The authorities in Colombia have confirmed that the bodies found in a mass grave in the Guaviare jungle belong to the eight evangelicals who had been missing since April.

The victims were members of the evangelical councils of Alianza de Colombia and Cuadrangular and were kidnapped in Calamar after being summoned by FARC dissidents.

“It is with deep sorrow and dismay” that the evangelical community in Colombia received confirmation of the discovery of the bodies of these fellow believers.

According to Colombia'’s Attorney General Office, those responsible for this multiple crime are FARC dissidents led by alias Iván Mordisco, who kidnapped and executed them on unfounded suspicions of collaborating with the ELN, another armed group in the country.

The official version rules out any link between the victims and illegal armed groups.

The community is in shock and many have chosen to leave the area. A pastor from Calamar confirmed to the Colombian media outlet Semana that the population lives under the yoke of the Armando Ríos front, part of the FARC dissidents. He stated that their control is such that movement schedules have been implemented for citizens. “After six in the evening, you can't go out. Church services must be held earlier. We have to obey because our lives are at stake”, the evangelical leader said.

The names of those who have been murdered are: James Caicedo, Óscar García, Máryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza and Jesús Valero.

The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) has expressed its “deep consternation, indignation and rejection of the vile murder of eight Christian leaders”.

The discovery of the mass grave

The bodies were found thanks to a new lead that emerged over the weekend. During a humanitarian operation by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the department of Guaviare, armed groups provided information on possible locations where recent victims of violence in this area of the country might be found.

With this information, the ICRC located mass graves in rural areas where they found buried bodies, which could initially correspond to the eight evangelicals who had been missing for several months. The authorities verified the identity of the remains.

Religious persecution in Colombia

Despite the large evangelical Christian population in Colombia, rural and jungle areas where a military conflict over territorial control has been ongoing for more than 50 years continue to create dangerous situations for Christians.

“Guerrilla groups, which are generally linked to drug gangs, have become more powerful and control more territory”, explains Open Doors in its annual report on Colombia.

The evangelical organisation that defends persecuted Christians warns that “these groups often attack Christians, especially if they perceive them to be opposed to the businesses of the cartels and gangs”. For this reason, “Christian leaders are particularly at risk: they are seen as a threat because of their ability to influence young people, whom gangs recruit and who make up a large part of the guerrilla groups’ ranks”.

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