Colombia/Mexico: Churches face bombs, theft and killings

Colombia:

• As reported by RCN Radio on 4 July 2021, a bomb exploded damaging the Catholic church and priest"s home in Hacarƒ­ (Norte de Santander). Police stated that the guerrilla group ELN was most likely responsible.
• According to Aciprensa reporting on 2 July 2021, two men entered the San Marcos Evangelista Church in Dosquebradas (Risaralda), tied up and threatened the Catholic priest and 4 parishioners, while they went off to see what they could steal. The priest escaped and was able to call for help.

Mexico:

• According to Agenzia Fides reporting on 1 September 2021, the parish priest of San Nicolƒ¡s de Bari in Zacatepec-Morelos was found shot dead inside his home. The priest was known for his efforts at bringing peaceful change in the community and especially for his work with young people previously involved in gang activities.

Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research comments: "The pressure exerted by guerrillas and criminal groups in Colombia increased during the pandemic, bringing with it high levels of violence and territorial control. In the case of Mexico, the violence was exacerbated by the elections which took place on 6 June 2021. Human rights experts at the UN and Organization of American States (OAS) called on the authorities to make sure that at least the post-election period could be kept peaceful, and to investigate the widespread killings and human rights violations during the electoral campaigning and run-up to voting (OHCHR, 8 June 2021). Rossana Ramirez adds: "In many areas of Mexico and Colombia, violence continues to be considered the best way of maintaining control. Thus, in the past months, anyone upsetting the status quo have been the target of violent reprisals. In the same way, church leaders who work for peace and an end to violence continue to be the target of threats and even killings carried out by criminal groups controlling the area."