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AT PEACE FORUM CLARA ROJAS ASKS COUNTRIES OF THE AMERICAS TO CREATE PATHS FOR DIALOGUE AMONG THEMSELVES

The Peace Week was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) today with the participation of Clara Rojas, lawyer and once hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as keynote speaker of the Inter-American Peace Forum 2009.

In his introductory remarks, the Secretary General of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, commented on the fact that the celebration of the event coincides with the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, established in 1981 by the United Nations as “the day in which human beings commit to peace, to cease-fire, and to non-violence.”

Insulza said that “Clara Rojas is a symbol of strength that incarnates the hope of all those who suffer from injustices and who hope for peace, liberty, and rights.” He referred to some of the economic and social concerns that the region is facing today and added that to achieve peace “it is necessary to strengthen the incentives that encourage the formation of values and social practices aimed at resolving political, economic, and social conflicts through dialogue, respect for differences, and cooperation, and not with the use of force and violence.”

In her presentation, Clara Rojas made some references to her personal experience and to the lessons learned after almost six years of captivity. She affirmed that from her perspective the search for peace “is not an empty speech” and that “today, maybe more than ever, it is necessary to reopen the path of dialogue and understanding, not only within countries but also among the states of the American continent.”

With these words, Rojas called on the leaders of the region so that their differences may be “solved based on mutual respect, dialogue, and comprehension, and remembering principles and commitments. But, above all, with concrete probes and gestures that send precise signals on the real desire to maintain and sustain agreement.” Likewise, she expressed that the work of the regional leaders must be the one that “shows us that the sense of humanity and of coherence is greater than the temptation of power and vanity.”

By remembering recent experiences, the former vice-presidential candidate talked about the importance of breaking the chain of fear, and affirmed that “the first step has already started with the protests that took place in Colombia and in many countries of the world, where millions of people went out to the streets to say no to kidnappings and to demand the liberty of their fellow countrymen.” She also took the opportunity to remember the police officers and uniformed men that are still in captivity, and in the framework of the forum she sent them “a message of resistance, inspiration, and solidarity.”

In her presentation, Clara Rojas highlighted the role that the OAS has played in the promotion of peace and democracy, and recalled the recent General Assembly of the OAS that adopted the Declaration of San Pedro Sula: “Towards a Culture of Non-Violence.” She said that “it is a positive message that this Organization recognizes that we live in times of violence in the hemisphere and that we must focus on joint efforts to promote peace.”

Clara Rojas also expressed concerns for the recent announcements of arms acquisition in some countries of the region, and for “the weak control of illegal markets that allow an easy access to firearms.” In this sense, she stated that “a path towards peace can not be built if America is heavily armed”, then she suggested that at the heart of OAS activities there must be a space to debate this type of agreements.

The Peace Forum speaker closed her presentation commenting on the necessity to “renovate the commitment of all our countries to again build mutual confidence, respect, and solidarity, and work together so that the results are reflected in the establishment of lasting peace for the Americas.”

Reference: E-299/09