May 30, 2005

LA PAZ, Bolivia – In the midst of a tense environment due to grassroots mobilizations and rumors of a conspiracy to overthrow the government, the National Association of Evangelicals of Bolivia (ANDEB) called on authorities and the people to seek dialogue and a joint solution to the crisis in the country.

The body representing Evangelical Churches called on governors, political and social leaders to return their eyes to God and to give preference to faith in Jesus Christ in their actions and to work according to that faith, to give signs of generosity that will make it possible to find solutions to their problems.

La Paz has been the site, since May 24 of constant protests on the part of social sectors with a variety of demands, which range from nationalizing hydrocarbons, to increasing taxes for oil companies, to calling a constituent assembly and rejecting a bid for autonomy from regions such as Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando.

ANDEB leaders, presided by Pastor Bruno Ossio, called on pastors and believers to pray so that "God has mercy on Bolivia and guides us in the decisions we make without confrontations and divisions among Bolivians."

He called on Churches to "seek to raise the awareness of the Bolivian Evangelical people, about the need to persevere in the clamor to God for Bolivia."

Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC)