Pax Christi InternationalNewsletter nr 951 December 2001

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL _______________ 2 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL_____________________________________2

Laura Vargas____________________________________________________________________2François Mabille_________________________________________________________________2Msgr Václav Malý________________________________________________________________2

THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN ___________________________________________________ 2 THE COUNCIL ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN____________________________________________2PRESS RELEASE BY PAX CHRISTI FRANCE________________________________________________2RESPONSE FROM AFFILIATED ORGANISATION IN INDIA____________________________________2THROWING THE WHOLE WORLD INTO FIRE – PAX CHRISTI USA STATEMENT REGARDING ATTACKS AGAINST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN PALESTINE AND PAKISTAN_________________2VISIONS FOR PEACE – VOICES OF FAITH / BEHIND THE NEWS / ACT, EAA, WCC_____________2OTHER DOCUMENTS ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT_________________________________________________________________________2

AFRICA _________________________________________________________________________ 2 ROLE OF UN IN DRCONGO______________________________________________________________2BEATI I COSTRUTTORI DI PACE ORGANISES AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR PEACE IN AFRICA (DRC, GREAT LAKES REGION)___________________________________________________2APPEAL TO EUROPEAN UNION ON SUDAN________________________________________________2

AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN ______________________________________________________ 2 DIGNA OCHOA PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER KILLED IN MEXICO____________________2PAX CHRISTI NETHERLANDS: STOP KIDNAPPING IN COLOMBIA_____________________________2SALVADORAN CHURCH ASKS OAS FOR PRESSURE ON ARCHBISHOP ROMERO CASE__________2

ASIA & PACIFIC ________________________________________________________________ 2 ASIA PACIFIC CONSULTATION___________________________________________________________2

The Report: Empowering peace and justice groups in Asia and Pacific to handle conflict in a globalizing world____________________________________________________2

CHRISTIAN AND OTHER MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN________________________________________2HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS MET IN INDIA_________________________________________________2

MIDDLE EAST __________________________________________________________________ 2 LETTER FROM BETHLEHEM_____________________________________________________________2IMMEDIATE INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION IN THE HOLY LAND____________________________2IF YOU WANT PEACE, WORK FOR JUSTICE: PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT AND BISHOPS’ STATEMENT ON ISRAEL & PALESTINE__________________________________________2UNITED CIVILIANS FOR PEACE__________________________________________________________2DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT_________________________2

SECURITY, DEMILITARISATION AND ARMS TRADE ___________________________ 2 STATEMENT ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS__________________________________________________2PAX CHRISTI REINVIGORATES THE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT DEBATE_______________________2THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE US --SEMINAR IN IRELAND_________________________________________________________2

REFUGEES, MIGRANTS ________________________________________________________ 2 LETTER TO GUY VERHOFSTADT (EU) REGARDING REFUGEES_______________________________2IRREGULAR MIGRATION________________________________________________________________2

PEACE SPIRITUALITY __________________________________________________________ 2 RELIGIONS AGAINST TERROR AND VIOLENCE_____________________________________________2PRAYER FOR PEACE IN HUNGARY_______________________________________________________2

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS PAX CHRISTI USA_______________________________________2REPRESENTATION _____________________________________________________________ 2

NEW TEAM OF REPRESENTATIVES UNNY_________________________________________________2NEWS FROM PAX CHRISTI MEMBER ORGANISATIONS _______________________ 2

PAX CHRISTI USA AWARDS TEACHER OF PEACE AWARD TO PEACE ACTIVISTS ON EVE OF VIGIL TO CLOSE SCHOOL OF AMERICAS__________________________________________________2AMBASSADORS FOR PEACE IN THE FLANDERS____________________________________________2

International Calendar ___________________________________________________________ 2

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL

Pax Christi’s International Council was held in Mainz Germany from 31 October to 4 November. Approximately 160 delegates representing more then 50 countries attended the meeting.

Throughout this newsletter you’ll find highlights from the council and summaries of the statements and reports. News items pertaining to the council are indicated in red. To view the complete reports, statements and letters resulting from this Council visit our website: http://www.paxchristi.net/council.html.

Also included on this website are the speech of H.B. Michel Sabbah, our International President; the speech of Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Archbishop of Mainz and President of the German Bishops’ Conference; and the bi-annual report of the International Secretariat.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL Msgr. Václav Malý, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague, Czech Republic; Laura Vargas from Peru; and François Mabille from France were elected as new members for the Executive Committee at the International Council. Marie Dennis from the USA continues her mandate as vice-president. Msgr. Laurent Monsengwo from the DRCongo has been elected as vice president - and Cesar Villanueva, from the Philippines, has been confirmed for a new term as vice president. The Executive Committee elected Marie Dennis as the first vice president. A short biography of the new Committee members follows:

Laura Vargas Laura Vargas was born in the city of Tarma, Perú in the heart of the Andes May 19, 1948. Laura obtained her bachelor’s degree in theology at the Catholic University of Santiago, Chile and her master’s degree in education at the Catholic University of Lima, Peru. From 1971 to 1988 Laura Vargas worked along with the Columbian missionary priests in the northern sector of the city of Lima both in pastoral work and in literacy training with women’s groups in the poor squatter settlements.

In 1988 she began working for the Peruvian Catholic Bishops’ Social Action Commission in the area of human rights, especially during the period in which political terrorism was producing many victims. In 1991 Laura was appointed as director of CEAS (executive secretary), a position she currently continues to hold.

Laura Vargas is also the coordinator for the 5 Bolivian countries for human rights (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia). She has published many articles on the issues of

human rights and the churches social teachings. Along with Ann Pettitfor of Great Britain, she received the Pax Christi International’s annual award 2000 for her leadership of the campaign of Jubilee 2000 in favour of debt cancellation.

François Mabille François Mabille was born on 30 July 1965 in France. He is married and has two children. After receiving a doctoral degree in Political Sciences, he completed specialised studies in International Relations and Contemporary History. Since 2000, he has worked as a researcher associated to the CNRS (School of Higher Education in Social Sciences – Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Religious Issues).

He is a founding member of and researcher for the Research Laboratory of the School of Economic War at the ELSCA and a professor at the DESS “Intelligence and Security” at the University of Marne-La-Vallée. His teaching focuses on theories of international relations and NGOs, and transnational actors in the international arena.

He has organised colloquia and communications on various peace-related issues, for instance on: Chechnya; Conflicts, Reconciliation and Peace in Africa and the Middle East; the Environment and International Law; the Crisis in the Balkans; the consequences of Vatican II on the international activities of French Catholics.

On behalf of Pax Christi France he has been responsible for the Youth Forum. He is currently assisting the director of the Centre for Peace Research at the Catholic Institute of Paris, which is linked to Pax Christi France. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal de la Paix (magazine of Pax Christi France and the Centre for Peace Research).

Msgr Václav Malý Msgr Václav Malý is titular bishop of Marcellia and auxiliary Bishop of Prague. His Episcopal motto is 'Humility and Truth'. Msgr Malý was born in Prague on September 21, 1950. After his secondary studies, he studied at the Theological Faculty Cyrill and Méthodius in Litomerice. He was ordained a priest in Prague on June 26, 1976, and was vicar in Vlasim in Pilsen from 1976 to 1978. In February 1977, Václav Malý signed ‘Charta 77’ and became a member of the Committee for the Victims of Persecution. When the authorities refused him the right to exercise his ministry in January 1979, he began to work as an assistant land surveyor. In May 1979 he was imprisoned until December 1979, charged with attempting to overthrow the republic. From 1980 until 1986 he worked in various hotels in Prague. From 1981 to 1982, he was a spokesperson for Charta 77 and in 1989 for the Committee of the Civilians (Burgerforum). From 1990 to 1996 he was named priest first of the parish St Gabriël in Prague - Smichov and then of the parish St Antoine also in Prague - Holesovice. Václav Malý was named titular bishop of Marcellie and auxiliary bishop of Prague on October 3, 1996. On January 11, 1997 he was ordained a bishop in Prague.

