Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Táchira (Agenzia Fides) - Classes at the Universidad Nacional Experimental del Tachira (UNET), the Universidad de Los Andes (ULA) headquarters of Táchira and the Catholic University of Táchira (UCAT) have been suspended, following clashes between students and the police which occurred in the Venezuelan state last week, during which a 14-year-old student Kluiverth Roa died (see Fides 25/02/2015).
Since last week a group of young people have barricaded themselves inside ULA after the serious clashes with the police and military forces, in which 23 people were injured.
In a statement UCAT "strongly condemns the murder of the student Kluiverth Roa and expresses solidarity with the pain suffered by his family". The statement, sent to Fides by the Rector of UCAT, father Javier Yonekura, emphasizes that "the classrooms accommodate only students and teachers engaged in scientific work" and "the statements against UCAT are unfounded and are not coherent with the mission and the work of an institution that houses more than ten thousand people ... whose sole purpose is to train new professionals for the common good of Tachira and Venezuela".
The statement of UCAT recalls: "We have asked to respect human dignity and rights of all people, in their individual and community events". The text concludes with Pope Francis’ words during the Angelus on Sunday, March 1, in which he urges all "to reject violence and to respect the dignity of every person and the sanctity of human life". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 03/03/2015)
