MISNA - Missionary Service News Agency, 5/2/2003 10:17
Indonesian Moluccas Against War: Religious Leaders, "Do Not
Repeat Our Tragedy"
Church/Religious Affairs, Standard
Reacting to the threat of possible war being waged on Iraq, the religious leaders of
Muslims, Protestants and Catholics sent out the following appeal to world leaders: A
Call for Peace. Social strife, together with gruelling events of criminality - can be read
in a communiqué addressed to MISNA today by the religious leaders of the Moluccas
- and savagery towards human beings have ttormented our region for four years.
It was generally the common, innocent people that had to bear its horrible
consequences of agony and utmost suffering. In the wake of this terrible experience
we, the religious leaders of the Moluccas, most honestly want to proffer our
standpoint and concern in relation to the latest development in the Persian Gulf area:
God Almighty made man as His supreme and most precious creature, providing him a
rich array of possibilities and capacities.
Thus man is called to accommodate himself one to another, acknowledging equality
and living in harmony. Existing differences are not meant to effectuate the
determination to wipe out one another, but – on the contrary – to establish contact
and dialogue with one another and mutually beneficial cooperation. Every nation on
this earth has the right to live in peace and welfare, thus must not be played down
becoming victim of any other nation's aspirations for whatever reason.
Civilized nations solve any internal or external crisis by way of dialogue and not by
choosing the way of war and violence. Any war and any acts of violence gravely
damage humanity, milieu, and civilization. All of this will have its impact not only on
those that are directly involved in the strife, but will seriously harm global harmony and
stability.
Based on this perception, we send out this appeal to the Government of the United
States of America with its Allies, and to the Iraqi Government:
One: To stop without delay any effort which is aimed at war and violence.
Two: To enhance renewed efforts to come to sincere dialogue as the only decent and
befitting way to come to a solution.
Three: To acknowledge everybody's basic human rights as God's most precious
creatures.
Four: To prefer love, peace and justice to any political, economic and military
considerations. Five: To entrust it wholly to the United Nations as the representation
of all nations to find a just and peaceable solution.
May the Almighty God, who is the source of all grace and blessing, bestow His
prudence and wisdom on all involved parties to reflect on this appeal for peace. [BP]
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