God's Shalom for the People of Central America
The prophet Isaiah spoke of the people rejoicing, building houses, planting the fields and enjoying the fruit of their labor in peace (Isaiah 65:19-25). It is easy for the people in Central America to identify themselves with the vision of Isaiah. The images of the Reign of God depicted by Isaiah point toward the dignified life all human beings have the God-given right to enjoy.
Many expectations of peace arose during the past decade. These expectations were created by peace agreements like Esquipulas, the peaceful transition of political power in Nicaragua, the end of the war in El Salvador, the peace negotiations in Guatemala. Nevertheless, the reality for most people in Central America is that peace, justice and the dignified life depicted by Isaiah have become a fleeting hope. There are many reason for this hope to be ephemeral. Some of the reasons are the unfulfilled promises of judicial reform and land redistribution, and the economic policies that continue to favor the wealthy.
Most of the people of Central America live in situations that cry out for justice. In Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, people have endured the loss of family members and the destruction of their environment throughout decades of war. The people of Central America have suffered with the intervention of foreign governments whose surrogate armies kidnapped their children, burned their food supplies, killed countless innocent people, and threatened church members who have dedicated themselves to living out the Gospel.
In the aftermath of war, the daily lives of most Central Americans entail facing survival in fractured economic systems with very high unemployment, ingrained structural injustices, suffering drought and illness from the pollution or destruction of their environment, and coping with disabled family members and psychological traumas in systems without health care. The ingrained structural injustices keep the socio-economic situation in status quo. Massive debts acquired during wartime must be paid off to the World Bank, and loans received from the International Monetary Fund take first priority. Loans from the International Monetary Fund and other international lending institutions increase debt without alleviating human suffering to any reasonable degree or changing significantly the socio-economic prospects of the poor.
There is no adequate financial support left in the national treasuries to meet economic and social needs of the people due to the austerity measures imposed by the international lending institutions, the payment of past debt, and the lack of priority given to the elimination of dehumanizing conditions. Multi-national maquiladoras (assembly plants) take advantage of the meager financial situation in many Central American countries. The maquiladoras engage in economic exploitation and deny human and labor rights with impunity because governments permit it and people have no alternatives for income.
God's shalom is also denied by the several human rights violations and the rampant violence reported by different religious and human rights organizations. Military and paramilitary groups in different countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador, have conducted arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial executions. Sadly, the United States government, through its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has been linked with these groups and individuals that violate human rights. Actions of the CIA and the Guatemalan military have caused unjustifiable loss of life and profound grief for families.
The Church in the Face of Suffering
The Latin American church has borne the cost of discipleship and continues to insist on God's shalom. The church in Central America is divided on issues of social, economic and political justice. Nevertheless, prophetic voices continue to cry out for
social and economic justice, adequate health care, and protection of the environment.
God's intention for humanity is expressed in the Old Testament with the all-inclusive word shalom which means wholeness, health, and harmony with God and nature, with oneself and with others. Shalom symbolizes justice and the presence of God. [Shalom was Jesus' greeting: "Peace be unto you." "Go in peace." The apostles began their New Testament letters to the churches by saying: "Grace and peace to you from God...."] Shalom does not exist when there is injustice. Biblical prophets exhorted those in authority to admit their sins and offer restitution to the poor people. Amos declared, "Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land...." (Amos 8:4-6). Micah warned the leaders: "Listen,...Should you not know justice?--you who hate the good and love the evil..." (Micah 3:1,2a). Isaiah told the leaders of his day: "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood....learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:15,17); and "`It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?' declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty." (Isaiah 3:14-15).
Shalom requires respect for the sanctity of life. There will be no shalom until the basic human needs of bread, shelter, work, safety and freedom are guaranteed to everyone. The possibility of authentic peace is undermined by the frequent cases of persons living under the threat of death, or being "disappeared," or forced to migrate or live in conditions of miserable poverty. It has been reported that members of the Guatemalan police have threatened citizens, including children, with death if they have witnessed human rights violations perpetrated by the police, frightening them to silence. Another serious threat against shalom is the lack of fulfillment of the peace accords. In El Salvador, refugees and ex-combatants have not received land which rightfully belongs to them under the United Nations Land Transfer Program. Many families who seek legal redress have been threatened or ignored.
