AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Churches and ethnic-territorial organizations request an urgent meeting with the government due to the dramatic situation in Chocó

Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church, other Churches, ethnic-territorial organizations, and social organizations of Chocó and Western Antioquia, presented a letter to President Iván Duque in which they urgently request a meeting with high-level authorities of the National Government, accompanied by the Public Ministry (Ombudsman and Attorney General of the Nation) and by guarantors of the international community, including the UN Office for Human Rights.
This request contained in the letter sent these days is the result of the responses received from the Government and the Public Force, to the report presented on November 18, 2021, where the results of the six Humanitarian Missions that were carried out throughout the year 2021 were presented and which evidenced the increasingly serious and complex humanitarian crisis that is being experienced in this part of the territory, where the most affected continue to be the civilian population (see Fides, 24/11/2021).
"We are concerned that the State's response to the serious social situation, made visible through humanitarian missions, only has a response of denial that may contain in the background the intention to silence what is happening in Chocó and western Antioquia" the letter states. The urgently requested meeting, the petition specifies, has as its objective "a transparent and respectful dialogue on the points raised by social, ethnic-territorial organizations and Churches in the document released on November 18, and to delve into the motivations and actions of society civil". In addition, "concrete comprehensive, immediate and effective responses, from the different State and Government instances in order to stop the violence and address the humanitarian crisis that seriously affects the life and survival of the communities of Chocó, western Antioquia and the Pacific in general". Monsignor Juan Carlos Barreto, Bishop of Quibdó and President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral in Colombia, has confirmed the pressure of some members of the army against the members of the humanitarian missions carried out in the departments of Chocó and Antioquia. In statements to the blog 'Hacia el Umbral', broadcast by Prensa Celam, the Bishop assures that the priority is to continue with the work of collective protection of the territories where the communities and their leaders have been threatened. It is about promoting collective action for the right to peace and security in the territories, since according to data from the Ombudsman's Office, 67% of the population is at risk. Meanwhile, the violence continues. The bishop of the diocese of Istmina-Tadó, Monsignor Mario de Jesús Álvarez Gómez, has strongly condemned the murder of Luis Chamapuro Quiro, leader of the Wounaan people of Chocó, kidnapped on February 3 by members of the ELN. Once again, the communities feel attacked by armed groups that do not respect the lives of the people. "I call on all armed groups, the ELN, the Gulf Clan and all those who are determined to seek their own good, to look at the reality of our people, our communities and and stop once and for all this spiral of violence", said the Bishop in a video message. Monsignor Mario de Jesús Álvarez Gómez expressed his encouragement to the family and community of the murdered leader and calls for reconciliation, forgiveness and peace for all. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/2/2022)

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human rights

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violence

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armed groups

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paramilitary groups

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local churches

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