The Episcopal Conference of Colombia and the Archdiocese of Cali condemned the terrorist attacks committed yesterday for the dissidents of the FARC in Cali and Amalfi and that leave, so far, 19 dead and dozens of injured.
“We vehemently condemn the terrorist attacks of August 21 in the municipality of Amalfi (Antioquia), the city of Cali and other places in the country where several injured people have resulted and numerous members of the Public Force and civil society have been life,” says the episcopate in a communication Posted today.
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The bishops also express their solidarity with the families of the victims, “at the moment in which violence continues to play at the gates of Colombian homes sowing pain and hopelessness.”
The violence was also condemned by the archbishop of Cali, Mons. Luis Fernando Rodríguez, who asked the justice to act against those who are behind this fact.
Yesterday, August 21, two terrorist attacks shocked the country. The first occurred at noon in the municipality of Amalfi, department of Antioquia, where a police helicopter was shot down by a drone loaded with explosives, causing 13 dead and several injured.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, held this attack on the front 36 of the dissidents of the FARC directed by Alexander Díaz, aka Calarcá.
The second attack happened at 2:50 p.m. in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, where a bomb car exploded near the Marco Fidel Suárez air base. The expansive wave also damaged the surrounding businesses and homes. In this attack 6 civilians died and at least 65 people were injured.
According to Minister Pedro Sánchez, Behind the attack in Cali There is the Central General Staff, the faction of the Disidences of the FARC directed by Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernández, aka Iván Bite.
The Episcopate transmitted its closeness to the Archdiocese of Cali and the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos – where Amalfi is found – and asked that “the national clamor for the cessation of violence be heard by all the actors that arouse and promote it.”
For its part, Cali’s archbishop lamented That they are four “terrorist actions” that occur in the city so far from 2025, not counting those committed in other municipalities of the department.
“With the Apostle Saint Paul, we tell you: ‘Reconcíliense with God!
The prelate pointed out that “impunity cannot become a landscape. We ask that justice act vehemently so that those who plan, decide and perform these criminal acts are subjected to it.”
Both the Episcopate and the Archdiocese of Cali called on the population to join the day of prayer and fasting that Pope Leo XIV convened for this Friday, August 22, “to beg the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and the ability to wander the tears of those who suffer.”
Eduardo Berdejo
Professional in Social Communication of the National University of San Marcos in Peru, I have more than 20 years of experience in Catholic digital journalism. As part of ACI Press, I have been sent to cover the trips of Pope Francis to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, in addition to the Synod of Sinodality in the Vatican in 2023.