Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church of Colombia, through the National Reconciliation Commission (CCN), has asked the presidential candidates for a national agreement in order to evaluate solutions after four decades of armed conflict in the country.
In the context of the International Forum at the headquarters of the Bishops' Conference, Father Dario Echeverry, a Claretian missionary and member of the National Conciliation Commission, said that the proposal is contained in a document that proposes dialogue as a solution to the military conflict in the South American country. “We propose that the presidential candidates make a commitment to seek peaceful solutions to the conflict,” which has left hundreds of thousands of dead and displaced persons in Colombia, said the priest.
Also, the Secretary of the Colombian Bishops' Conference, Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba Villota, said that the Church is very clear that "peace cannot be sought through violence, but through dialogue."
According to the note sent to Agenzia Fides, this International Forum was attended by politicians, bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of many civic organizations.
The Colombian armed conflict has dragged on for 45 years, involving paramilitaries, rebels, and government agents. It has left over 100,000 dead and about 3 million people have fled their homes. Father Echeverry said that this agenda, which has been defined as the "National Minimum Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation," has the consensus of political leaders and civilians from 158 municipalities across the country. The paper proposes, among other things, a policy that leads to negotiation, establishment of constitutional law, transparency in use of public resources, sustainable alternatives of production and guarantee of a dignified life. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 30/04/2010)