THE WAR IN AFGHANISTANTHE COUNCIL ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN At the International Council in Mainz, a plenary session was held on the events of 11 September and the war in Afghanistan. Letters were drafted and sent to President Bush, Prime Minister Blair and Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. Following is

the letter sent 4 November 2001 to President Bush, which was signed by H.B. Michel Sabbah, International President on behalf of all Council participants:

“Pax Christi International urgently calls upon you and your government to halt immediately the bombing of Afghanistan. This will allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international agencies to ensure that sufficient aid may be delivered to the Afghan people before the onset of winter in a few weeks.

You, together with your coalition partners are engaging in aerial bombing raids and ground attacks against Afghanistan. This includes the use of cluster bombs, which have indiscriminate characteristics, the fundamental principle for banning anti-personnel landmines. These military actions have worsened an already existing humanitarian disaster and polarised religious communities throughout the world. At this moment, millions of Afghan people are struggling to survive in deteriorating weather conditions.

Pax Christi International carries within its members the lived experience of the reality and fear of the violence of terrorism and war. This experience convinces us that war only creates more violence and suffering and that it will not stop terrorist activities that may be spawned in the context of despair and exclusion.

Pax Christi International was born out of the fires of World War II as French and German peoples began to find another way to peace. Today Pax Christi draws its strength from members of 53 nations working to prevent, overcome and end violent conflict. We fully understand the fear brought about by recent acts and continuing threats of terrorism, which we have strongly condemned. We believe that crimes against humanity committed by terrorists must be addressed through the rule of international law. Therefore we call for the establishment, through the United Nations, of a special tribunal to ensure that justice is done. We urge you to work within the international community to develop more effective means to counter terrorism. The military aspect of your response to terrorism will not provide the security you seek but will add to the vulnerability of many people and countries of our world.

As an international Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi will work relentlessly to mobilize communities throughout the world to build peace, pursue justice, uphold human rights, promote inter-religious dialogue and respect differences. These are the foundations of authentic and lasting peace and security in the world. Mr. President, we urge you as a Christian leader to do the same.

We pray for every victim of terror and violence throughout the world. We pray for you as you move forward to meet the challenges ahead.”

PRESS RELEASE BY PAX CHRISTI FRANCE On 17 October 2001, the French section of Pax Christi issued a press release concerning the war in Afghanistan. A number of people have been questioning the legitimacy of this sort of response to terrorism. On what grounds is it possible to justify this response? Pax Christi France wishes to make the following observations:

Catholic doctrine regarding just war is clear: an armed response to terrorism can only be justified if it is absolutely necessary to bring a halt to such activity. This is conditional based on the avoidance of disproportionate damage to those who do not take part in such terrorism.

The tragedy of 11 September makes us rethink the notion of security. Therefore, we must take account of it in a new way and with new means, while avoiding any temptation to excuse our actions.

In 1982 Pope John Paul II said, “that to claim to justify terrorism in the name of God is blasphemy; it is a savage and inhumane method which should be banned completely”. As he required at that time, “we must take up the challenge, we must act effectively”. According to him, above all we should seek to set in motion “remedies which result from a lucid analysis of the causes of terrorism”.

We cannot use God’s name to justify recourse to violence. We must accept responsibility for deciding the criteria of justice and solidarity, submitting ourselves to God’s judgement, but without ever wanting to usurp it. Priority must be given to non-violent means. We must denounce a fundamentalist reading of the Scriptures leading to the justification of such ideologies as the territorial claims of Zionism or the fundamentalist deviation of Islam. We must condemn equally robustly the current neo-liberalism, which has resulted in the unacceptable growth in inequality between rich and poor nations, provoking feelings of frustration and revolt that are beginning to make themselves felt. We must orchestrate a positive dialogue between cultures, based upon ideas of peace and non-violence in order to prevent a clash of civilizations. According to UNESCO’s Constitution: “it is in man’s spirit that we must raise the defence of peace”.

We are waiting for the United States to give some strong signals that they are heeding the expectations of the international community: by strengthening International Law (such as the ratification of the International Criminal Tribunal, the Convention against anti-personnel mines, the Kyoto Protocol etc.); and by support for Security Council Resolutions relating to Israel and Palestine.

Finally, we believe that the fight against terrorism and those criminal mafias that feed it should be led by an international police force under the aegis of the United Nations.

RESPONSE FROM AFFILIATED ORGANISATION IN INDIA The Documentation Research & Training Centre, an Affiliated Organisation with Pax Christi International in India, has been co-organising public meetings on the war in Afghanistan, claiming the US war on terrorism is killing civilians in Afghanistan and endangering peace in India.

The centre has organised meetings with other concerned NGOs in Mumbai and elected a committee to organise a National Campaign for Peace and Development. Meetings have been held September 28 and 9 November.

THROWING THE WHOLE WORLD INTO FIRE – PAX CHRISTI USA STATEMENT REGARDING ATTACKS AGAINST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN PALESTINE AND PAKISTAN 29 October 2001, Pax Christi USA is deeply shocked and saddened by the recent attacks against Christian communities in Palestine and Pakistan. We condemn unreservedly the harassment, repression, and killing of Palestinian Christians by the Israeli military and the attack on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during Sunday Mass on October 21. We regret that it is the innocent who continually suffer the most in the endless cycle of violent reprisals between Israelis and Palestinians.

We are equally horrified by the massacre of Pakistani Christians at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in the city of Behawalpur on October 28th. In a corruption of the Islamic faith, the terrorist invoked the name of Allah as they slaughtered innocent worshipers. Earlier comments by Catholic Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, Pakistan, proved prophetic when he told Christians and Muslims there that it was not wise for the United States to "throw the whole world into a fire" in order to target one person. As the bodies of the innocent continue to climb in Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places, the fire of religious hatreds are inflamed.

Those who would seek to impose their will on others through the use of violence only succeed in making things worse. You cannot quench the flames of hate by starting more fires. Those who think they can control violence and use it for good are only fooling themselves. The consequences of their violence can never fully be comprehended or calculated.

For these reasons Pax Christi USA urgently appeals to the Bush Administration to halt the bombing campaign to allow sufficient aid to be delivered to the Afghan people before the onset of winter. UN aid officials have estimated that some 7.5 million innocent Afghan civilians might be threatened with starvation. Some 500,000 children are even now at high risk for death due to malnutrition and disease. The current conditions for civilians in Afghanistan as well as the swelling refugee camps along the Pakistani border portend a human disaster of cataclysmic proportions. "We are afraid that people do not grasp the magnitude of the crisis unfolding inside Afghanistan," reported Luc Picard, a Pakistan representative for Catholic Relief Services in a recent statement. "Numbers are impossible to judge accurately," said Picard, "but millions are surely at risk, and hundreds of thousands are facing life threatening food needs. It really is a race against time to reach them before the snow cuts them off for months."

The US bombing campaign in pursuit of terrorist criminals is preventing international aid agencies and the United Nations from their ongoing relief efforts. Pax Christi USA affirms the position recently articulated by the Vatican that those responsible for the September 11th attacks must be brought to justice through due process. However, as Archbishop Renato Martino, Permanent Representative of the Holy See at the United Nations stressed: "This must be done in a way that does not expose even more innocent civilians to death and destruction. Violence, on top of violence will only lead to more violence. This is a time for wisdom and perseverance."

