AMERICA/BOLIVIA – The Bishops call for “the end of hostilities among brothers, respect and guarantees for those who do not agree with the rulers”

AMERICA/BOLIVIA — The Bishops demand “the end to hostilities among brothers and respect for those who don’t agree with the rulers.”

Cochabamba – (Agenzia Fides). “We ask, in God’s name, to end hostilities among Bolivian brother, and we urge all who are called to do this, to create authentic spaces for dialogue and tolerance that foster fraternity. We ask for respect and guarantees for all those who, in justice or in law, disagree with our vision, so they are not subject to persecution and improper use of justice. We urge the police not to become a source of violence and confrontation but to fulfill their mission by protecting the whole population. This is the appeal the Bishops of Bolivia made in the message they published at the 60th Assembly of the Episcopal Conference. (see Fides, 14/11/2022). The message addressed the Bolivian people, “especially the ones who suffer, are afflicted, and have the desire to live a dignified and just, peaceful, supportive and unlimited life.
The message is entitled “Yes, to the culture of Encounter!”The message is titled “Yes to the culture of Encounter!”. “The people suffer from their authorities delaying, postponing and causing uncertainty on decisive issues,” they affirm, underlining the fact that “those who govern us have to guarantee the rights and duties of every citizen with an approach of authentic listening for peaceful coexistence and dialogue for the pursuit of the common benefit.”
In the encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti”, Pope Francis invited the Bishops to the “culture” of encounter and not to isolation. They expressed concern about the state of the country due to “discord and confrontation”, which is exacerbated by “excessive violence motivated by oppositional politics ends”, which results in an increase in violence and social destruction. As Pastors, they call for the promotion of the “culture of encounter”, which leads the country to realize its legitimate expectations in peaceful and peaceful coexistence. “The good for all must prevail.” Only by working together, overcoming difficulties, and taking on opposing positions, can we see a bright future for the country.
The Bishops exhort us to hope in the final part of the message. They ask that the Christian communities “increase prayer and commit to the promotion of the culture for fraternity and respect of human rights”. “May the approaching Christmas of our Savior see us building and working on new and renewed paths to listening, respect, and tolerance; This will allow us to learn to live in forgiveness, love, and increase our ability to be people of peace.”
Since 22 October, Bolivia has been in an indefinite strike to demand that the government perform the 2023 census instead of 2024. The strike started in the Santa Cruz region which is the country’s economic engine. Since then, it has spread to other parts of the country, causing violent clashes among those in favor and against.
The Office of the Ombudsman (Defensoria del pueblo), stated that it “recognizes that all social demonstrations can be legitimate”, but rejected the “intransigence of the conflict’s protagonists” and asked them to “not commit acts of violence in the exercise of the right to protest”. He also called on the Bolivian police “within the law”, to be proportionate to their needs and to “protect integrity” of the uniformed men, but above all citizens. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 18/11/2022)

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