Reconciliation of Montes de María

By Diana Castro

In Montes de Maria, which includes 15 municipalities in the departments of Sucre and Bolivar, the “Festival of the Reconciliation of Montes de María” is presented every year, in order to strengthen the processes of collective healing, repairing of the social fabric, and providing reconciliation through dialogue. This year, 2022, was the fifth festival and as a Seeder I was able to participate in this great event full of many impactful stories.

This festival has been important for victims of violence as well as for perpetrators who seek to receive forgiveness and find peace. Hearing the experiences of people who suffered from violence in their communities and seeing how they have become resilient in the face of it has been impactful in my life. It has not been easy for them to continue to live an ordinary life after the physical loss of many loved ones, loss of their land, and the additional trauma caused by their experiences. Their gallantry and courage to be able to forgive those who once caused them suffering is admirable. There is a lot of value to be found in spaces that offer dialogue and allow community members who have suffered to tell their story and inform others about the current needs in their community.

I was able to talk with some people who mentioned that the space should include psychosocial support in order to help the victims with social and psychosocial reconciliation, so that as a community they can unite and continue forward in their constante fight for well-being, make their actual needs heard, and participate in new spaces of healing.

There was also the opportunity for people to be able to look face-to-face, shake hands and hug the person who caused them pain, and although an explanation is not always possible, to at least have a space for the perpetrators to express repentance. This becomes a breakthrough and a step forward on the journey of obtaining peace. This is something that is not possible for everyone as the timing may not be right or they may not have received a sincere apology, but for others this has become a true space of healing.

In order for change to continue to be promoted, it is necessary to listen to the voices and the true needs of the people. It is true that there is an immense search and desire within the human soul for a healthy coexistence – to have tranquility, and be able to recover their lost land, to achieve a balance for their children and their children’s children, as the past was disastrous. It is said that being able to walk with tranquility where the hearts of both beings have love for their neighbor, and where both parties are able to ask for forgiveness as many times as necessary, creates a space that is truly genuine.

Carrying out this event is not easy at all and being able to achieve harmonious results in this territory is a process that will take time, but it is not impossible. The circumstances in the country are not the best, but the people here do not lose hope; the flame is kept alive that one day times will be better, and they will be able to obtain the acclaimed peace.