bicentenary of the “Proclamation of Independence” in 2010. But in the midst of all this, Santander´s words transcend the years and have for a Colombia that is 199 years young a certain resonance, whose truth is in danger of being eclipsed. What do I mean by this? The historical and contemporary contexts will help us arrive at some sort of understanding.

From the Medellín Youth Movement, 29 May 2009

Cristian Camilo Henao Suaza is currently carrying out military service against his will as a regular soldier since October 7, 2008 in the Pedro Justo Berrio Battalion, part of the Fourth Brigade based in Medellín.

Since then he has declared himself a conscientious objector to mandatory military service, a condition protected by international law. Here is his statement as an objector:

Bello, January 15, 2009. I, Cristian Camilo Henao Suaza, identification card #1020434627 from Bello, Antioquia, give my public declaration as a CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR, based on the rights given to me by the constitution, particularly Article 18.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY OF YENIFER RUEDA CARDENAS IN COMUNA 13 OF MEDELLÍN

We wish to express our concern and indignation at the acts against the integrity and the life of our friend YENIFER RUEDA CARDENAS, which took place on May 3, 2009 in the district of El Salado in Comuna 13 in Medellín.

“[Invincible is] One of the most talented emcees I've ever heard black or white, male or female..."

-Talib Kweli

Speaking, Workshop and Hip Hop tour, November 2008
Check out our ITINERARY.

The Tour: Who, What, and Why?
Fellowship of Reconciliation’s (FOR) Nonviolent Youth Collective (NVYC) and Colombia program, in collaboration with the Not Your Soldier Project and are putting on a Hip-Hop tour with Colombian and U.S. conscientious objectors (COs) to the military.

by Janice Gallagher
November 2007

Carlos Andrés Hincapié, 18, had gone out to the store to buy eggs for his family’s breakfast when he ran into the military. They demanded his military identification card, certifying he had completed his service. He said he didn’t have one and didn’t agree with military service. He was immediately loaded onto the back of a military truck, and taken to the barracks. He could not call his parents, and the next day was whisked off for “training” several hours away.

Within two weeks, Carlos Andrés was engaged in active-duty military service. He signed a statement two months later certifying that he was a conscientious objector (CO). In return, the military began treating him harshly.

Translation of statement from the Medellí­n Youth Network
April 2007

The recruitment procedures that the national army uses are despicable, especially in our particular experiences in different parts of Antioquia state. There the pursuit and recruitment of youth has become a daily occurrence of intimidation and verbal and sometimes even physical violence, which ends with the placement of these youth onto a path to becoming killers.

As evidence of the cruel recruitment situation in our areas, we describe a case that occurred in the municipality of Cisneros, Antioquia:

The Colombian Conscientious Objectors' movement
by Janice Gallagher
May 2007

Carlos Andres Hincapie, 18, had gone out to the store to buy eggs for his family's breakfast when he ran into the military. They asked for his military identification card, certifying he had completed his military service. He told them he didn't have one, and didn't agree with military service. Carlos was immediately loaded onto the back of a military truck and taken to the military barracks. He could not call his parents, and the next day was whisked off for "training" several hours away. Within two weeks, he was engaged in active duty military service. He signed a statement two months later certifying that he was a Conscientious Objector, and in return received harsh physical treatment at the hands of the military.