AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Mgr. Gualberti after the gunfight: "These deaths must shake our conscience"

Thursday, 20 July 2017 human rights   violence   peace  

Infodecom/Diakonia

Santa Cruz (Agenzia Fides) - "First and foremost, it is urgent to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to eliminate any possible doubt on what happened. We must also take preventive measures, such as having well-prepared police force members to protect human life above all and prevent similar cases from ending in a blood bath", said His Exc. Mgr. Sergio Gualberti, Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra in his homily on Sunday July 16, commenting on the episode of armed violence in the center of this city a few days before, causing five deaths and seven serious injuries.
"Let us pray to the God of life for the dead brothers and let us express our closeness and Christian solidarity to the wounded and to all relatives in pain", said Mgr. Gualberti on the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, patron of Bolivia and the armed forces. "These dead confirm the serious problem of insecurity and uncontrolled violence that dominates the streets of our city and is in the heart of so many people, these dead must shake our conscience and push the authorities to take the necessary measures", stressed the Archbishop.
On Thursday, July 13, a gang of 7 delinquents with big firearms robbed a jewelry shop in the center of the city. At the time of leaving with three employees as hostages, the police who had arrived in the meantime started shooting, and there was a violent clash: one employee, a policeman, and three criminals were killed. Seven people were injured. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 20/07/2017)


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