AMERICA/PERU – “You will not kill”: The country’s bishops denounce the murder of a group of workers at the hands of criminal gangs.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Lima (Agenzia Fides) – “As a church, we reiterate our call to build a society where life is respected, the dignity of every person is protected and development is achieved with justice, honesty and love of others.” It is the voice of the Peruvian bishops (CEP) that in a statement denounce the murder of 13 workers kidnapped on April 25 in the city of Pataz, in the region of La Libertad.
“Deep sadness and dismay for these criminal acts of organized crime, which deeply hurt human dignity and social peace” has stated in the document entitled “You will not kill”, the bishop of Lurín and president of the CEP, Carlos García Camader.
It is presumed that the victims would have been killed by criminal gangs linked to informal mining.
The bishops, in addition to expressing their solidarity and their prayers to the families of the victims, have strongly condemned the murders and have asked the judicial authorities to accelerate the investigation, guarantee a fair trial and the identification of those responsible.
-“Do not let hope steal,” said Camader when heading to Peruvians, citing Pope Francis. In addition, he has urged them not to fall into despair and stressed that, even in pain, it is possible to fight for a more fair and fraternal country.
In recent months, the Government of Peru extended the state of emergency in the capital, Lima, and in the constitutional province of Callao for a period of thirty days, as of April 17, 2025. This is the first time since 2022. In total, it is estimated that between January 1 and March 16, 459 people have died, according to the Police, which only in January registered 1,909 complaints of extortion.
The Episcopal Conference has reiterated its commitment to the defense of life and peace in the country.
(AP) (FIDES AGENCY 8/5/2025)
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