SW News: Against the backdrop of the recent murder of four minors belonging to the indigenous communities by an armed Colombian outfit that forcibly conscripted them to fight, the Catholic bishops of the Latin American nation have sought the protection of children in a joint statement.

In the statement, the prelates said the scandalous and inhuman practice of using children to fight in conflicts indicates the level of degradation of the conflict witnessed by Colombia. They said the government must protect the children and repay the historical debt owed to them following years of forced conscription of minors by the various armed groups who control vast swathes of territory.
The Catholic bishops issued a statement entitled “Defend life to achieve peace” on May 23 after the murder of four indigenous children in Patumayo. The slaughter of the four kids was condemned by the Human Rights Coordination of the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC).

The outfit alleges that indigenous communities are soft targets and minors are often forcibly recruited by gangs to fight in turf wars and against government troops. There are allegations of gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.

In this dire situation, the Colombian bishops sought reflection and action by everyone to achieve peace in the country and an end to this inhuman practice. They said in the statement that the life of every human being has to be respected. “Death cannot be an instrument that is used to achieve petty particular interests”.

They also expressed solidarity with the families of those hapless minors and their communities as well. The bishops also invoked the Lord to provide them with the strength to face the moments of pain. They invited the Colombian people to “persevere in prayer for peace and not to give up the commitment to social transformation through non-violence.” In the statement, they reiterated that the quest for peace based on the respect for the sanctity of life is the only path to overcome all forms of violence plaguing the country.

It was on March 26 that armed men of the Carolina Ramirez Front abducted a minor from the Guaquira Community comprising the Murui indigenous people. On May 15, the child fled from captivity along with three other young people who also belonged to her tribe. But two days later, armed members of the outfit traced them in the community of El Estrecho and gunned them down.

President Gustavo Petro said the killing of the four young people was an atrocious crime. It has also decided to withdraw from the ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) following the spurt in violent acts.