Dear friends:

We of the Mingas network are deeply concerned about the recently signed military agreement between the governments of Colombia and the United States. Under its terms, the U.S. is permitted to upgrade, expand and use seven Colombian military bases for the purpose of increasing the operational capabilities of U.S. armed forces throughout South America. We believe the agreement will further exacerbate tensions across the entire region and aggravate armed conflict within Colombia.

The Mingas network opposes war and the exercise of violence as an instrument of political action. We believe that today the path of social transformation is democratic and peaceful mass struggle. We repudiate all forms of terror and State terrorism, including targeted killings, kidnapping, extortion, and armed attacks on the civilian population; none of these are legitimate expressions of the struggle of the people, and thus we condemn all such acts.

We call on faith communities, unions, student groups, academic associations, solidarity groups, and other organizations in agreement with the above basic principles of nonviolence to come together in alliance to reject the U.S.-Colombia military base agreement -- and we invite you to take action immediately.

Join us in signing the letter posted at
http://www.formspring.com/forms/noUSbases-Obama .

You can sign by filling out the online form at the foot of the letter. Note that the current letter is a sign-on for organizations only. Signatures must be received by February 1, 2010. After collecting signatures, we will send the letter to President Obama and other key government officials.

Thank you for your support.

Cordially,

The Mingas network
http://mingas.info