President Bush has repeatedly stated that the US is not at war with the people of Afghanistan. Such assurances are cruelly contradicted by the persistence of US bombing in the face of such a looming humanitarian catastrophe. The "wisdom" called for by the Vatican would recognize that a willingness to allow millions of innocent civilians to perish as a direct result of the bombing campaign would not only be a moral failure, but a practical setback to the goal of ending terrorism as well. Moreover, such a calculated disregard for life at this scale will send a clear signal to all peoples of the region that their lives are similarly expendable in the effort to end terrorism. This is not a basis for building the kind of international cooperation needed to end terrorism. If the goal of the war on terrorism is to make US citizens, and indeed, all people more secure, then consideration must be given to the clearly identifiable effects of each tactic chosen in the larger campaign strategy. Exacerbating the already desperate plight of refugees in Afghanistan and surrounding nations will reinforce the very myths about the US that have served the terrorists well and will create even more fertile ground for terrorist

recruiting in the future. Thus our own military efforts to confront terrorism are in fact sowing the seeds of more violence in another generation filled with despair and hatred.

The Afghan Winter is only three weeks away. Already the first snows have fallen on the Hindu Kush Mountains and the isolated highlands of Hazarajat. But even before the winter weather confounds aid efforts, the US bombing campaign has all but halted relief deliveries. The bombing campaign must be suspended immediately and all efforts expended to sufficiently supply the people of Afghanistan with the essentials for survival and human dignity. Only in this way can the US effectively communicate its position that we are not at war with the people of Afghanistan. Only in this way can we begin to counter the violence of desperation and desolation that breeds hatred and violence.

Pax Christi USA remains committed to follow the non-violent Jesus who calls us to break the spiral of violence through love of neighbour and enemy alike. We stand with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Islamic world and with all people of good will, in working to put out the fires of hatred and violence that are consuming our world.

VISIONS FOR PEACE – VOICES OF FAITH / BEHIND THE NEWS / ACT, EAA, WCC 23 November -- In response to the threatening global situation in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States, Action by Churches Together (ACT), the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), have set up a short-term response mechanism to offer a selection of statements, useful information, thought-provoking reflections, and worship resources which might aid churches in responding to the unfolding situation. Visit the web site at www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/behindthenews. Pax Christi International is a member of the Alliance.

OTHER DOCUMENTS ON THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT “Multiple Paths, Multifarious Scenarios?” by Dr Harry Hagopian, KSL-KOG, ref.: ME.76.E.01.Press Release, Pax Christi Italy, 5 November 2001, in Italian, ref.: SD.48.I.01.Press Release, Pax Christi Netherlands, 9 November 2001, in Dutch, ref.: SD.49.D.01.

AFRICAROLE OF UN IN DRCONGO Based on the increasingly desperate situation in DR Congo, The International Council in Mainz drafted a letter to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary general. The following is an extract of the letter. A similar letter has been sent to the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. (Read the complete text at www.paxchristi.net/council.html)

“Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace movement, wishes to highlight the situation in the region of the Great Lakes in Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in particular. There is probably no other region in the world where the people have suffered more severely in recent years.

Concerning the continuing conflict situation in the territory of the DRC, Pax Christi International strongly recommends the following:

Stronger UN support for the inter-Congolese inclusive dialogue to be continued as soon as possible in South Africa, in order to set up a state of rule and the institutions to help with the transition;

A renewed UN mandate and the deployment of a more substantial blue helmet peace keeping force to secure the complete withdrawal of foreign troops and the application of the decisions taken on the inter-Congolese dialogue;

The appointment of a French speaking co-facilitator to assist Sir Ketumile Masire; The establishment of a international monitory scheme to stop the illegal exploitation

of natural resources (coltan, diamonds, gold, wood, etc) as a follow-up to the UN report regarding this matter;

Precise measures to be taken to make the import of weapons into the region impossible;

To help find a global solution for the Great Lakes Region that promotes national dialogue and reconciliation initiatives.

The International Council makes appeal on you to actively promote the above-mentioned recommendations on the situation in the DRCongo and the Great Lakes Region.”

BEATI I COSTRUTTORI DI PACE ORGANISES AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR PEACE IN AFRICA (DRC, GREAT LAKES REGION) The International Symposium for Peace in Kisangani, Africa will take place from 4 to 7 April 2002, and will be chaired by Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kisangani and Vice President of Pax Christi International. The Symposium will bring together groups, associations and NGOs that work for peace, reconciliation and human rights, civil society representatives from all parts of the DRC, from neighbouring countries and from all over the world. In addition, a European Organizing Committee will invite international personalities, Nobel Peace Laureates, official envoys of the United Nations and the European Union. For more information, please contact the European Organizing Committee: Italian Secretariat: Beati I costruttori di pace, Via A. da Tempo, 2, 35131 Padova, Italy, phone/fax +39 049 8070699; +39 049 8070522, e-mail beati@libero.it

APPEAL TO EUROPEAN UNION ON SUDAN The working group on Africa at the International Council in Mainz, discussed the ongoing suffering in the Sudan, the fighting for the control of the oil-rich areas and the consequent massive and forced displacement of thousands of people. According to the International Council, the European Union should play a very constructive role in finding a just and lasting peace in the country. Together they issued the following appeal to the Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Council; Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission; and Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament; and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, COMECE, to actively promote the recommendations mentioned in the appeal.

We, the delegates of the member-organisations of Pax Christi International, beinga.) deeply disturbed by the on going suffering of the people of the Sudan,b). acutely aware of the escalation of the war in the Sudan as a result of fighting for the

control of the oil-rich areas, and the consequent massive forced displacement of civilian populations from those areas,

c). appalled by the widespread, methodical and indiscriminate aerial bombardments of civilian populations,

d). outraged by the complicity of international oil companies in gross and systematic human rights violations as a result of carrying out operations that exacerbate the war and by accepting protection of their property and personnel from the armed forces and militias of

the Government of Sudan which is known for its alarming record with respect to human rights;

e). noting with concern the slowdown and consequent lack of progress in the EU-Sudan dialogue;

f). concerned that Europe’s determination to strive for a just and lasting peace in the Sudan may be compromised by its struggle against international terrorism,

g). pointing out that the lack of reliable, relevant and systematically gathered information coming from the zones of conflict in Sudan compromise the European Union’s ability to assess progress in crucial issues covered by its dialogue with the Government of Sudan, notably human rights,

h). encouraged by the 17 August 2001 united and firm stand of the Sudanese Episcopal and Roman Catholic bishops of the Sudan for peace and justice,

i). inspired by the 5 September 2001 appeal by the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference to the World Council of Churches and a great number of European, American and African Bishops’ Conferences to act on the nefarious impact that the oil exploitation has on their people.

Wish to heed the call of the Catholic bishops of the Sudan, and therefore: 1. Express support for the appeal by the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC), to

take action to ensure that international oil companies, banks and other enterprises refrain from doing business with the oil industry in Sudan until there is a just and lasting peace;

2. Equally support the SCBC’s appeal to work that governments and international organisations effectively discourage international companies from engaging in the oil industry in Sudan;

3. Call upon the European Union to make the war and related human rights concerns the central theme of its political dialogue with the Government of Sudan;

4. Call upon the European Union to immediately impose a temporary ban on all new investment in the oil sector in Sudan, and a prohibition on trade in and transportation of Nile Blend Crude within and across EU borders,

5. Call upon the European Union to arrange in the near future a high-level official troika mission to the region, which should include Khartoum and Nairobi as well as oil concession areas in southern Sudan and both government-controlled and non-government held areas, and should involve meetings with individuals and groups from the Christian and Muslim communities as well as with Government representatives. The mandate of the troika should include not only an inquiry into the linkage between the oil production and the conflict, but also the making of recommendations to the EU member states indicating appropriate strategies in influencing the parties to the conflict to work towards a just and lasting peace settlement,

6. Call upon the European Union to establish a long-term, international, independent, large-scale, field-based monitoring structure on the effects of the war and oil development.

