Bishops of Valle del Cauca demand an end to violence and search for solutions that pacify Colombia

The bishops of the dioceses located in the department of Valle del Cauca have demanded that the armed groups stop their actions that continue to cause more deaths in the southwest of Colombia, and have called on the authorities to “find the exits” that will allow the country to be pacified. .

The prelates issued a statement on June 14, signed by the Archbishop of Cali, Mons. Luis Fernando Rodríguez; the Bishop of Buenaventura, Mons. Rubén Darío Jaramillo; from Cartago, Mons. César Alcides Balbín; from Buga, Mons. José Roberto Ospina; as well as the elected Bishop of Palmira, Fr. Rodrigo Gallego Trujillo; and the apostolic administrator of the same diocese, Mons. Edgar de Jesús García.

In the text they denounce “the worsening of polarization, threats, harassment, extortion, attacks, murders and other acts of violence in Valle del Cauca and in a good part of southwestern Colombia, which leave uncertainty, sadness, pain and death, creating fear and hurting the hope of citizens.”

Given this, they forcefully reiterate their call to the armed groups “to cease these actions.”

“In the name of the Lord we urge 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!” express the bishops.

Likewise, they ask the authorities, on behalf of “the population that feels overwhelmed and afraid”, to join forces with civil society “in order to find the solutions that will lead us to overcoming this disturbing and painful situation.”

In their statement, the bishops of the department of Valle del Cauca also reiterate the commitment of the Catholic Church “to continue accompanying all efforts to foster bridges of dialogue that make it possible to achieve the pacification of hearts and the silencing of weapons.”

The Institute of Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz) pointed out in your X account that, on the same day that the bishops issued their statement, “three people were murdered with a firearm in the Nuevo Horizonte neighborhood of Florida, Valle del Cauca.”

According to Indepaz, the Dagoberto Ramos Front of the Western Bloc (FARC dissidents), local gangs, the Adán Izquierdo Company, and there is “a possible entry of the 57th Front,” also of the dissidents, operate in this area.

Also, remember that in your early warning 031/23the Ombudsman’s Office has indicated that “between the south of Valle del Cauca and the north of Cauca there is a worsening of the armed conflict and direct violence, not only due to the presence and territorial control of the groups present, but also due to the entry into these areas of other illegal armed structures.”

Indepaz indicates that these groups did not have “permanent interference or action” in these regions, “beyond sporadic transits or pamphlet communications.”