Barrancabermeja (Colombia), May 2001

"Solidarity is the kindness of the people"
J. Marti

Dear friends,

Our organisation, THE PEOPLE’S WOMEN’S ORGANISATION (ORGANIZACION FEMENINA POPULAR - OFP in Spanish) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, has recently been in contact with you via one of our members, Matilde Vargas. She has shared with you the problems which affect us, women living in a region under paramilitary occupation. Through threats, torture, disappearance and killings, these illegal paramilitary actions are trying to humiliate us women forcing us into silence and therefore making us their pawns in their war.

Hundreds of ordinary women organized in the OFP are saying, NO to all forms of killing and YES to a world where people’s dignity is respected and where there is social justice. Today -like never before- we call for the support and solidarity of other men and women in different parts of the world who wish to support our struggle.

We are inviting you to visit us, to get to know those people you supported with your urgent actions denouncing these violent aggressions to our government and to human rights organisations. With your presence in our city we want to make your solidarity with our resistance even more visible.

We are inviting you to take part in the "WORLD MOBILISATION OF WOMEN FOR BARRANCABERMEJA, COLOMBIA" There you will be able to listen to the voices of many women who have been active in the history of our struggle in the region and in our country.

Not one day more of war in Colombia!

Your presence will be a great support for us and it will make our struggle stronger against the war and in favour of dignity;

We your sisters eagerly await your reply

ORGANIZACION FEMENINA POPULAR

Yolanda Becerra

WOMEN, WE DON’T GIVE BIRTH NOR FORGE LIVES FOR WAR

Agenda:

August 14 - arrival in Barrancabermeja

August 15 - 24hour vigil for life, with marquees in front of the Women’s Centre

August 16 - Act for life

To obtain further information and confirm your participation, please contact

ORGANIZACION FEMENINA POPULAR (OFP)

0057 76 22 66 25

0057 76 21 45 01

0057 76 20 14 37

email:femenina@colnodo.apc.org