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Contact: Juan Michel, World Council of Churches, +41 22 791 6153, +41 79 507 6363, media@wcc-coe.org
MEDIA ADVISORY, July 4 /Standard Newswire/ -- After "what can be described as a façade election", the World Council of Churches (WCC) has called for the protection of the population "against increased and continued violence", an "intensified international monitoring of the situation" and the provision of humanitarian aid. The WCC also issued a warning concerning the possible consequences of economic sanctions.
Despite "much debate" about the current situation in Zimbabwe, from a religious point of view some principles remain firm, says the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in a statement dated 4 July. Those principles are: "to prevent violence, […] to react to situations of compelling human need with appropriate measures and to work toward the rebuilding of good will and reconciliation".
"Children and women are among the first to suffer if world governments choose to impose economic sanctions", the statement warns.
In reviewing the public stances of Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, the African Union and the UN Security Council, Kobia says "all are looking for justice and compassion for those who are caught up in the continued violence, food shortages and political intimidation".
Whilst the WCC is ready to participate, together with African regional church bodies, in a suggested "international monitoring" process of the current situation in the country, the Council "looks forward to the day when Zimbabwe has an election that can truly be respected and seen as free, fair and just".
Full text of the WCC statement
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=6104
WCC member churches in Zimbabwe:
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4654
Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
