Workshop on Peace
& security Concerns

Pastoral letter to churches in Bangladesh India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
August 4, 2003

We, the general secretaries of the National Councils of Churches in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, met together with church leaders and representatives of civil societies in South Asia in Ranwell Beach Hotel, Waikkal, Negombo, Sri Lanka, from August 2 to 4, 2003, for a workshop on Peace and Security Concerns in the region. The workshop was convened by the World Council of Churches and hosted by the. National Christian Council of Sri Lanka. .

This pastoral letter is issued out of the process of sharing and the challenges that confront us as a community of concerned Christians. We give thanks to God for the opportunity of hearing from our sisters and brothers in the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They informed us about the joys and hopes of their peoples as they eagerly monitor and witness the developments relating to the peace process in Sri Lanka and the more recent peace initiatives between India and Pakistan.

The participants from Sri Lanka shared with us the progress made in the peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on February 22, 2002. Though difficulties and differences have arisen, the cease-fire is still holding. Despite LTTE's announcement of April 21, 2003, to suspend Its participation in the negotiations, there is overwhelming support and hope amongst a broad section of people on both sides of the ethnic divide. It is recognized that the churches have decided to extend a cautious and critical support to the on-going peace process.

We also heard, from the Indian and Pakistani participants of the recent initiative taken by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, that was enthusiastically responded to by the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. Since the announcement, some remarkable progress has been made: there has been an exchange of envoys, and road and air links are about to be restored. There have also been a series of exchanges of delegations of parliamentarians, business people, women and youth. These positive developments would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago. We hope the momentum generated will be maintained and the two sides can begin discussions on hardcore issues that have poisoned relationships between the two countries for over half a century.

While being heartened by these developments, we are also deeply concerned about the negative impact of religion on South Asian societies. Religions should be a source of healing and liberation rather than a cause of dissension, disruption and destruction. We urge the religious leaders of all communities - Christian, Muslim Hindu and Buddhist - to maintain the traditions and heritage of their great religions and invoke their teachings to inculcate tolerance, respect and understanding of the other in South Asian communities.

We appeal to our churches to address themselves to the needs of the community in their desire for peace and reconciliation, in cooperation with one another and with people of other faiths and persons of goodwill. We must prove ourselves equal to the task and be signs of the presence of Christ as a source of healing In our nations and in our region at this critical juncture of our history. Specifically, we call on our peoples to witness to our oneness in Christ within the life of the Church.

The peace initiatives in Sri Lanka and between India and Pakistan are going to be a long and arduous journey that will require painstaking and consistent efforts before the final goal of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace is realized. We call on the churches in the region to mobilize the people to encourage and support these peace initiatives. We also call on churches in other parts of the world to remember the South Asian Churches in their prayers and to mobilize support Internationally in favour of the peace process in Sri Lanka and between India and Pakistan.

We end this letter with the prayer that Our Lord in His infinite wisdom may guide the leaders of governments of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, and the leaders of India and Pakistani as they continue their engagement for an amicable settlement of conflicts in the region.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." (Matt. 8 : 9).

Peace in the name of Jesus Christ!