Today, he warned, “it seems that it’s no longer just seeing what an entire country is asking for” but that the interest is in “defending individuals” or a group, and not the benefit of all. “If it goes on like this, we’re not going to resolve the problem,” he warned.
Instead of individuals, groups, or sectors, the prelate called for defending “something in common that helps us, or that is good for all.”
In addition, in a recorded message Leigue expressed his deep concern about the increase in violence and reiterated the call for dialogue.
“As the Catholic Church, it is our mission to be at the side of our people, and as it corresponds to us by right and social commitment based on our faith, we make an impassioned call to the competent authorities to resolve this problem, leaving aside their personal, partisan, or special interests.”
Likewise, he asked them “to demonstrate their ability for service, fulfilling their responsibility as authorities that is owed to the entire people.”
“I call on the people of Santa Cruz not to fall into the violent provocations that some are causing; we don’t want more suffering,” he said, urging peace for Bolivia, especially for Santa Cruz.
In the last few hours, the government accepted holding talks and made it a condition that the strike and the blockades cease in a commitment to “bring peace to Santa Cruz.” The talks could be set up Tuesday, presidential spokesman Jorge Richter announced.
“That footer where it says ‘we are committed to bringing peace to Santa Cruz,’” Richter clarified, “must belong to all the actors. The Inter-institutional Committee [must commit] to lift the strike and that we can make all the negotiations with social movements so that they can withdraw,” he added.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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