7. Call for a continuation of the dialogue between the EU and the Government of Sudan, with enhanced transparency as to content and outcome and involving the establishment of public benchmarks by which progress can and will be measured on a regular basis, the first such evaluation to be undertaken in December 2001 and thereafter made public. These benchmarks ought to include - Cessation of indiscriminate bombing- Unimpeded access to and freedom to move within government-controlled areas for

international monitors, researchers and observers, - Measurable progress in the peace process on the basis of the Inter-Governmental

Association for Development (IGAD) Declaration of Principles, assessed for instance by

the return of Internally Displaced Persons from inside and around the oil-rich areas to their original places of residence;

8. Call upon the European Commission to significantly increase the staff in the EU Delegation in Khartoum, in the light of the implementation of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 3227/01 (RE\446643EN.doc) and the additional EU action for in its resolution;

9. Call upon the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) as well as in the national bishops conferences, to act on the appeal of the SCBC and to actively promote the above mentioned recommendations with their own governments and within the EU structures.

AMERICAS & CARIBBEANDIGNA OCHOA PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER KILLED IN MEXICO On 7 November 2001, Etienne De Jonghe, International Secretary, sent a letter to President Vicente Fox Quesada concerning the murder Digna Ochoa, lawyer in Mexico. The following is an extract:

“We express our most profound sadness and outrage at the assassination of human rights advocate Digna Ochoa. This crime directly threatens the struggle in defense of human rights in Mexico and every other part of the world.

The execution of Digna leads us to question the commitment of your administration to the protection of human rights. The threats directed against her, her kidnapping, and, finally, her assassination, are a direct result of ineffectiveness and/or lack of political will on the part of the justice system to prevent these hideous deeds and to sanction those who are responsible. At this moment of crisis, we are especially concerned about the safety of other Mexican human rights activists who have received similar threats, including Maria Patricia Jimenez of the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Human Rights Center, members of the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Center, members of the Fray Lorenzo de la Nada Human Rights Center, members of the Bartolome Carrasco Center, Arturo Solis, Barbara Zamora, and Pilar Noreiga.

We are further concerned that the justice system of Mexico, under the direction of former Army General Rafael Marcial Maceda de la Concha, is not up to the task of defending human rights. For example, in the case of Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera, General Maceda refused to consider compelling testimony that the army used torture to force "confessions" from the campesino environmentalists. It appears that General Maceda's loyalty to the army may out-weigh his commitment to justice. We question the political will of the Attorney General's office to carry out a complete investigation of the assassination, especially if the investigation leads to possible involvement of members of Mexico's security forces.

We demand the following measures:- A thorough and transparent investigation of the assassination of Digna Ochoa and the threats levelled against other human rights activists, and the prosecution of those responsible for these hideous acts. - The immediate protection of human rights advocates, especially those mentioned above, and development of public policies for the long-term protection of human rights advocates. - Immediate compliance with the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders prepared by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Pax Christi International organised a fact-finding visit to your country some years ago and is continuing to follow the situation very closely.”

PAX CHRISTI NETHERLANDS: STOP KIDNAPPING IN COLOMBIA 12 November -- Pax Christi Netherlands organised a study day in Den Haag on the issue of kidnapping in Colombia. They are developing a report on this issue. The research material is based on a large variety of sources such as Colombian and international security authorities, NGOs, and individual international experts. In addition, included is valuable confidential information from civil servants and diplomats as well data from the extensive Colombian network of Pax Christi Netherlands. The report is available in English from e-mail: moor@paxchristi.nl. A summary of the report in progress follows:

In Columbia and other countries kidnapping has become a way to finance war. This report focuses on kidnapping practices directly related to revenues of the warring parties. This excludes kidnapping by common criminals (approximately 10%) and politically motivated kidnapping. The approach of this survey has been defined by the fact that foreigners (Europeans) account for a relatively large amount of ransom payments (one third of the abducted foreigners in Colombia are European), although they are few in number compared with the thousands of Colombian victims every year. In effect, Europeans contribute to the war through ransom and extortion money even while supporting the European Union in dialogue and peace initiatives in Colombia.

The report is addressed to both Colombians and Europeans to attempt to break through the wall of silence that surrounds the subject, much of which can be attributed to fear of reprisals. Attention is paid to the moral dilemma faced by individuals, families, companies and governments involved when a ransom is demanded, when payment seems the only way to save the life of the victim and yet directly contributes to the war. Far from condemning the decisions taken by anyone who is confronted with the crime of kidnapping, the document seeks to stimulate discussion about this growing form of terrorism. The report calls on the international community to develop a common strategy, focuses attention on kidnapping as a violation of human rights, and asks the question why the crime of hostage taking is not denounced more explicitly in international human rights circles.

Pax Christi Netherlands has developed contacts with a wide variety of civil sectors in Colombia, especially the churches and has several Colombian partners.

SALVADORAN CHURCH ASKS OAS FOR PRESSURE ON ARCHBISHOP ROMERO CASE A Salvadoran church official has asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to pressure the Salvadoran government to investigate seriously the 1980 murder of Archbishop Oscar A. Romero. The Salvadoran government has not complied with a commission’s decision last year asking for the case to be reopened and the abrogation of an amnesty law preventing suspects from being brought to trial, according to Maria Julia Hernandez, director of the legal aid office of the San Salvador Archdiocese. "The state is protecting the murderers and plotters,'' she told Catholic News Service on November 15 after testifying before the commission, part of the Organisation of American States. The Archbishop Romero case is still important because it shows the high-degree of impunity that exists in the country, according to Hernandez. Maria Julia is a member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International.

ASIA & PACIFICFor information and current events related to the Asia-Pacific region visit Pax Christi’s web page devoted to the region at www.paxchristi.net/work/ap.

ASIA PACIFIC CONSULTATION The Third Asia Pacific Consultation of Pax Christi International took place in Thailand, 23 – 28 October 2001. The 41 participants from 15 different countries issued the following statement:

Empowering peace and justice groups in Asia and Pacific to handle conflict in a globalizing world

“Peace is our work. To everyone, Christians, believers, men and women of good will, I say: Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to teach peace … Peace will be the last word of

history.” - John Paul II

“For this reason, the Church in Asia must foster a threefold dialogue: with the many different faiths of Asia, with the cultures of Asia, and with the poor multitudes of Asia.” - Federation of

Asian Bishops’ Conference, 1995

We the delegates to the 3rd Pax Christi International Asia Pacific Consultation met at Pattaya, Thailand on 23-28 October 2001. Forty-one delegates from different religions represented fifteen countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. We shared our experiences, knowledge and understanding of social realities in connection with our efforts to promote peace and justice in the region.

The specific realities of our different countries in the region were analysed in the wider context of peace and conflict resolution work.

The Asia-Pacific Region assumes critical significance given the rich and diverse multicultural and multi-religious composition of the people as also the fact that many current day conflicts are taking place here. Thus, we believe that there is an urgent need to address this situation. We feel that civil society, the Churches, the religious hierarchies and leaders of all faiths need to assume active roles in the struggle for peace, justice, human rights, reconciliation, and inter-faith dialogue.

The issues of justice and peace in our various countries are similar given the patterns of oppression, exploitation and discrimination. These situations, rooted in historical conditions, have unfortunately survived the process of political change. However, as vibrant peace initiatives show, people, communities and movements have evolved creative means to struggle against these unjust structures.

We understand that unjust economic, political, religious, military structures and the negative stereotyping of the ‘enemy other’, perpetuates a cycle of inequality, violence, aggression, patriarchal domination and oppression.

We believe that the continued violation of the fundamental human rights and the denial of the right to life of peoples threaten the basic foundations of societies in the Asia-Pacific region.

This situation impacts on the vast majority of people living in the countries of the region, making women, children, minorities, displaced peoples, workers, farmers, urban and rural poor particularly vulnerable to the cycle of violence and exploitation.

We recognize the crucial need of peoples, communities and movements within the different countries of the Asia Pacific region to develop an understanding of /and build a solidarity around the complex local issues that affect peace justice and conflict resolution. We know that in solidarity, we can chart a future that is worthy of the next generation.

