Tag: FARC

Colombian Church sceptical over FARC deal

July 4, 2016 Colombia ELN, FARC

La Catedral Primada, Bogota, Colombia.World Watch Monitor Thursday 23 June, 2016 was an historic day in Colombia. After four years of peace talks and more than 50 years of armed confrontation, a bilateral ceasefire was agreed between the Colombian government and representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), . . . Read More

Colombia: How will FARC deal impact the Church?

July 4, 2016 Colombia ELN, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Russ Stendal

Colombians are celebrating after more than half a century of civil war was brought to an end on 23 June with the signing of a ceasefire between the government and the largest rebel group – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. But what will the anticipated confirmation of . . . Read More

Analysis: Latin American Christians need protection from organized crime

September 24, 2015 Colombia, Corruption, El Salvador, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Los Zetas, Mexico, Michoacán, Organised crime

For three days last month, El Salvador was the deadliest country in the world. The 125 people killed in gang-related violence from 16-18 Aug. could not be matched even by the horrors in Syria and Iraq. Violence related to organized crime is perhaps the most significant threat to Latin America’s . . . Read More

Among the FARC, a growing Christian presence

February 26, 2015 Colombia Arauca, Communism, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Missionaries, Russ Stendal

FARC Commander Ivan Marquez gives a press conference, on Nov. 19, 2014 in Havana to commemorate the second anniversary of the beginning of the peace talks with the Colombian government.ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images After a half-century of continuous civil war in Colombia, a new story is beginning to emerge: Guerrillas in . . . Read More

Organised crime is making life worse for Latin America Christians

February 8, 2015 Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, ELN, Evo Morales, FARC, Guatemala, Honduras, Latin America, Mexico, Nicaragua, Organised crime, Pentecostals, Venezuela

About one-quarter of the world’s Christians live in Latin America and, apart from in Colombia, most have enjoyed wide freedom to live out their faith. Christian life in Latin America is getting a bit more difficult, however, according to Open Doors International, creator of the World Watch List. The annual . . . Read More

Pressure on Christians grew in 2013

January 8, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, African Union, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, BJP, Buddhist nationalism, Central African Republic, Colombia, Eritrea, FARC, Hindu nationalism, India, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Kyrgyzstan, Middle East, Nigeria, North Africa, North Korea, Pakistan, Peshawar, Religious freedom, Sadad, Sharia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, UN, Yemen

More than ever, some of the hardest places for Christians to live are fragile or failed states where militant Islamist movements flourish, according to an annual report on Christian religious freedom. Pressure on Christians intensified worldwide in 2013, according to Open Doors International, a charity that provides support to Christians . . . Read More

Colombian Christian leader accused of FARC affiliation

September 21, 2013 Colombia FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America

Ricardo Esquivia Ballestas, pictured in 2012 at a Lutheran World Federation event in Bogotá, Colombia.Milton Blanco / Flickr / Creative Commons As peace talks continue between the Colombian government and Latin America’s oldest left-wing guerrilla insurgency, FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), a case involving a prominent Christian leader . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye