By Matters India Reporter
Geneva: The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) have condemned the deteriorating law and order situation and violence in Myanmar.
A March 4 joint statement from WCC general secretary Reverend Ioan Sauca and his CCA counterpart Mathews George Chunakara, expressed great distress and concern over the continued lethal actions against the people by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw).
The military on February 1 overthrew Myanmar’s democratically-elected government.
The leaders of the global ecumenical bodies stated that the democratically elected civilian government reflects the aspiration of the people. The will of the people and the outcome of the elections have to be respected and democratic processes must be restored in Myanmar.
“As we believe that the rule of law and democracy must be the cardinal parameters for ensuring peace with justice, we firmly denounce the military coup which has now returned full power to the generals,” added the statement.
According to media reports, 38 people have been shot dead and hundreds wounded in clashes at protests in different parts of Myanmar after the military coup.
The two ecumenical bodies urged the military leaders of Myanmar to refrain from repressive actions against civilians; respect human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law; and pursue dialogue with the democratically elected representatives of the people of Myanmar.
The military justified the coup saying its complaints of voter fraud in the elections of November 8, 2020, had been ignored. Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election by a landslide, earning a second five-year term, and the Election Commission confirmed that the election was fair.
“In this Lenten season, the WCC and CCA uphold and affirm the sanctity of life and the dignity of all,” concluded the joint statement.