2011: Joint ecumenical actions in Asia

Priorities for joint ecumenical actions to ensure Asia’s peace and security

11.08.2011

Serious issues that threaten Asia’s peace and security have been recognized by an ecumenical consultation that was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia. The event was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 2 to 6 August.

The ecumenical consultation with 35 participants from 20 Asian countries addressed the theme “Peace and Security in Asia: Ecumenical Response”. It analyzed the emerging geopolitical trends and peace and security concerns.

The group concluded that, although many Asian countries claim to be democracies, the paradox is that their images are defiled by frequent cases of illegal detention, torture, custodial deaths, extrajudicial execution and forced disappearances. The common people, particularly minorities and the underprivileged, are made to endure many forms of inhuman and degrading treatment at the hands of armed personnel.

Peace and security concerns set the context for the current interplay of geopolitical trends, especially in regard to the dominant US presence in the socio-economic and political affairs of Asia, and in the emerging strategic competition between China and the United States as well as, to a lesser extent, between India and China. Other concerns identified were the contesting of boundaries and challenging of sovereignty in the quest for natural resources, the persistence of protracted internal conflicts based on social and ethnic or religious conflicts, and gross human rights violations and lack of democratic governance.

“An increasing trend of religious intolerance and denial of freedom of religion, lack of rule of law and dysfunctional legal systems in several Asian countries are factors identified by several participants as affecting peace and security in Asia, according to Dr Mathews George Chunakara, director of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the WCC.

“As the rulers in several Asian countries foster religious extremism with a view to either acquiring or holding on to political power, politicization of religion is growing, and this undermines the peaceful coexistence of adherents of various religions which has been a long-nurtured tradition and culture in Asia. It is in this context that the Bangkok consultation identified priorities for ecumenical advocacy actions at various levels”, Mathews George continued.

The ecumenical consultation also decided that the WCC and the CCA will initiate joint advocacy to address issues relating to these areas: human rights, democratic governance, disarmament; the rights of migrant workers, stateless and internally displaced people; the rights of minorities and freedom of religion, all of which are essential components for ensuring peace and security in Asia.