Ecuador bishops condemn journalist killings
By Richard Marsden
Ecuadorian bishops have expressed their 鈥渄eep concern鈥� and 鈥渟orrow鈥� at the killing of two journalists and their driver who were kidnapped after crossing their country鈥檚 border into Colombia.
A statement from the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference has called for an end to violence and injustice by armed political and social groups following the 鈥渧iolent murder鈥� of the team of three who had gone to the border to investigate a rise in drug-fuelled violence.
Prayers for the dead
The deaths of reporter Javier Ortega, photographer Paul Rivas and their driver Efraín Segarra were confirmed last week by Ecuador鈥檚 President Lenin Moreno.
The trio, who worked for the newspaper El Comercio, were kidnapped by dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after they crossed a military checkpoint in the province of Esmeraldas in northern Ecuador on the border with southern Colombia.
In their statement sent to the Fides News Agency, the Bishops of Ecuador express their 鈥渉eartfelt prayer for the eternal rest of our brothers鈥� and talk of their 鈥渃loseness and solidarity with their families for such irreparable human losses, as well as to all journalists who risk their lives to make us know the truth of the facts.鈥�
Call for solutions
The Bishops call on the governments of Ecuador and Colombia to work on the creation and consolidation of 鈥渕ore dignified, more fraternal and fair living conditions, particularly in the border area, developing sources of work and social assistance policies, and strengthening security systems.鈥�
The statement urges the armed groups 鈥渢o put aside the use of force in order to overcome injustices and to adhere to the initiatives of dialogue and respect to build a genuine democracy free of all forms of corruption and violence.鈥� Those who make money by inhumane activities are urged 鈥渘ot to submit to economic interests deriving from human trafficking and the production and trafficking of arms and toxic-additive substances.鈥�
鈥淒ifficult path of peace鈥�
In their message, the Bishops reaffirm their 鈥渇irm commitment to continue working for a more peaceful, just and supportive society,鈥� since they are aware of the concerning situation in the country, including 鈥渢he weakness of institutional structures, economic crisis and corruption.鈥�
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