Colombian Bishops appeal for
resumption of peace process
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| A girl belonging to an indigenous community in Cauca at a funeral for a murdered member of the community (ANSA) |
The Catholic Bishops of the Pacific and Southwest regions of
Colombia issue a statement appealing for the resumption of a peace process “in
the perspective of respect for human rights, peoples’ rights and international
humanitarian law.”
By Linda Bordoni
Colombian bishops of the country’s Pacific and Southwest
regions are calling for attention and for a response to the dramatic situation
in which many communities find themselves as tension increases in the country.
“On several occasions we have drawn attention to the
difficulties that many people are experiencing in the Pacific and Southwest
region and we have asked the Colombian state for a global solution that
resolves the structural causes that are at the basis of the humanitarian
crisis,” the bishops say as they express solidarity and concern for the
exacerbation of the conflict in the Chocò region, in the diocese of Quibdò and
in other regions of Colombia’s southwest.
“Let us raise our voice as Pastors again and ask to resume
the path of peace in the perspective of respect for human rights, peoples'
rights and international humanitarian law," they say.
Vulnerable communities
The area in question comprises territories where mainly
indigenous and afro-descendant communities live.
It is especially for these communities that the bishops
express concern. In their statement entitled “Strengthening the construction of
peace in the face of the escalation of the conflict” they appeal to the
National Government, and to other state bodies, "to establish conditions
for a dignified life and mechanisms of protection for communities and social
leaders".
The bishops go a step further asking for attention towards
alleged “collusion between members of security forces and illegal groups” that
have been reported by human rights organizations and by the Diocese of Quibdó.
They note that "armed groups must be aware of their
status as aggressors of the civilian population and therefore accept the
refusal they are subject to because of their criminal actions".
Need for political solutions and dialogue
Kicking off the new year, the Colombian bishops reiterate
the need to pursue political solutions to end the armed conflict with ELN
rebels and to reach an agreement with the self-proclaimed paramilitary AGC
militants and other groups.
The bishops conclude their statement noting that they await
a “sincere response of the various protagonists, through concrete gestures of
an authentic will for peace," and they ask the people of Colombia to “pray
and commit themselves to building a fair, fraternal and violence-free country.”
Power vacuum
The number of indigenous people killed in the Southwest and
Pacific areas in Colombia has risen sharply as armed groups seek to seize
control of the power vacuum left by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) after they demobilised as part of the 2016 peace deal.
The resulting power struggle has left indigenous movement s,
which defend land sovereignty, in the middle of violent efforts by armed groups
to gain territorial control. The violence has been heightened further by the
region's drug trade.
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