Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9, The Bible
Violations to the Right to Life:
Concern over a Lack of Safety Guarantees
Bogotá, October 25, 2019. We wish to express our condemnation of the murder of Alexander Parra Uribe, known as Rodolfo Fierro, an ex-combatant of the former FARC-EP guerrilla who was undergoing the process of reintegration into civilian life in the Mesetas Territorial Training and Reincorporation Space in Meta province.
The incident took place last night within one of the 24 Territorial Training and Reincorporation Spaces, areas that rely on the presence of armed forces as part of the Colombian State’s commitment to ensure security during this process. We urge that this case be investigated and prosecuted, and that the agreements made with ex-combatants and their right to life be guaranteed.
Alexander Parra had an important leadership role within the space’s Territorial Reincorporation Council in overseeing the fulfillment of the final agreement. We extend our solidarity to his family and the FARC Party and we mourn his death and that of 165 people who surrendered arms during the peace process, with the majority of these cases remaining in impunity.
We wish to express our profound concern over the continued murder, aggression, and serious acts of violence in violation of the safety of former combatants and, therefore, in violation of their right to participate in electoral politics.
We ask the Colombian government to prioritize in its agenda guarantees to safety and protection for ex-combatants and social leaders who face continual and daily threats to their lives.
As believers in a life-giving God, we pray that in Colombia we can return our gaze to peace, attainable as His gift, and that we reject the use of violence as a means to resolve our differences. Let us pray that in Colombia we may experience dignified life where all may have a place, with acceptance of our differences.
We invite all to come together this Friday, November 1st at 12 p.m., from different parts of the world and within Colombia, from the ecclesiastical communities, the Territorial Training and Reincorporation Spaces, communal houses, the headquarters of the FARC party, and other places, to pray for peace in Colombia, to reject violence, and to open our doors to our sisters and brothers who are undergoing the process of reintegration into civilian life. Let us also pray for those who continue to choose the use of violence and weapons, so that they may lay them down and advance on paths of reconciliation.
SIGN:
Dialogo Intereclecial por la Paz Dipaz
ACT Iglesia Sueca
Iglesia Diálogos y Fe
Mesa Ecuménica por la Paz
Christian Aid
Aipral Alianza de Iglesias Presbiterianas y Reformadas de América Latina
Federación Universal de Movimientos Estudiantiles Cristianos FUMEC -ALC / WSCF
Comunión Mundial de Iglesias Reformadas
