AMERICA/COLOMBIA - On October 27 the peace process with ELN begins, the Church ready to give its support

Tuesday, 25 October 2016 democracy   armed groups   bishops   episcopal conferences  

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The formal start of the peace process between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) will take place on Thursday, October 27 in Quito (Ecuador). For this occasion, the Colombian Episcopal Conference formed a "Peace Council", to be made available to the negotiating table, if formally requested.
ELN has requested the support of the Church, but this was not formally asked by the government. The constitution of an Episcopal Peace Council, is a sign of the will of the Episcopal Conference to support the peace process, if its mediation is also required by the government.
The letter sent to Fides informs that the Board consists of the following Bishops: from Cali, His Exc. Mgr. Dario Monsalve; from Quibdo, His Exc. Mgr. Juan Carlos Barreto; from Istmina (Chocó), His Exc. Mgr. Julio Hernando Garcia; from Arauca, His Exc. Mgr. Jaime Muñoz, and from Tibu, His Exc. Omar Alberto Sánchez. They are all Bishops of the dioceses where there is the presence of ELN. The names of government representatives of President Santos and ELN group are still not known. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 25/10/2016)


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