Thus, we commit ourselves to actively promote and realize the United Nations Decade for Developing a Culture of Peace.

We hope to do this individually by: Opening our minds and hearts to understanding different ideas, faiths and persuasions Engaging in continuing peace education and inner reflection Exploring, admitting and ending all forms of prejudices Recognizing the value and dignity of each person Protecting and preserving the integrity of creation Standing in solidarity with the victims of violence Understanding that those in power are also victims of their own violence.

Collectively, we commit ourselves to: Broadening our peace education efforts and promoting the actualisation of

fundamental rights of all marginalized sections Strengthening our network by exchanging information and assistance wherever

possible. Intensifying our network and partnership by engaging in collaborative efforts towards

peace, justice, and gender equality. Working actively to end all forms and symbols of patriarchal and other forms of

oppression Collaborating when required with persons and structures of authority on peace and

justice concerns. Bringing more people into the fold of peace, justice and human rights work.

We realize that working for peace and justice is a hugely daunting task. We recognize that as individual human beings, we are all frail and limited. But we know, too, that collectively we can make a difference. With the grace of the Supreme Being, we know that together, we can make peace possible. In conclusion, we say in unison, “Spirituality, prayer, study, research and practical action will shape our work; solidarity and compassion will guide our daily efforts.”

CHRISTIAN AND OTHER MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN In November, the International Secretariat organised a mailing concerning the difficult situation of the Christian and other religious minorities in Pakistan. The Bahawalpur Massacre of 28 October shocked the whole world. Since the events of the 11th of September in the USA and especially since the war in Afghanistan, the International Secretariat received several emergency reports about the daily difficulties of Christians and Christian Churches in Pakistan. Reports have been received from the Justice and Peace Commission of the Religious Superiors (ref. AP12E01) and from a partner in Pakistan, the Catholic Youth Ministry of Lahore.

The International Secretariat has prepared a document (Ref: AP.17.E.01) in three parts. The first part provides a report of the Bahawalpur Massacre. The second part reports on the general situation in Afghanistan and the third offers suggestions for action that may be taken. All information is based on reports that we have received from our contacts in Pakistan: The Catholic Youth Ministry of Lahore and in Bangladesh: Hotline Bangladesh. You are invited to use this document for action and advocacy as well as for study and reflection.

If you would like information on the situation in Bangladesh and similar reports please send a message to Jean Saldanha at asia-pacific@paxchristi.net.

HINDUS AND CHRISTIANS MET IN INDIA Harit Vasai Samiti NGO which is an Affiliated Organisation with Pax Christi International, informed us about the Hindus and Christians meeting for Prayer and Sharing. Members of Harit Vasai Samiti and the followers of Swadhyaya, a Hindu Charismatic group met together on the occasion of Diwali, the feast of Light. Fr Francis D'Britto shared his experiences at Asia Pacific Consultation held at Pattaya, Thailand in October 2001. He spoke about the need of carrying out inter-religious dialogue, especially on the grass root level, which helps to diffuse tension and build good relations. He recalled Hans Kung who said that "No peace between nations without peace between religions; no peace between religions without dialogue between religions; no dialogue between the religions without theological research." He praised the local activists of both religions who have maintained cordial relations with each other. The meeting began with prayers from Christian and Hindu Scriptures.

MIDDLE EASTLETTER FROM BETHLEHEM The “Letter from Bethlehem,” is a successor to the “Bethlehem Diary,” and is composed and edited by Toine van Teeffelen, educational consultant and project manager at the Arab Educational Institute (AEI) in Bethlehem and local coordinator of the “United Civilians for Peace” initiative; Susan Atallah, coordinator English at St Joseph School for Girls in Bethlehem; and by Ala’a Oweineh, student at Birzeit University. The Letters from Bethlehem are available from the International Secretariat: nrs. 3 – 4 (ref. ME.74.E.01); nr 5 (ref.: ME.77.E.01).

IMMEDIATE INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION IN THE HOLY LAND Delegates at the International Council in Mainz drafted the following letter of concern that was sent to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, and to Javier Solana and Chris Patten of the European Union, regarding the situation in the Middle East. The following is an extract of the letter to Kofi Annan:

“Members at the International Council discussed the violent conflict in the Holy Land and concluded that, given the emergency situation in Israel - Palestine, the international community should act immediately.

Pax Christi International calls on the UN for an immediate international intervention to stop the violence and military actions from both sides, at least until negotiations restart. According to Pax Christi, both parties should be going back to negotiations based on the framework of international law and all the relevant UN resolutions.

Pax Christi International has some direct partners in the Holy Land. Our organisation has a good contact and relationship with peace and human rights organisations in both the Israeli and the Palestinian communities. Our movement will continue to monitor the daily situation on the ground in Israel – Palestine.”

IF YOU WANT PEACE, WORK FOR JUSTICE: PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT AND BISHOPS’ STATEMENT ON ISRAEL & PALESTINE The following statement has been adopted at the International Council of Pax Christi International. Some 30 Presidents and Bishops of Pax Christi International, as well as other bishops, have signed the statement. To view a list of signatories visit our website: www.paxchristi.net/council.

Every other day, the violence is escalating. The International Community, the public opinion and our Churches are too silent about this ongoing conflict in the Holy Land. Pax Christi International is in a specific situation given the fact that the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, is the International President of our movement. Since September 2000, the Arab Education Institute (AEI) in Bethlehem has been affiliated with Pax Christi International.

With this new initiative, we see at least three aims: To invite all our bishops members and presidents of Pax Christi International to speak

out openly on the issue. To raise the awareness of our public opinion and members. To advocate to the governments and political institutions of the USA and Europe.

This statement is in line with the analysis and the conclusions of a fact-finding visit of a Pax Christi International delegation earlier this year. The statement has an English and a French version and are available from the International Secretariat, ref.: ME.56.EF.01.

UNITED CIVILIANS FOR PEACE A presentation about the project “United Civilians for Peace” was given at the latest meeting of the Regional Working Group on the Middle East at the International Council in Mainz. The group decided to support this project and to inform our international partners and member organisations about this important initiative.

A group of Dutch NGO’s, including Pax Christi Netherlands, is involved in this project. The NGO’s have sent a group of civilian observers to the West Bank and Gaza. The local coordinator of the project is Toine van Teeffelen of the Arab Education Institute, an affiliated Organisation with Pax Christi International. Between 21 and 26 November 2001, a small Dutch delegation consisting of well-known people from different backgrounds will visit Palestine in light of this campaign. They will visit the Dutch volunteers and study the situation on the ground. Marjolein Wijninckx of Pax Christi Netherlands is one of the coordinators of the project and the visit.

More Information: in The Netherlands, the campaign is organised by: Cordaid, ICCO, IKV, Kerken in Aktie, Novib and Pax Christi Netherlands (Contact co-ordinator Marjolein Wijninckx at Pax Christi, Tel: +31-30-2428486, wijninckx@paxchristi.nl or media co-ordinator Erik Ackerman at ICCO, Tel: +31-30 – 6927995, ea@icco.nl). The local co-ordinator of the campaign is Toine van Teeffelen in Bethlehem (Tel: +972-2-2776573, tvant@p-ol.com)

DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT 1. “The Israeli invasion of Bethlehem, 2001”: In the aftermath of the invasion into

Bethlehem, the Arab Educational Institute conducted a small study about how this invasion had affected daily life in town. This is a very interesting survey. Ref.: ME.80.E.01.

2. “Cultural Dialogue or Cultural Schism?” by Dr. Hary Hagopian, ref.: ME.81.E.01

SECURITY, DEMILITARISATION AND ARMS TRADESTATEMENT ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS 143 State Parties to the Convention will meet to review the state of the BTWC at The Fifth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapon Convention (BTWC) in Geneva, 19 November – 7 December 2001.

