Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Fides Service) - “Faced with growing violence and prolonged strikes in many parts of our country, road blocks, attacks on public and private installations which increase the sense of instability and insecurity for all”, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Peru (CEP) issued a statement dated 6 July, “Social Peace in front of the present situation in Peru” expressing deep concern. After describing the present situation in Peru, a little more than one year after presidential elections, the Bishops urge the conflicintg parties, the ordinary citizens and those with responsiblities to “maintain social peace, recalling that the best way to obtain positicve changes is calm, serious and responsible dialogue, leading to concrete and effective measures and not to give in to spreading discouragement and disinterest”.
The Bishops note “signs of frustration, aggravated by lack of work, poverty and exclusion of certain sectors of the people, as well as acts of corruption and crime which esasperate souls”. The Bishops say the situation is worsened by the fact that the authorities and political leaders seem not to address the needs of the people and the nation. Although the economy shows positive signs, only a few benefit from the improvement.
According to the Church in Peru, the situation is undermining the country’s stability and there is a danger of losing sight of the vision of nation and that people consider themselves a political or social group where each seeks its own advantages.
Faced with the horizon which is not reassuring the Bishops say “before the right to protest with proper means there comes respect for the rights and dignity of the entire people because protests which endanger life, health, education and free mvoement of the people, affect the most needy and create instability and insecurity”. The Bishops call on the government and competent authorities to “be clear and consistent and to be witnesses of austerity, otherwise they will lose all moral authority and credibility”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2005, righe 28, parole 394)
