An article in Colombia Reports published on 5 March 2021 describes how the Roman Catholic bishop in Buenaventura received
death threats for publicly denouncing corruption and the activities of armed groups. On previous occasions the bishop explained how criminal groups compete for territory used for drug-trafficking, causing entire communities to be affected by the resulting violence. The Bishop"s Conference (CEC) declared its solidarity with the bishop of Buenaventura and also publicly
opposed all gang violence, as reported by Aciprensa on 12 March 2021. At the end of March, in a probably unrelated incident, the CEC headquarters in Bogata was
raided by a group dressed as police who broke into the building, located the safes and stole financial documents, as reported by UCA News reported on 1 April 2021.
World Watch Research analyst Rossana Ramirez comments: "The NGO "˜Truth Commission" sees the weak government and Buenaventura"s geographical location as being
conducive to illegal operations (Comision de la Verdad, 12 February 2021). According to Insight Crime reporting on 4 March 2021, the violence is due to the
rivalry between factions within the criminal group La Local, allegedly linked to the Clan del Golfo or the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC). The AGC is one of the strongest criminal networks in the country and is responsible for the recent wave of violence in the country."
Rossana Ramirez adds: "Christian leaders who publicly oppose criminal groups are vulnerable to retaliation. As a result, they may be threatened, abducted, displaced or even killed. Despite the government's efforts to implement the November 2016 peace agreement, conflict between guerrillas and other criminal groups has taken root in the country and is putting at risk Christians and churches, which are easy targets for theft and vandalism in the areas under criminal control."
