On June 3, 2025, Andrea Regelmann, Sabine Lichtenfels, and Helena Manrique flew to Bogotá to participate in a significant event where the Colombian government officially apologized to the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. This was a historic moment, underscoring the community’s values and commitment to peace and justice.
Personal Descriptions:
- Sabine Lichtenfels is a co-founder of Tamera and an experienced peace activist dedicated to social justice and intercultural dialogue. Her commitment to the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, along with her work in reconciliation, has made her an important voice in the international peace movement. In 2012, she led a pilgrimage with Padre Giraldo Xavier and Eduard Lancheiro in Bogotá and the Páramo to bring attention to the devastating situation and massacres suffered by the Peace Community.
- Andrea Regelmann is also part of the Tamera team and passionately advocates for ecological and social issues. Through her previous projects, she has gained extensive experience working with communities affected by violence and conflict. Since 2005, she has been the main representative from Tamera, accompanying many trips to the Peace Community. Her contribution to strengthening the Peace Community is vital as she builds bridges between people and cultures.
- Helena Manrique is a human rights activist and psychologist. She has extensive experience working both in Colombia and Palestine, especially in Gaza. Few understand the political and social backgrounds as deeply as she does. She has long been committed to uncovering political abuses and actively supports the victims. Our friendship deepened during our joint visit to the Peace Community last November, and it was a great gift to have her join us this time as well.
During the ceremony, the portraits of the victims were central. The voices of the relatives and the community’s testimonies of struggle were powerful. A representative of the community stated, “We do not seek revenge; we demand truth, justice, and guarantees of non-repetition.”
Since its founding in 1997, the community of farmers in the Urabá region of Antioquia has been a symbol of civil resistance and neutrality in armed conflict. This stance has come at a high price: massacres, persecution, forced displacement, and impunity lasting over two decades are the tragic realities this community has endured.
The significance of this trip was enormous. In an unprecedented act at Plaza de Armas of the Casa de Nariño, the Colombian state publicly acknowledged its international responsibility for the severe human rights violations against the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó that occurred between 1997 and 2007. President Gustavo Petro led the event broadcast across the nation, declaring,
“The entire government must apologize, not just the executive branch.”
With this statement, he criticized the judicial system’s slow resolution of crimes against the community.
After the apology, the president emphasized:
“The great concern is that words must be turned into action. The effective implementation of the agreement will be crucial to restoring trust between the state and one of the country’s exemplary communities.”
These statements stressed the necessity for concrete steps and provided hope for the future.
The signed agreement includes comprehensive reparative measures, including:
- Public Recognition: An event on June 5 honored the community’s work as an example of resistance and neutrality.
- Construction of Monuments and Memorials: Monuments, plaques, and murals will be erected and maintained in honor of the victims to preserve the community’s historical memory.
- Publication of a Book: A book documenting the community’s history and suffered human rights violations will be published as an educational tool and collective memory.
- Criminal Investigations: A special team of prosecutors will expedite investigations into crimes committed against the community.
- Independent Commission: Led by the Defensoría del Pueblo, it will evaluate conducted investigations.
The president pointedly highlighted the ongoing genocide in Gaza, stating, “As long as this is tolerated globally, the massacres will continue.” Only through global resistance can injustices be ended. The president emphasized the Peace Community as a moral model, inviting Gaza’s victims to find inspiration in their stance.
In her speech, Sabine Lichtenfels stressed the necessity to declare the Peace Community a model region. She envisions a world where non-violent, decentralized peace models spark the needed social revolution. In her speech, translated by Helena Manrique, she stated:
“20 years of solidarity with the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. Our vision for Colombia’s path to peace requires more than disarmament: it requires the renewal of society from the ground up. Peace communities like San José de Apartadó offer a viable path for Colombia to address the systemic causes of war, including inequality, land theft, environmental destruction, trauma, and social fragmentation. The social and ecological transformation needed in Colombia requires practical examples of credible alternatives to a culture of exploitation and war.”
The Philharmonic played the community’s anthem during the event, with about 90 members present. I also delivered a brief speech, highlighting, “Your commitment to peace and justice inspires us all. Let us continue to seek solutions for a world without violence together.” The community expressed gratitude, acknowledging that it captured the essence of our cooperation.
Joining Andrea, Sabine, and Helena were Rajendra Singh and Indra Singh from India. Rajendra Singh, a renowned water expert, known for his significant contributions to water management in India, gave numerous interviews underlining the global importance of non-violent cooperation. They also supported the community’s protection, with Singh stating, “What binds us all is the shared commitment to water rights.”
Today, the members of the Peace Community returned by bus. They are grateful, though the question lingers: Are they now more exposed to threats due to the public attention? The women’s community feels endangered, receiving daily threats. At the end of the event, a community youth theater performed a play powerfully depicting their situation, showcasing how pain and anger can be transformed into unconditional empathy for life.
We also had several meetings and discussions with representatives of the interfaith community and Mamo Mey-Jawin of the Arhuacos. “We know each other; we will collaborate,” he said with a smile as he bid farewell.
Two days after the peace event in Bogotá, Miguel Uribe, the opposition politician and new presidential candidate, was shot and seriously injured at a campaign event. As if the cosmos wanted to emphasize the dramatic background of the historical peace efforts and their dramatic context in Colombia, we also experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on the same day. While we were writing this article, the earth began to tremble violently. We later learned from the Peace Community that everyone was asked to leave the hotel, and many people were standing in the street in their pajamas. Fortunately, no one was harmed.
Mamo Mey-Jawin from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta observed that he had noticed peculiar behavior in the ants, which indicated that an earthquake was coming.
‘Sometimes the earth needs to shake; it helps us humans to put things in their correct order and to correct what is out of balance.’
Overall, it was a journey filled with emotions and significant encounters, leaving a deep impression on us all.
