Accompanying Churches and Communities in Conflicts

Conflicts in Asia region are multifaceted and among these conflicts, some of the world’s longest serving armed conflicts are still continuing in Asia. The number of Asian countries affected by conflicts has increased during the past quarter of a century. Such conflicts come under the category of sub-national conflicts, which are the most widespread, deadly and enduring form of conflicts, mostly caused by political instability, weak governance, economic insecurity, and vulnerability to natural disasters. The present situation in Asia hampers efforts of peace-building and poverty reduction and leaves the Asian countries in more fragile and vulnerable conditions. Over the past twenty years, there have been 26 subnational conflicts in South and Southeast Asia, affecting half of the countries in this region; often lasting for multiple generations, and for more than 40 years on average. Sri Lanka, West Papua, Myanmar, Mindanao, Southern Thailand, and Bangladesh are examples for subnational conflicts in Asia.

There are several examples in Asia today which experience post conflict or post war situations. Such situations bring many crucial challenges to efforts for sustaining peace and building reconciliation and healing. For example, the war or the violent phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka that plagued the nation for well over four decades came to an end. It has brought new challenges and opportunities to the nation specially related to our ecumenical witness. There are several other similar situations too in Asia. Many crucial questions have emerged in such contexts too, such as what is authentic peace? What is the interrelation between peace and justice? What are the core factors that contribute to reconciliation? How do we deal with and overcome the painful memories of the past? How do we talk of genuine justice without a mechanism for accountability? These questions are foremost in the hearts and minds of the people in post conflict situations when they are prepared to move beyond conflicts or equipped to be permanent peace makers. These contextual questions emerge in a multi faith context where cordiality and confrontation, cooperation and resistance are manifested.

Most conflicts leave the country and the citizens impoverished. It is a time for reconstruction, recovery, reconciliation and trauma healing. One of the major challenges faced by religious leaders is the issue of escalating violence and callous negligence for the protection of life and property of civilian citizens, which includes including women, youth, infants, the old and the disabled. The Christian Conference of Asia has been committed to accompany its member churches and Councils as they move ahead with their work in conflict resolution.  CCA has stood in solidarity with churches and communities and accompanied them in situations of crises in South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East Timor and Nepal. The CCA is still committed to accompany the churches and communities as they continue to address the decades old struggle for peace and unification in the Korean peninsula, peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, struggle of Japanese people against the rearmament and militarization through the change of Article 9 of the peace constitution of Japan, militarization and human rights violations in the Philippines, ethnic conflicts and right to self determination of West Papuans, etc.  As these struggles still continue, CCA as a regional fellowship of Asian churches has the responsibilities to continue to be in solidarity with churches in these countries and accompany them in their initiatives in building communities of peace. The CCA will continue with solidarity visits to conflict affected communities; develop a methodology to accompany and make interventions on behalf of such communities through churches and interfaith networks and organize regional interfaith platforms to initiate discussion and strategize on working together to move beyond conflicts and reconciliation.