Capítulo 4: Declaración de la Comisión de la Verdad. Convocatoria a la paz grande.

Message of Hope for a Broken Nation

Introduction to the Message

• The speaker presents a message of hope and future for a nation that has been deeply affected by conflict, emphasizing uncomfortable truths that challenge divine notions. This message transcends political options, cultures, religions, ethnicities, and genders.

Call for Healing

• There is an urgent call to heal both the physical and symbolic body of the multicultural and multiethnic society in Colombia. The speaker highlights that survival is impossible with a "heart infarcted," referencing various forms of violence experienced across different regions.

Acknowledgment of Suffering

• The speaker vividly describes the brutal realities faced by victims: civilians suffering from violence in multiple forms—physical mutilation, emotional trauma, and loss—across various Colombian territories. Each description serves as a testament to the widespread impact of conflict on innocent lives.

Richness Amidst Struggle

• Despite its challenges, Colombia possesses rich cultural diversity, deep spiritual traditions, and resilient communities (youth, women, indigenous peoples). However, these strengths exist alongside structural issues like racism, corruption, and impunity that have not been adequately addressed politically or ethically.

Need for Change

• The speaker argues that without peaceful and democratic pathways to change these systemic issues—including inequality and violence—the country will continue facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally. They emphasize urgency in addressing these problems before more lives are lost or destroyed.

Voices from Victims

Engagement with Victims

• Over three years, more than 30,000 victims have shared their stories through personal encounters at truth houses and in exile; particularly focusing on Afro-Colombian communities who have suffered greatly during conflicts across 24 countries. This engagement underscores the need for collective healing efforts amidst legitimate differences among groups.

Urgency for Peace

• The speaker stresses that peace must be recognized as both a duty and a right; it cannot be postponed any longer as lives continue to be shattered by ongoing violence and exclusionary practices within society. They highlight the importance of dialogue in achieving this goal through numerous acts aimed at reconciliation.

Reflections on Responsibility

Accountability Questions

• Critical questions are raised regarding societal complicity: Why did Colombians allow such destruction over years? Why was there indifference towards televised massacres? These reflections aim to confront collective responsibility while seeking paths toward reconciliation amid past failures to act against violence effectively.

Vision for Reconciliation