Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Fides News Agency) - The stalemate in peace negotiations and the dialogue crisis between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the government have plunged Colombia into an increasingly tightening spiral of violence. Over the past few hours, the Eln has in fact proclaimed an "armed strike" in the region overlooking the Pacific Ocean, more precisely in the Department of Chocó.
An armed strike means a permanent curfew with the integrated blocking of all activities. The guerrillas have specified that this is an indefinite action and, from the outset, it has meant countless hardships for the population: about 50,000 people, including residents and non-residents, currently located in five of the Department's municipalities, are the victims of this act.
The local Church made its voice heard and through a statement released by the National Secretariat for Social Pastoral Care/Caritas Colombia - signed by President Juan Carlos Barreto, Bishop of Soacha, and the Executive Secretary, Father Rafael Castillo - expressed its closeness "to the communities affected by this illegal armed strike" and "solidarity in the face of the territorial control exercised by those who do not honor life, nor encourage hope, in the territory they claim to defend and support".
In the statement, the Church of Colombia also addressed the guerrillas who are spreading fear: "To the Eln war front, and to the Gulf Clan (Autodefensas Gaitanistas, ed.), we say that everything that is obtained by force and intimidation remains only as long as force and intimidation last; and that, if it is an abuse of power when the strong take advantage of the weak, and when the rich take advantage of the poor, it is also an abuse of power when armed people and groups take advantage of the unarmed. All of you are destroying what you claim to want to build. War has never been the answer. It has always led to greater evils".
After the words spoken by Bishop Barreto and father Castillo, from the Pacific Dioceses, the bishop of Istmina-Tadó, Mario de Jesús Álvarez Gómez, and the Bishop-elect of Quibdó, Wiston Mosquera Moreno, also spoke out. The prelates joined voices in a heartfelt appeal for the armed strike to cease immediately. The words of Bishop-elect Moreno were lapidary: "People must not die. People must not be confined, as no one can deprive them of their freedom".
Just days ago Gustavo Petro's Columbian government presented Eln negotiators with a "confidential" proposal: "We have orders from the President to convey a confidential proposal to the Eln so they may evaluate it and reply. It is a confidential proposal and we will not share it as we must follow the President's instructions and wait for a positive response, "explained the government's chief negotiator, Vera Grabe.
The proposal was put forward following the government's announcement, in early August, the resumption of "offensive" military operations against National Liberation Army guerillas. "As always when there is no ceasefire in place armed forces continue offensive military operations regularly. These are the directives for military commands" said the Minister of National Defense, Ivan Velásquez.
The announcement came following cross-accusations regarding responsibility for the failure of the peace talks launched in November 2022, which have encountered numerous crises. In any event, at least on paper, negotiations are underway. (F.B.) (Fides News Agency 19/8/2024)
