AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Bishops of Chocó call for "concrete attention for the department, in humanitarian, economic, social and environmental crisis"

Quibdó (Agenzia Fides) - "Concrete attention" for the department of Chocó", which has been experiencing a "humanitarian, economic, social and environmental crisis for some time" (see Fides, 1/9/2017; 2/10/2017; 12/10/2017; 17/4/2019; 18/6/2019) is what the Bishops of the region call for, who are addressing both candidates for the next regional elections in October, and voters, to exercise their rights and political duties "with the utmost responsibility".
The Bishops of Istmina-Tadó, Apartadó and Quibdó, in the statement sent to Agenzia Fides, highlight the "general feeling and urgency of our faithful" asking for "austere and transparent election campaigns" as shown by the excesses of advertising, food and travel that surround political campaigns which are funded by drug trafficking, illegal mining, smuggling".
The Chocó crisis was officially recognized by a presidential decree and denounced on countless occasions by various organizations and by the Catholic Church. The reality of this territory, hit by armed conflict and organized crime, requires "peacemakers". In this territory, afro-descendants, natives and mestizos "have been made vulnerable in their human rights and in international humanitarian law", therfore development "must be inspired by humanitarian criteria, sustainability and territorial autonomy".
In their document, the three Bishops ask local governments effective public policies to transform reality, banning "demagogic and populist speeches" and presenting "real, concrete and achievable proposals". Citizens are required to have "political maturity" that guarantees "social and political control of public administrators". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 12/9/2019)

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food safety

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social situation

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armed groups

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human rights

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elections

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local churches

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