.- The secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Colombia, Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba, has called for peace in the wake of the military’s strike on guerrilla forces of the FARC, which killed the rebel group’s second in command, Victor Julio Suarez Rojas, known as “Mono Jojoy.”
Speaking to reporters, Bishop Cordoba said, “The Catholic Church never rejoices in the death of anyone, but the death of ‘Mono Jojoy’ is a call for Colombians to realize that war only brings more war, sadness, desolation and losses on both sides.”
Bishop Cordoba urged the government and the FARC to re-engage in the dialogue that up to now has failed because of their opposing positions.
“Both have said they want peace, the government says it can happen with a cease fire, and the guerrillas say they are willing to dialogue but without halting combat because we are in a war. I don’t think there can be peace with views that are so polarized,” he added.
