THE ARCHBISHOP of Cali and the bishops of the dioceses of Buenaventura, Buga, Cartago and Palmira yesterday asked to stop the threats, harassment, extortion, attacks and murders that have been taking place against the communities of Valle del Cauca.
Since last March, the FARC dissidents, led by alias ‘Iván Mordisco’, have been developing an escalation in the southwest of the country, after President Petro ordered the suspension of the ceasefire that had been agreed upon in Valle, Nariño and Cauca. his government with this organization, This is because they murdered an indigenous leader in the last of these departments.
The bishops added that “in the name of the Lord we exhort those who plan and carry out these insane acts to become aware of the evil they do to the population and even to themselves. Nothing justifies violence. That is why with the apostle Saint Paul we say to you: ‘And as if God himself were exhorting you through us, we beseech you in the name of Christ: be reconciled to God.’
Also in the statement they called on the national government, the departmental government and other authorities to find solutions to this serious situation.
“We hear the cry of the population that feels overwhelmed and afraid and, in their name, we call on the institutional authorities of national, regional and local order, so that we join forces and be creative, together with civil society, to end to find the solutions that will lead us to overcome this disturbing and painful situation,” express the Archbishop of Cali and the bishops of the dioceses of Buenaventura, Buga, Cartago and Palmira.
COP 16
They also pointed out that it is necessary to take actions to regain confidence with a view to holding COP 16 in Cali, the most important international event on biodiversity, which will take place between October 21 and November 1 of this year.
“Close to COP 16, we see it as an opportunity to take permanent actions that allow us to regain confidence in the promising future that we have before us, because Valle del Cauca and Colombia have all the possibilities to overcome adversity and be able to show the world the inner strength that moves right hearts, motivated by the search for the common good and the full development of all,” the bishops point out in their message.
The capital of the Valley is expected to receive approximately 12,000 people during this important meeting.
The religious concluded that “as a Church, we reiterate our commitment to continue supporting all efforts to foster bridges of dialogue that make it possible to achieve the pacification of hearts and the silencing of weapons.”
The governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Toro, said that “Valle del Cauca needs the support of the national government, it is very difficult for us alone, as a municipal and departmental government, to face a difficulty like the one we are experiencing regarding security. President Petro must take action on the situation.”
The departmental leader added that Valle del Cauca needs “logistics, increased force, control and aerial surveillance. We have to establish the high mountain battalion, which is urgent, and we already have the lots.”
While the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, warned that “if the intentions of the Central General Staff in the southwest of the country are to, through these acts, pressure the Government to renew suspensions of offensive operations to renew ceasefires We emphatically state that this is not going to happen.”
