Colombian archbishop worried about disappearances of youth

Archbishop Dario de Jesus Monsalve Mejia of Cali, Colombia, is lamenting the “scourge of violence” in the region that has led to the recent disappearance of five young people. “The assumption is that they are recruited by some of these armed outlaw organizations, but whatever the case it is a macabre way of murdering, by the method of disappearance, leaving families terribly battered,” Archbishop Monsalve said March 21. He praised the work of residents in Cali who are banding together with the police to keep on the lookout for young people who have disappeared and to reach out to their families. Speaking on Colombian radio, Archbishop Monsalve said the flow of arms into the cities of Buenaventura and Cali must be stopped. “The system works because of the union of violence and corruption,” he said. “That is the center of evil that is turning Buenaventura into hell.” The archbishop expressed bewilderment at the lack of clear studies on the matter and urged more effective measures by state institutions.