UCANEWS: CCA calls for peace in conflict zones

CCA calls for peace in conflict zones

Published Date: April 23, 2010

Logo of the Christian Conference of Asia's 13th General Assembly

KUALA LUMPUR (UCAN) — The 13th general assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) ended here with a call to “build communities of peace in Asia, irrespective of class, color or creed.”

In a statement, some 300 participants of the April 15-22 assembly also urged the main protagonists in the Korean War, which began 60 years ago, to scrap the armistice that ended the conflict and to replace it with an official peace treaty.

Some 2.5 million Koreans lost their lives in the war, the statement noted.

It added that a lack of peace has meant that North Korea suffers famine and acute poverty through ongoing sanctions. It called on the United Sates and other countries to lift sanctions imposed on North Korea, which are obstructing the free flow of aid and economic development.

The ecumenical body also called on churches and national church councils to provide humanitarian aid to those suffering in North Korea.

The CCA also expressed concern over tensions between India and Pakistan, where people are not able to live in “peace, hope and fullness due to the ongoing threat of an outbreak of hostilities.”

The general assembly comprises representatives of the CCA’s more than 100 member churches in Asia and Oceania, and 20 national councils. The Armenian Orthodox Church of Iran and the National Council of Churches in Bhutan were among four new members of the assembly.

The CCA’s supreme decision making body gathers every five years.

Meanwhile, at a lunch on April 21, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told the Asian Christians that his government was committed to pluralism and social justice in the Muslim-majority country.

Local media reported that Asian Church leaders applauded Najib’s message, but their Malaysian counterparts were skeptical. They cited recent examples of intolerance such as opposition to the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, and the firebombing of churches.

AS09518/1598 April 23, 2010 29 EM-lines (306 words)