Matters India Reporter
Yangon, December 31, 2022 — In a passionate new year appeal for peace and reconciliation Myanmar cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon beckoned Military Leaders to usher in peace and facilitate humanitarian relief to reach harassed, hapless and horror stricken country men.
The 73 year old cardinal, who is also president of Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences reminded, “Christmas message …. is about a poor family harassed; it is about the powerlessness of simple people, as well as massacre of innocent children perpetrated by power hungry King Herod.”
Listing current major conflict zones, the cardinal singled out Ukraine, Middle East, Myanmar, Haiti, and the Sahel region of Africa.
In a four point appeal, the cardinal asked the state players “by mutual consensus to to “declare the Month of January as the cease-fire month” and continue to explore the possibility of giving peace a chance.
The cardinal said, “Let the guns fall silent, and believe in the peaceful resolution of issues through dialogue.”
As a practical step in relief, the cardinal asked to “Set up and respect humanitarian corridors to areas of acute humanitarian crises, allowing free access to national and international agencies.”
Another peace effort includes, “Revival of the Panglong Peace process, involving more religious leaders, and regional and international stakeholders.”
Finally, cardinal called on people to, “Wage other wars together: against Pandemics, climate change, economic turbulence, and illicit economy. Help in reducing the suffering of the millions of victims of “famine of peace” and starving in the inhumane settlements away from their homes: think of the tears of young mothers and their infant children languishing in jungle camps.”
While bemoaning the famine of peace engulfing humanity, the world over the cardinal reminded the powers that be of eight decades of conflict pitting “brother against brother, the tears of all our sisters, misery and mayhem in the lives of our children. The standing army, the non-state actors in the conflict, millions spent on arms every year, thousands who were killed in the conflicts, and millions displaced internally and externally, point to the futile attempts at solving issues by armed conflict. No one has comprehensive control and or a win. War and human suffering are chronic without any single cross-border war in recent history.”
“Peace is Possible,” said the cardinal insisting “Peace is the only way. Let a New Myanmar of hope rise in 2023.”