AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Curuguaty case: need to hasten the conclusion to help social peace

Monday, 14 March 2016 bishops   episcopal conferences   violence   indigenous  

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - In a statement on the judicial proceedings related to the massacre of Curuguaty, which occurred in 2012, assembly n. 209 of the Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (CEP) ended yesterday in Ypacaraí. The letter sent to Fides informs on the press conference with journalists, during which the President of CEP, His Exc. Mgr. Edmundo Valenzuela Mellid, SDB, Archbishop of Asuncion, called for a "rapid and effective justice for this case". On June 15, 2012 there was a clash between farmers and police, in which 17 people were killed after a building evacuation (see Fides 18/06/2012).
The Archbishop said that the process is proving to be very long and complex, while there is need to hasten a "prompt conclusion." The Bishops hope for a fair justice and what often happens in Paraguay does not happen again, that is to say "release the guilty and condemn the innocent".
In the statement the Bishops stated: "We sincerely believe that the clarification of the events will help social peace. A process that is postponed denotes an unfair situation and promotes tensions between different sectors of society. We share the concerns of many citizens about the facts mentioned and in public opinion with regard to the farmers and the police involved".
The Bishops’ statement concludes: "May social responsibility, respect for the law and the application of civil and criminal court proceedings give strength to the construction of a just and safe society for all Paraguayans". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 14/03/2016)


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