The movement is deeply concerned about the recent breakdown of the negotiations on a verification protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Pax Christi International issued the following statement on biological weapons, drafted at the International Council:

The statement in part 1 of this document expresses concerns about BTWC and is included below. Part 2 is a background document explaining how the movement has reached the positions adopted. It is available on our website www.paxchristi.net/council. English version ref. SD.16.E.01, French version ref. SD.16.F.01

Pax Christi International Statement on Biological Weapons

Pax Christi International rejects any production, testing, transport, storage, use or possession of biological and toxin weapons for killing humans and for destroying human food, crops and animals. The developments in the USA after 11 September highlight the dangers of terrorist resorting to weapons of mass destruction. There is an increased urgency to agree on a Verification Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).

International communityPax Christi International urges the international community to strengthen the BTWC by adding the protocol, which has been negotiated by the Ad Hoc group of states party to the BTWC convention. We realise that this protocol is not sufficient in respect to ban the possession and use of biological and toxin weapons. Yet the protocol, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Biological Weapons, are necessary instruments to strengthen the international protection regime against biological weapons. Also, they will contribute to a climate of international collaboration to foster the peaceful development of vaccines and other biotechnologies. The verification protocol should urge the participating states to continue efforts to develop better verification procedures.

National authoritiesPax Christi International calls upon national governments to protect their own citizens as well as civilians in other countries against the effects of attacks with biological weapons. Also, they should take preventive measures such as dual use export controls, regular inspection of dual use installations, promoting Good Manufacturing and Good Laboratory Practice, the adoption of 'whistleblowers' legislation to protect individual employees if they want to report suspect situations, and legislation (when not already in place) to criminalize BW activity of individuals and organisations. This legislation should contain provisions on alternative jobs

for the ‘whistleblower’ in case the relation between the ‘whistle blowing’ employee and the employer proves to be irreparably damaged. Governments should also grant asylum and protection to nationals of countries who speak out against offensive biological weapons programmes of their own governments.

IndustriesPax Christi International requests pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnological and other industries that have biotechnological installations, which could be abused for the production of biological weapons, to develop an internal code of conduct to prevent abuse of their installations for biological weapons. This code of conduct should respect Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Laboratory Practice standards. They should also develop a 'whistleblowers' procedure to enable employees to report suspect situations.

IndividualsPax Christi International asks individual researchers and other employees who work with biological agents to watch for signs of potential abuse. Individuals should warn their superiors or the relevant authorities if they suspect potential abuse. Medical and scientific professionals have a special responsibility in this regard.

ChurchesPax Christi International calls upon the Holy See and the World Council of Churches to speak out against the development, production, stockpiling or use of biological weapons for mass destruction. The various churches should promote the development and acceptance of a verification regime, even if the verification possibilities are not yet sufficient.

Mainz, November 2001

PAX CHRISTI REINVIGORATES THE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT DEBATE The second Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CNTB) took place in New York, USA, November 2001. Pax Christi International issued a position paper and is calling on the International Community and the Churches to renew their commitment to nuclear disarmament. Concern on this issue must continue to be voiced through strong public opinion raised against nuclear weapons.

This initiative has been re-initiated at the International Council of Pax Christi International. The call and statement stress the urgent need for an international nuclear disarmament convention, and other immediate actions to move closer to abolition. Certain immediate steps should be taken. The statement urges:

Russia and the USA to make rapid progress towards Start III with lower limits than those envisaged at Helsinki.

The UK and France to take a lead here, by abandoning talk of relying on nuclear weapons for national security, promoting a “no first use” treaty among the Nuclear Weapons States, and announcing their intention not to replace their current arsenals at any time in the future.

The removal of nuclear weapons from the territory of all non-nuclear European states. The establishment of nuclear weapon free zones where they do not yet exist, such as in

the Middle East, Central Europe and South Asia.

Among the signatories are Msgr. Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and current President of Pax Christi International; and all living former International Pax Christi

Presidents: Franz Cardinal König, Former Archbishop of Vienna, Godfried Cardinal Danneels, Archbishop of Malines – Brussels, Bishop Luigi Bettazzi, Former Bishop of Ivrea. Laurent Monsengwo, Archbishop of Kisangani and Vice President of Pax Christi International, signed the statement in his capacity as the President of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Amédée Grab OSB, the President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) is also among the signatories. All of the bishop presidents of national sections signed the statement, including several bishops of the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Ireland and the Netherlands. Bishops of Japan have signed the statement as well. In Australia, ecumenical leaders signed the Statement. For a complete list of signatories view our website www.paxchristi.net/council.

The Church and other religious organisations have an important role to play in informing and mobilising public opinion about the issues confronting our common security. The statement by Pax Christi International explicitly supports the Call of the Holy See on nuclear disarmament. It is a follow up of the statement of more than 100 Pax Christi USA bishops questioning the morality of nuclear deterrence in their letter of 1998 as well as on the recent appeals for nuclear disarmament of the World Council of Churches and the international coalitions acting in favour of the total abolition of nuclear weapons.

The position paper of Pax Christi International contains two sections: a background briefing, and a statement. It is the second part, the statement, which has been signed by Cardinals, Bishops and Presidents of our movement.

The Call and Statement are available from the International Secretariat in English, French, German, Dutch and Portuguese (ref.: SD.04.EFGDP.00)

THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE US --SEMINAR IN IRELAND On 21 November 2001, a seminar was organised by Pax Christi Ireland on “The Future of Global Peace and Security in the context of terrorist attacks on the US.” Politicians, diplomats, academics and representatives of NGOs attended the seminar. Speakers included Kevin Dowling, Head of Disarmament & Non-Proliferation Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin; Dan Plesch, Senior Research Fellow, Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies in London; Enda McDonagh, Emeritus Professor of Moral Theology.

REFUGEES, MIGRANTSLETTER TO GUY VERHOFSTADT (EU) REGARDING REFUGEES On 9 November, Etienne De Jonghe wrote a letter to the Belgian Presidency of the European Union concerning access of refugees in the EU. The following is an extract:To read the full text visit www.paxchristi.net/council

“The endlessly postponing of a credible harmonized EU asylum policy has led to a degrading competition among EU Member States in ever more restrictive measures and sub-standard interpretations of the Geneva Refugee Convention and international protection, which increases the danger of human rights violations and ‘refoulement’.

The Tampere Conclusions (October 1999) suggest the EU common asylum policy to be based on principles that offer “guarantees to those who seek protection in or access to the European Union” (conclusion 3). Moreover, Member States are expected to apply “absolute respect of the right to seek asylum” (conclusion 13).

In practice, however, several Member States apply the safe third country rule without obtaining guarantees from such country that they shall not send rejected asylum seekers back to situations where there life is in danger or where they risk torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Other Member States consider asylum applications fraudulent if the applicants have no identity documents or are holding forged documents. Moreover, some politicians have suggested that the lack of identity documents or holding forged documents would allow the authorities to consider such asylum seekers as criminals or potential terrorists. Recent proposals to the Justice and Homes Affairs Ministers would no longer guarantee the asylum seekers’ right to stay in the country of application while awaiting the result of their appeal.

In general it must be regretted that asylum seekers regularly are denied effective access to fair and adequate asylum procedures by the questionable application of admissibility criteria and accelerated procedures.

The atrocious terrorist attacks in the USA (11 September 2001) have let to a significant backlash against asylum seekers. Pax Christi International therefore is concerned that EU’s asylum policy will increasingly focus on how to keep people out, rather than on adequate and effective protection of victims of war, civil conflict and human rights violations.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention Mr. Ruud Lubbers, the High Commissioner for Refugees expressed his concern of the alarming number of transgressions of art. 33 of the Convention (non-refoulement principle). He felt that if refugees are directly returned to a dangerous situation all protective measures are absolutely useless. When States disregard their international obligations, we are on the wrong track, he said. Addressing UNHCR’ s EXCOM Meeting (1 October 2001) the High Commissioner confirmed that smuggling and trafficking of people is on the rise. “With regular arrival routes closed, many refugees continue to turn to smugglers to reach safety, in spite of the dangers and the financial costs involved”. He also warned of a rising tide of xenophobia and intolerance in the aftermath of the 11 September terror attacks.

