July 28, 2003

In a climate of mounting enthusiasm about the possibility of reopened peace talks between India and Pakistan, South Asian church leaders are planning to get together to determine how churches can help build peace and stability in the region.

About 15 church representatives will participate in a 2-4 August, 2003 consultation on Peace and Security concerns in South Asia. Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the consultation will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It will attempt to develop a plan of action for the churches that puts into practice recommendations made by the WCC Central Committee at its August 2002 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. A statement on South Asia, adopted by the Committee (see below), refers to Kashmir, nuclear arms and the role of religion in conflict, among others.

The general and executive secretaries of the National Council of Churches in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and of the Christian Conference of Asia, together with members of the WCC Central Committee and experts on peace and security will be among the participants.

"This is the first meeting of its kind to bring South Asian church leaders together to discuss peace and security issues, particularly in relation to India and Pakistan," says Clement John, programme executive in the WCC's team on International Affairs, Peace and Human Security.

"Being a minority in both countries, the churches of India and Pakistan have chosen to remain very much quiet on this issue for fear of provoking a backlash from small hard-line religious groups. But, given the present mood of the people, this is the right time for the churches to get involved in efforts for peace," he explains.

The role of religion in conflicts will be a major focus of the consultation. "During the last decade, religious intolerance has been growing in the entire region. As a result, there have been attacks against religious minorities. Churches, hospitals and educational institutions have been attacked and burned," John reports.

"That is why it is crucial to address the question of how to inculcate tolerance in South Asian societies in order to overcome hatred and violence," he adds.

The WCC Central Committee statement on South Asia is available at: http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/pub-3-en.html

World Council of Churches