It is essential to the Central American Peace Process that international financial and political commitments to reconciliation and development continue. The Central American nations remain very fragile. United States aid levels have dropped drastically. To cut funding even more would put the peace processes in jeopardy. Impoverished citizens of the Central American nations would be left without sufficient agrarian, environmental and other developmental funds, thus weakening the peace process as it is starting. There is no government, lawful or unlawful, that can build peace on hunger or the denial of the most basic human rights from its citizens who are in need.
Whereas, religious leaders, labor union leaders, peasants, students, merchants, women's associations, etc., in Central America continue to call for a concerted effort to change the course of the political and economic processes toward an alternative that may lead to lasting peace with justice in the region; and
Whereas, it is our conviction that injustice, war, and economic and political oppression do not lead to peace; and
Whereas, the government of the United States has actively supported war and participated in low- intensity conflict, which includes clandestine and covert operations, support for counterinsurgency and counterrevolutionary campaigns, terrorist strikes and other low level missions, and sparing use of United States soldiers; continues to economically support military forces; and maintains several military bases across the region, particularly in Honduras and Panama;
Therefore, The United Methodist Church calls upon the government of the United States to:
1. Fulfill its obligations to support reconstruction and development for Central American countries to promote healing by all means possible, including a strong United States program in the region.
2. Actively support accords made by the Central American nations in search for peacemaking alternatives other than military.
3. Withdraw all United States military presence in Panama and honor the Torrijos- Carter treaty agreements; and fulfill its responsibilities for damages to human life, property, housing, and the economic system caused by the 1989 invasion.
4. Recognize and respect each nation's sovereignty and rights to self- determination, and refrain from any activity- - military, economic or of any other nature, covert or overt- - directed against any sovereign state in Central America.
5. Apply human rights certification based upon U.S. law (Section 502b of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1960 as amended) and data from Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Commission as criteria for economic assistance to governments in the region.
6. Protect persons fleeing repression or war in Central America.
7. Encourage multilateral institutions to approve debt reduction for all countries which are impoverished and debt-ridden.
8. Replace the Structural Adjustment Programs which exacerbate the conditions of poor people with humane policies that address the social and economic needs of the majority of the people in Latin American nations.
9. Support United Nations peace talks on Guatemala, and seek the truth about persecution and deaths in Guatemala, including those in which the CIA may have been involved.
We call upon the United Nations to:
1. Continue active support in finding political and financial solutions that ensure the participation of all segments of the population and benefit all.
2. Continue to oversee and report any violations of human rights according to its Human Rights Declaration.
3. Support governmental, nongovernmental and civic organizations of the region in their efforts to work toward a unified solution so that peace and justice may prevail in the region.
4. Work in support of efforts to demilitarize the region and support alternatives for ecologically sound and sustainable economic development.
5. Support the efforts of organizations in their work to alleviate the plight of Central American refugees.
We call upon The United Methodist Church, working together with the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL) and the churches it represents, the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), and other ecumenical partners in the region to:
1. Learn about and better understand the hopes and aspirations of the people of Central America.
2.Strengthen our ties of solidarity with the people of Central America by deepening our understanding of the history and cultures of the region.
3. Encourage the use of ecumenical curriculum materials, study guides, and other resources prepared by the general boards and agencies.
4. Encourage annual conferences and Central American churches to continue to support each other through prayer, exchange, and dialogue of persons, and the physical accompaniment of persons where appropriate.
5. Increase efforts to assist and participate in the reconstruction of the war- torn nations through sharing of resources.
6. Advocate and support policies and programs by The United Methodist Church directed to the rehabilitation of youth and young adults; victims of war; protection, defense, and promotion of the indigenous communities; and the promotion and support of health and other programs for children and women.
7. Pray that peace, justice, and political solutions leading to development for life prevail in Central America.
8. Support sustainable economic development projects, encouraging the conservation of forests, air, water and agricultural projects.
9. Resource church leadership in environmental resources and ecological programs.
10. Help communities to affirm life and strengthen their hope by supporting production and credit programs of the poor which create jobs, such as micro-enterprises, cooperative and worker ownerships.
11. Nurture self-esteem among street children and youth.
12. Facilitate projects for marginalized groups to address discrimination and injustice.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21354-GM-R557-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference