Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Paz (Agenzia Fides) - The march in defense of the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Secure, ITNPIS (see Fides 30/08/2011, 20/09/2011), has stopped in the small town of San Miguel de Chaparina about 8 kilometers from Yucumo, where the State Chancellor David Choquehuanca will most probably arrive today, to ascertain what the conditions are for reopening the dialogue with the government. The conditions of the people participating in the march are very serious and only yesterday the government decided to supply water: in past days in fact the police had prevented them from drawing water from the canals that run parallel to the road and this caused situations of confrontation and tension.
The Secretary General of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (BEC) has called on media operators to be promoters of peace and truth, avoiding any information that might create conflicts for everything related to the march: "We must avoid giving alarming news or fights, you have the responsibility to promote peace and the common good", said Mgr. Oscar Aparicio during a press conference convened after the violent clashes that occurred in the town of Pando. Several people who had blocked the road to the ITNPIS march were moved by force, provoking the intervention of the police. According to the media, some people were injured: for some sources 3, for others 17.
Responding to the journalists’ questions, Mgr. Aparicio, Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz and the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, said that from the beginning the Church has been present in this story, because the Church is present throughout the country through the parishes and vicariates: "We know that the parish priest of San Ignacio de Moxos accompanied the march from the beginning, even the BEC also asked the priests, religious and pastoral workers in the region to watch over this situation". The Bishop once again underlined: "we are all Bolivians, and we have to work for the common good of all". With regards to the possibility that the Church takes on the role of mediator in the conflict, Mgr. Aparicio said that "the Church is always available, provided that the request is made by both sides". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/09/2011)