Pax Christi International expresses the hope that under the Belgian Presidency the EU Justice and Homes Affairs Ministers will finally reach a credible agreement on the interpretation of the refugee definition, and on access to the EU territory, fair and effective asylum procedures, humane reception conditions and social benefits. Moreover, they should take harmonized measures to exclude the forcible return of anyone (including rejected asylum seekers) to a country where they would be at risk of human right violations by States or non-State actors.

With regard to the adoption of the EU Commission’s proposal for a Council directive on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status Pax Christi International urgently requests:

Effective access to the territory and to fair and satisfactory asylum determination procedures which meet UNHCR’ s and international standards;

The granting of a personal interview with the service of competent and impartial interpreters, and effective legal assistance at all stages of the procedures;

The right to appeal effectively including suspensive effect, and the right to stay in the country while awaiting the outcome of the appeal;

Alternative supervisory measures should replace detention. Whenever proven that there is no alternative, detention should last no longer that what is strictly necessary for organising a transfer to a specialised centre.

Pax Christi International urges the Belgian Presidency and the Council of EU Justice and Homes Affairs Ministers this time not to compromise at the irresponsible level of the lowest common practice. By doing so the EU governments continue to share co-responsibility for the ongoing European asylum shopping, the degrading trafficking and smuggling practices, and for further victimizing of the victims of persecution, war and human rights violations within this EU “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”.

The EU leadership should be aware that the European Union’s credibility is at stake. What is the effect of lecturing the world on freedom, security and justice if its Member States apply sub-standard norms, criteria and procedures without waterproof guarantees against ‘refoulement’ and risks of inhuman and degrading treatment within the receiving EU countries?”

IRREGULAR MIGRATION PICUM, the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, is an umbrella organisation of several non-governmental organisations working with undocumented migrants in Europe. Pax Christi International is a member of PICUM. Based on the experience of these NGOs and the expertise built up by PICUM on the theme of irregular migration, PICUM communicated some concerns to the EU Ministers taking part in the Laeken Summit, 15 – 16 December 2001. PICUM hopes that the policy orientation of the Laeken Summit concerning asylum and migration policies will be human and realistic, avoiding that people are tempted, forced and/or trapped into illegality. The text is available from the International Secretariat, ref.: RE.15.E.01.

PEACE SPIRITUALITYRELIGIONS AGAINST TERROR AND VIOLENCE The Executive Committee of the World Conference on Religion and Peace held an International Symposium of Leaders of the World's Religions on "Religions Working Together Against Terror and Violence and For Peace with Justice", 23-24 October 2001 in New York. Olive D. Luena, Pax Christi International Executive Committee from Tanzania, participated in the symposium. A statement from the symposium expressed grave concern that international actions against terrorism "may fuel a perception that somehow these events are part of a clash between civilizations or religions. In our over 30 years of experience in multi-religious cooperation, we have discovered that our various religions and cultures share much in common - certainly more than what divides us". Olive D. Luena’s speech is available from the International Secretariat (ref. PS.07.E.01). http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/behindthenews/us129.html

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN HUNGARY Pax Christi Szeged in Hungary is involved in the project “Prayer for Peace”, which took place on 25 November 2001 in Szeged. The aim of the event was to call attention to peace and the possibilities of non-violent ways to solve problems. H.B. Michel Sabbah, International President of Pax Christi wrote the following message:

“Greetings of peace from Jerusalem! Praying for peace is, next to study and action, a major task of members of Pax Christi worldwide. I am very glad to hear that Pax Christi Hungary became a co-organiser of the event “Prayer for Peace” which will take place at the National Theatre in Szeged on 25 November 2001. The time of your meeting is very significant. We live in a time of profound distress. The terrorist attacks in the USA on the 11th of September, followed by anti-terrorist campaigns, and since 7 October, the war in Afghanistan, are just few examples of dramatic and tragic events worldwide.

Let us pray for all the victims of this violence, for their families, for the people who still live in shock and fear. Let us hope and pray that people can express their fear and that their anger will not result in hate or revenge. Anger and fear amongst the people has mainly to do with feelings of insecurity. More than ever, the globalisation of insecurity has become a reality. No weapon system, no military strategy can stop such types of terrorist attacks. The only solution lies in social justice. Though poverty is not by itself the cause of terrorism, we cannot successfully combat terrorism if we do not address the worsening disparities between the rich and poor. We must recognise that global disparity is fundamentally incompatible with global security.

I know this from the experience of my own region, where the escalation of violence and further bloodshed continues. Shootings and killings from both sides in the conflict only deepen the hatred and acts of revenge. When will the international community, and we ourselves as well, be ready to remove the most obvious elements that spawn the conditions for hatred and violence? Poverty along with other situations of marginalisation that engulf the lives of so many people, including the denial of human dignity, the lack of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, social exclusion, intolerable refugee situations, internal and external displacement and physical or psychological oppression are breeding grounds waiting to be exploited. I hope that your “prayer for peace” will bring together many people from different faiths and mainstreams of the Hungarian society. Let us pray for a better and just peace in our world of today.”

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS PAX CHRISTI USA  Pax Christi USA members and local groups around the country will participate in Pax Christi USA's National Action scheduled for December 28, 2001 - Feast of The Holy Innocents - remembering all victims of war and terrorism and calling attention to the policies that breed injustice, hatred and violence. The following organising materials will be available after December 5th from Pax Christi USA's website (www.paxchristiusa.org) or by contacting Pax Christi USA by phone (814) 453-4955 or email info@paxchristiusa.org:

Press Release announcing PCUSA's National Action Sample letter-to-the-editor for use in secular and diocesan newspapers Talking points to assist you in working with the media Prayer Service    Camera-ready leaflet for distribution at event

Pax Christi USA will maintain an updated list of actions occurring around the country to provide to media outlets. To have your group’s activities included please email the following information to paxwpb@gate.net by December 20, 2001:  1) Name of your Group, 2) Action you have planned, 3) Date, time and specific location of your action and 4) a local contact name and phone number for your event should the press want to contact your group directly.  

REPRESENTATIONNEW TEAM OF REPRESENTATIVES UNNY Pax Christi International’s team of representatives has been renewed. The Executive Committee nominated Michael Hovey as the new principal representative. The following representatives will join him:

1. Rosemarie Pace – Coordinator, Pax Christi Metro New YorkRosemarie has much experience with Pax Christi, having served on the Pax Christi Metro New York Board of Directors for over five years. Rosemarie holds an Ed.D. degree and has taught Education at the university level. She is very well acquainted with Pax Christi’s work and has contributed much to it already. Rosemarie lives in New York City (Brooklyn) and will be able to attend to business at the United Nation on a weekly (one day) or bi-weekly basis, and be available on ad hoc basis. She brings a particular interest in the rights of children and questions of religious intolerance and religious freedom.

2. Mary McDonaldMary is a member of Pax Christi USA/Metro New York. As a credentialed anthropologist (PH.D. from Columbia University, 1968) with a focus on international development, Mary has extensive experience with intercultural work for social justice. Among many other fascinating experiences, she has served as a Senior Policy Advisor on Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; a Health Planning Consultant in the Northern Marianas Island; a Research and Evaluation Director for the Navajo Tribe in Arizona; has performed community development work in Central America and Vanuatu. Mary speaks French and Spanish, and has served as an NGO representative at the United Nation for the Association for women in Psychology (1984). She lives in New York City (Manhattan) and can spend at least one day every week at the UN. She brings a particular interest in social development issues and the rights of women.

