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Pastor William Reyes
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Mennonite Church Canada/ Justapaz:
Center for Justice, Peace and Non-violent
Action
(Centro Cristiano para justicia, paz y acción noviolenta)
April 16, 2009
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — On Thursday, September
25, at 10 AM Pastor William Reyes left Valledupar, Cesar, for his home
in Maicao, La Guajira in northern Colombia. He never arrived and has not
been heard from since. Reyes is associated with Justapaz, a ministry of
Mennonite Church Canada's partner, Mennonite Church of Colombia (IMCOL).
Recent developments include the January 21, 2009 attempted abduction of
Reyes' daughter and the February 19, 2009 abduction of a member of a neighbouring
church. These events highlight the precarious situation faced by Pastor
Reyes’ wife, Idia Miranda, and their three children, William Reyes
Miranda, 19, Luz Nelly Reyes Miranda, 16, and Estefania Reyes Miranda,
nine.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, thousands of Maicao residents marched
through the streets calling for Pastor Reyes' safe return. After the march,
Pastor Reyes’ identification documents were found in a wallet that
had been left just inside the Light and Truth Church.
On Thursday, Jan.
15, 2009, an unidentified man came to the church and asked for Mrs. Miranda.
When told she wasn’t there, he asked for her address and cell phone
number, which were not disclosed. He stated that it was “In [Mrs.
Miranda’s] best interest to get in touch with him, than for him to
have to find her.”
On Wednesday, January 21, 2009, Mrs. Miranda’s
eldest daughter, Luz Nelly, was approached by an unidentified man on the
street who told her if she wanted to see her dad, she should come with
him. She fled when he attempted to grab her by the arm.
On Thursday, February
19, armed men allegedly entered another Christian church, just a few blocks
from the Light and Truth Church, and forcibly removed a female parishioner.
Action Requests: Political Advocacy and Prayer
Communicate with Colombian
Attorney General (see sample letter link). Ask that the Attorney General:
- Ensure
a timely investigation into Pastor William Reyes’ disappearance.
- Communicate
the status of their investigations to Ricardo Esquivia (National Coordinator
of the Commission for Restoration, Life and Peace) and Jenny Neme (Director
of Justapaz).
- Please blind carbon copy your letter to janna@justapaz.org
Pray:
- For the safety of Pastor William Reyes and his family.
- For
the safety of the members of the Fraternity of Evangelical Pastors of
Maicao.
- For repentance
from those who perpetrated these crimes.
Sample Letter
Fiscalía
General de la Nación
Dr. Mario Iguarán
Diagonal 22 B No.52-01,
Fax: (+571)570-2000
Bogotá D.C. Colombia
E-mail: luzhelena.morales@fiscalia.gov.com
Dear Mr. Iguarán: I am writing to express my deep concern for
the safety of Pastor William Reyes, his family and the members of the
Fraternity of Evangelical Ministers of Maicao (Fraternidad de Ministros
Evangélicos
de Maicao - FRAMEM). Pastor Reyes pastors the Light and Truth Church
(Iglesia Luz y Verdad de la denominación Iglesia Evangélica
Interamericana de Colombia) of Maicao and is a member of FRAMEM – which
has received repeated threats from illegal armed groups since March of
last year.
Pastor Reyes departed Valledupar, Cesar for Maicao, La Guajira
at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2008 and has not arrived or
been heard from since.
We ask that you take all steps necessary to locate
Pastor Reyes and to protect his family and the members of FRAMEM. Those
responsible should be held accountable for their crimes.
We ask that
you communicate the status of the investigation to:
Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas
National Coordinator of the Commission for Restoration,
Life and Peace of the Evangelical Council of Colombia (CEDECOL)
{313.555.4404,
resquivia@gmail.com}
and
Jenny Neme, Director of Justapaz
{1-287-3968,
jennyneme@justapaz.org}.
Sincerely, |
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