Statements from partners regarding the Colombia referendum
Statement from World Council of Churches
03 October 2016, originally posted here
“The people of Colombia need and deserve peace, particularly now”, said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), commenting on the outcome of the referendum held in Colombia on 2 October.
Voters in Colombia rejected a landmark peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in a surprising referendum result, with 50.2% voting against it.
“Not under any circumstance should we say no to peace”, he added. “The possibilities for a better, peaceful future for Colombia are greater and more important than any reason that could justify the negative to the agreement signed by the government and the FARC”, said Tveit, from the headquarters of the WCC in Geneva.
Last June, the WCC Central Committee, meeting in Trondheim, welcomed historic steps taken by both sides as a major landmark on the path to peace in Colombia and the region.
Statement from DiPaz, the Interchurch Dialog for Peace