3. Victor Ciapas Victor is a graduate student working towards his Master’s degree in International Relations and studies of the United Nations at Long Island University in Brooklyn. The members of Pax Christi Illinois sent him to New York as an intern, to work with our UN Representation Team during the period September 2001 – August 2002. In addition to already attending a number of meetings with our team since the beginning of September, Victor has also worked with the NGO committee on Disarmament and is exploring the possibility of assisting at the International Catholic Organizations (ICO) Centre when possible. With his strong interest in UN affairs (particularly regarding humanitarian affaires) and his youthful membership in Pax Christi, we feel he can be a real asset to our team next year.

NEWS FROM PAX CHRISTI MEMBER ORGANISATIONSPAX CHRISTI USA AWARDS TEACHER OF PEACE AWARD TO PEACE ACTIVISTS ON EVE OF VIGIL TO CLOSE SCHOOL OF AMERICAS November 1, 2001 -- Three peace activists, Philip Berrigan, Elizabeth McAlister and the Rev. Louis Vitale, OFM, received the 2001 Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award from Pax Christi USA. The award was presented on the eve of the annual vigil and rally to close the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), which was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC) on Jan. 17, 2001.

On Nov. 16, in the Presidential Room at the Howard Johnson Hotel, Berrigan, McAlister and Vitale have been presented with the award by Sister Dianna Ortiz, OSU, and last year’s recipient of the award. "All three have been prophetic voices for peace and justice, expanding

our understanding of the practice of non-violence and direct action," says David Robinson, Pax Christi USA national coordinator. "It’s only appropriate to honour them at a place where thousands of kindred spirits will gather to call for the close of a school responsible for training soldiers who have committed horrific human rights abuses."

Berrigan and McAlister have played major roles as prophets of nuclear disarmament and for their contributions to the Jonah House Community in inner city Baltimore. Jonah House is a Biblically based community that practices the mandates of the Beatitudes in service to those who are poor, that practices sustainability and actively works for non-violence and peacemaking as a vision for future generations. The community has a long history of civil disobedience and resistance to systemic injustice.

Vitale is the co-founder of Pace e Bene, a Franciscan non-violence centre, and the Nevada Desert Experience, a movement that works to stop nuclear weapons testing and works for nuclear abolition. Vitale is pastor of St. Boniface Church in San Francisco. St. Boniface Church serves a low-income and culturally diverse community in San Francisco.

Pax Christi USA presents the Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award annually to a person or persons who exemplify the words of Pope Paul VI, "to reach peace, teach peace." Past recipients of the Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award include Dorothy Day; Eileen Egan; Gordon Zahn; Daniel Berrigan, SJ; Maura Clarke, MM; Ita Ford, MM; Dorothy Kazel, OSU; Jean Donovan; Joan Chittister, OSB; Bishop Thomas Gumbleton; Dom Helder Camara; Helen Prejean, CSJ; Roy Bourgeois, MM; Kathy Kelly; and Dianna Ortiz, OSU.

After the award presentation and prayer service, hundreds of Pax Christi USA members and leaders participated in the SOA/WHISC vigil, rally and action at Fort Benning in Columbus on Nov. 17-18. Among Pax Christi USA participants at the SOA rally have been members of Pax Christi USA’s Young Adult Forum who have helped to organize the third annual Koinonia Convergence being held at Koinonia Farms in Americus, Ga., Nov. 15-16. The Koinonia Convergence brings together students and young adults from the United States, Canada and the Caribbean to study, reflect and discuss issues and strategies for effecting social change.

The SOA vigil and rally was supported by the International Council of Pax Christi in Mainz.

AMBASSADORS FOR PEACE IN THE FLANDERS The Working Group for Inter Religious Dialogue in Antwerp (WIDA) has been nominated for the Ambassadors for Peace Prize of Pax Christi Flanders in 2001. The group formed in 1993 as a part of Antwerp as the Cultural Capital of Europe. The aim of WIDA is to strengthen the dialogue among the different religious communities in Antwerp. The title went to the Moslems active within WIDA as a symbol of cooperation and of interreligious dialogue. The ceremony will take place on 20 December 2001.

The International Secretariat has been preparing an overview of interesting articles published in the Newsletters of Member Organisations, July – September 2001. Ref. PU.06.E.01.

INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR 2 – 10 December 2001: World Citizens Assembly organized by the Alliance for a

Responsible, Plural and United World, Lille, France. E-mail: benedicte@echo.org 5 December 2001: Civil Society & Human Rights Parallel Conference on the Fourth

Geneva Convention: Meeting Article One Enforcement Obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Info e-mail: law@lawsociety.org

7 – 8 December 2001: European Peace Conference, Belgium. Info: karen.vandenberghe@paxchristi.be

10 December 2001: International Day for Human Rights. 12 – 15 December 2001: International NGO Conference UNESCO, Paris, France. Info

e-mail: comite.liaison.ong@unesco.org 20 December 2001: Ambassadors for Peace Ceremony Pax Christi Flanders, Antwerp,

Belgium. Info: paxchristi@paxchristi.be 28 December 2001: Feast of The Holy Innocents Pax Christi USA. Info:

paxchristi@igc.apc.org 21 – 25 January 2002: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg,

France. 22 January 2002: 2002 NGO Plenary Conference Council of Europe, Strasbourg,

France. 28 January – 8 February 2002: PrepCom 2, World Summit on Sustainable

Development, UN New York. 31 January – 1 February 2002: Conference European Network for Peace and Human

Rights, European Parliament, Info: http://www.russfound.org/networkinvite.htm 4 – 5 February 2002: CIDSE Peace and Conflict Coalition, Brussels. Info:

postmaster@cidse.be 1 – 3 March 2002: Retreat Pax Christi Metro New York, Info:

Nypaxchristi@igc.apc.org 8 – 9 March 2002: General Assembly PICUM, Netherlands. 8 – 10 March 2002: Executive Committee Pax Christi International, Antwerp,

Belgium. 11 – 14 March 2002: Conference on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Social

Alert, Belgium. Info e-mail: i.hoferlin@socialalert.org 15 – 16 March 2002: General Assembly Pax Christi Austria, Linz. 18 – 22 March 2002: UN Conference “Financing for Development.” Monterrey,

Mexico. Info i.hoferlin@socialalert.org 25 March – 5 April 2002: PrepCom 3, World Summit on Sustainable Development,

UN New York. 2 – 8 April 2002: “Transforming Hope into Reality; Building Peace Through

Citizenship.” Pax Christi International Youth Forum, British Section, International Seminar, London, Info: paxchristi@gn.apc.org and/or youth@paxchristi.net

4 – 7 April 2002: International Symposium for Peace in Africa, Kisangani, DRCongo, Info: beati@libero.it

27 May – 7 June 2002: PrepCom 4, World Summit on Sustainable Development, Indonesia.

2002: Earth Summit III – The 10 Year Review of Rio and Movement Forward. 31 August 2002: Pax Christi Day Flanders, Brugge. Info: jo.hanssens@paxchristi.be 2 – 11 September 2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg,

South Africa, Info e-mail: 2002participation@un.org 16 – 20 September 2002: CCADD meetings at Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner,

Maryland, USA. Info e-mail: valessi@usic.net

28 – 29 September 2002: Conference European Justice and Peace Commissions, Austria. Info: iustitiaetpax@bischofskonferenz.at

11 – 12 October 2002: General Assembly PICUM, Belgium. 18 – 20 October 2002: Northern Consultation Pax Christi International, Antwerp,

Belgium. Info: Greetpaxchristi.net 20 – 21 October 2001: Executive Committee Pax Christi International, Antwerp,

Belgium. May 2003: Fourth International Conference Peace Museums, Diksmuide/Ieper,

Belgium. July 2003: International Council Pax Christi International, Ioana College, New York,

USA.