AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Silent march in Tumaco: after 60 years of violence it is now time to form "a truly civilized society"

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Tumaco (Agenzia Fides) - "Colombia has lived nearly 60 years of violence, I believe that all generations were born at least in part with the idea of war, attack, fighting and retaliation, I think it is time to think about the formation of a truly civil society". This is what His Exc. Mgr. Gustavo Girón Higuita, Bishop of Tumaco said, after participating in the "silent march" that took place in this town to peacefully protest against the latest acts of violence which took place in the region.
According to news sent to Agenzia Fides, about 5,000 people demonstrated their rejection of violence. Peasants, human rights leaders, local and regional authorities, groups of parishes in Tumaco, headed towards the main square, where there were songs, speeches and prayers for peace in this region.
For Mgr. Girón Higuita the guerrillas are committing these acts of violence in retaliation for the actions of peace that are being promoted across the country, and the community suffers the greatest consequences of the increase in attacks by the FARC, following the unilateral ceasefire by the guerrillas. The Bishop then asked the government to proceed with the peace agreements, recalling that "it is not with fighting that one can resolve conflicts, but through dialogue, which is what is being promoted through the march". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/06/2015)


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