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Stop Israeli Army’s incursion into Beit Sahour’s Peace Park25 February Mr. Ehud Barak Minister of Defense 37 Kaplan Street Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909 Israel Dear Mr. Barak: Re: Stop Israeli Army’s incursion into Beit Sahour’s Peace Park The Christian Conference of Asia, its Member Churches and Councils, join me in supporting the people of Beit Sahour as they call for a stop to the Israeli Army’s incursion into Beit Sahour’s Peace Park. The current incursion into Beit Sahour, including declaring the land a closed military zone and excavating around the park is considered as inhuman and illegal on the part of both Christians and Muslims. It is painful for Christians who form 80% of the population of Beit Sahour. In September 2009, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches issued a Statement on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calling upon the occupying power to fully and effectively respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, including its prohibition against any change in the population and character of occupied territories. The same Statement called upon the Israeli Government to urgently implement an open-ended freeze in good faith on all settlement construction and expansion as a first step towards the dismantling of all settlements. The churches in Asia offer their prayers, support and solidarity with the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territories in their struggle for justice and against the continued occupation of their God-given land. Yours sincerely, DR. PRAWATE KHID-ARN General Secretary cc: Mr. Hani Alhayik, Mayor of Beit Sahour Ms Yael, Rubenstein, Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Kairos Palestine Mr. Michel Nseir CCA Member Churches and Councils CCA Officers and General Committee members posted by cbs on Thursday, February 25, 2010 Ecumenical peace group wants peace agenda from 2010 hopefulsPhilippine elections have been more of pomposity than platforms. But a church-based peace movement wants to see the issue of peace talks with the insurgents be taken seriously by the candidates. This movement called Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), which held its first national assembly in Davao last February 11 to 13, will ask candidates on their commitment to resume the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) that remains stalled under the Arroyo administration since 2004.  The group noted presidential candidates have yet to include the peace agenda in their platforms. "Sad to note there is none," says Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, head of the PEPP secretariat and chair of Ecumenical Bishops Forum. But Iñiguez said they will hold dialogues with the presidentiables "to let them see the importance of the peace agenda as something vital for the country.” The PEPP was formed three years ago in an effort to unite diverse Christian denominations in the country in addressing the stalled peace talks. Major church groups such as Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, National Council of Churches of the Philippines, Ecumenical Bishops' Forum, Philippine Christian Evangelical Churches, and the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines formed the core of this movement.  Bp Iñiguez says consultations they held in the past three years around the regions echo "the resounding call to resume the GRP-NDF talks." The consultations showed the churches' concern with the decades-long armed conflict between the GRP and the NDF as it affects majority of the Filipinos. This concern was again raised in the assembly where delegates heard testimonies from indigenous peoples in Mindanao and families of victims from extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, of how government's counter-insurgency aggravated the injustices. "There never will be peace if this situation continues," says Sharoy Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, co-chair of PEPP and former secretary-general of the NCCP. "This situation would not be eradicated if the root causes are not addressed (through peace talks)." PEPP reiterated their call for the resumption of talks and implement signed agreements such as the Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl). They said the implementation of Carhrihl is more urgent with the rise of extra-judicial killings, and the recent arrest and reported ill-treatment and torture of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal.  PEPP welcomes the intent of the two parties to form working groups to discuss the two agenda namely political and constitutional reforms, and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces, which was discussed by representatives of both parties during the assembly. The GRP-NDF talks was supposed to resume last August to discuss the second agenda on socio-economic reforms (SER). PEPP co-chair Bishop Antonio Ledesma from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro said they will continue their advocacy and consultations in their churches and with communities to broaden people's participation to the peace talks, and bring their agenda to both panels. "As PEPP, we act as a bridge to bring the issues of the people to the panels, and pressure them to resume the talks," says Bishop Ledesma. Even as peace talks take a backseat for the elections, Duremdes says PEPP regional formations will do its part to engage candidates to come up with platforms on reforms to lead to "a just and lasting peace".  Duremdes also said PEPP will monitor election-related violence and bring this to the panels. The group took note of the military's campaign against progressive candidates and partylist groups, especially with senatorial candidate Retired Gen. Jovito Palparan reviving the anti-communist Alsa Masa in Davao City. The group will also look in to the fragile situation in Maguindanao. "This election can be seen a laboratory for church groups to monitor election-violence and bring this un-peace situation to the panels so they can see the urgency to resume the talks," says Duremdes. posted by cbs on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 |
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