It is difficult to estimate the number of enforced disappearances committed by the military and paramilitary groups as part of their counterinsurgency strategy. Amnesty International puts the figure at between about 15,000 (the number of cases being investigated by the office of the general attorney) and 30,000 (denounced by human rights organisations).
On 10 December, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the delegation took part in a march in Barranquilla organised by the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes. Formed by a number of non-governmental organisations, the movement demands justice for the "forgotten" victims of paramilitary and state violence.
The visit and the evidence gathered by the team led it to criticise President Álvaro Uribe's government.
"There is a major contradiction between the government's portrayal of itself as democratic and its markedly authoritarian character", said Etchegoyen. He also criticised the "Plan Colombia", through which the United States channels "large sums of money for the purchase of arms in the guise of humanitarian aid".
The delegation highlighted the work of local churches, ecumenical groupings and civil society organisations.
"We have seen very practical and interesting examples of peaceful resistance to violence", said Ferguson. "One example is the establishment of peasant communities in 'humanitarian zones', where they can find refuge from armed violence. They are also able to claim their rights to the land from which they were expelled by violence, with the connivance of the state, to make way for major economic projects," he added.
Ecumenical solidarity in action
"The visit of this group made us feel that churches from all over the world have been here. It has given us spiritual energy and encouraged us to persevere as a church committed to the life of those suffering from forced displacement", said the Rev. Gloria Ulloa, executive secretary of the Coastal Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.
"It was compelling to listen to Bishop Solito Toquero, of the United Methodist Church of the Philippines and observe how many similarities there are in the conflicts in our two countries", Ulloa added. "The commitment of the Philippine churches re-energizes our effort to move forward with ours."
The executive secretary of the Ecumenical Network of Colombia, Osvaldo Ardila, thanked the team for having completed "a hard journey, but one that is full of hope, solidarity and pastoral support and advice for the churches, families, communities and movements".
The Rev Jorge Ziljstra, secretary for the Caribbean and Great Colombia region of the Latin American Council of Churches, based in Puerto Rico, said the Living Letters' mission does not end with the visit to the country in question.
"If you send a letter, you expect a reply, and perhaps from now on we can be 'living letters' from Colombia to the world, and make the voice of those who are suffering here heard in places that are unaware of the situation in this country."
