Church in the World

Bolivian bishops push for peace

Americas

Archbishop Julio Terrazas of Santa Cruz, president of Bolivia?s bishops? conference (CEB), has strongly urged the country?s politicians to step up efforts to restore stability in the Andean nation. ?We are all called upon to work hard to build peace quickly,? the archbishop told around 40,000 participants in an open-air Mass in a football stadium in Santa Cruz late last month, reports Owain Johnson.

One of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, Bolivia has suffered political turmoil and an economic downturn this year. At least 28 people were killed in February during protests against unpopular government austerity measures, and in recent weeks there have been several violent clashes between indigenous coca growers and military anti-drug squads.

The CEB met representatives of the Government and its political opponents in late June, and it hopes to sponsor further talks on reconciliation this month. The meeting will try to fix the terms of a ?social pact? proposed by the Church which would address the root causes of political and economic instability in Bolivia, although the Government would prefer a more limited accord. Speaking at the Mass, Cardinal Terrazas repeatedly called on all Bolivians to work for peace, and, in particular, he called for an end to violence in the coca-growing area of Chapare, where two soldiers were recently killed in a bomb attack.

The cardinal also urged the centre-right government of President Gonzalo S?nchez de Lozada, a mine owner and the country?s richest man, to do more to restore peace and prosperity. Since his election last August, the President?s IMF-sponsored policies have divided the 8 million-strong nation, and his popularity has plummeted.

?It is valuable to step down from the throne of pride and to listen to the poor and simple, to work with them, work for them, work only for them,? the cardinal said.

The CEB is also urging ordinary Bolivians to take part in the Church?s national prayer campaign. In the run-up to the reconciliation talks, the Church is holding nationwide prayer meetings to ask God to ?give the gift of peace to Bolivia, based on justice, freedom, love and truth?.