In southwestern Colombia, a Protestant pastor is facing eviction from his home and church by the local indigenous council, which has issued an ultimatum demanding his departure or face unspecified consequences.
Pastor Aristides Chocue, who has been leading a congregation in the small village of Betania since February 2022, has been ordered to leave by October 17 following a decision by the council on October 2. This report comes from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a U.K.-based religious rights group. Betania is located in Cauca, a region known for its conflict-prone nature and traditional indigenous governance.
Chocue has been under pressure to align his religious practices with traditional customs, a demand he has continuously resisted, citing his right to religious freedom as protected by Colombian law and international agreements. Supported by the Nasa Evangelical Christian Church, he has vowed to continue his ministry.
“The church tells me to continue, not to leave them. I plan to continue working, trusting in God,” Chocue expressed to CSW. However, he acknowledged the community’s history of violence against church members, raising concerns for his family’s safety.
The religious friction in Betania spans over a decade, with Protestant Christians reporting threats and harassment. In 2012 and 2021, buildings used by Christian groups were targeted by traditional authorities, according to CSW. A resolution passed on November 2, 2021, prohibited communications with Christian churches and shut down their worship spaces, a directive that contravenes Colombia’s constitutional religious freedom guarantees and international legal standards, CSW noted.
Additionally, Protestant children have faced repercussions in school for declining to participate in traditional ceremonies, and some have been denied full access to health and education services due to their families’ religious stance.
Protestants in the area have sought intervention from Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office, citing the potential for forced displacement. However, these complaints have been referred back to the indigenous authorities.
Despite the escalating tensions, Protestant leaders are willing to engage in dialogue if the indigenous council meets certain conditions, including issuing a public apology, protecting children who opt out of indigenous rituals, and ending religious discrimination. “We want peace, but with justice and respect for [our] faith,” a spokesperson remarked.
Anna Lee Stangl, advocacy director at CSW, emphasized the Colombian government’s responsibility to ensure religious freedom for all citizens, even those under indigenous rule. She urged for immediate measures to resume discussions between the Betania council and Protestant representatives.
This situation arises amid other challenges faced by Colombia’s Protestant community. In July, authorities discovered a mass grave in Calamar, Guaviare Department, containing the bodies of eight Evangelical pastors. These pastors, missing for months, were reportedly targeted by dissident members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to thwart perceived expansion by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the area. Prosecutors have found no links between the pastors and any armed factions.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
