EXODUS
ACCUSED
Afghanistan is headlines in the Global News Media. Afghan Refugees trying to walk through the Tunnel from Calais to Dover. A shipload of 500 seeking asylum on a cargo ship near Christmas Island. A contemporary ‘Exodus’ is underway. Afghans fleeing drought and war and the increasingly repressive Taliban regime.
ACCUSED
A month ago the Taliban arrested 8 expat and 16 Afghan NGO workers with Shelter Now International (SNI) accusing them of proselytising. On trial in a closed court under Shariat Law, they face increasingly probable execution. How do we protest ? International pressure does not work - the Statues of the blind Buddha of Bamyan were blown up in spite of, or perhaps because of, world media pressure.
CLOSED DOWN
ATTACKED
BROKEN
printed in YES magazine Sept 2001
‘World leaders…. are on a hiding to nothing if they think they can undermine the Taliban or other manifestation of Islamic fundamentalism from outside. They have to stay seriously listening to such movements and perhaps even recognise the right of countries to govern their own affairs even in ways which are not democratic. But for now, every effort must be made to seek clemency for aid workers whose only crime is to take their faith as seriously as do the Taliban’.
Andrew Carey ‘Saving the Afghan Aid workers’ CEN Aug 17th
CLOSED DOWN
The next stage in the drama came when 2 other Christian NGOs: Serve and the International Assistance Mission were also closed down by the Taliban and given 3 days to leave the country. All assets were ‘confiscated’ by the Government .
‘Despite recent events in Afghanistan, IAM is stunned by the sudden and total closure of its activities. The IAM is very concerned about the effects of this action both on local staff and programme beneficiaries. Hundreds and thousands of people will be deprived of vital assistance at this critical time.’
IAM Press release 1st Sept
ATTACKED
Then came the Big One. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that shocked us all. How could they do it? The world will indeed ‘never be the same again.’ An International Terrorist Conspiracy. Or is it modern Chaos or Complexity theory? Lorenz’s famous phrase ‘A butterfly flaps its wings in South America and results in a Hurricane on the other side of the world’ Those terrorist ‘butterflies’ in the US have certainly unleashed a military ‘hurricane’ which threatens to destabilise the whole of Central Asia and the Middle East.
Situation in Pakistan is very calm at the moment. It will be different when there is a war or attack on Afghanistan. …. No Church has been burnt in Punjab so far.
Bishop S.K. Dass of Hyderabad (18/9)
BROKEN
For all of us, this is heart-breaking News. Many mission partners have had to leave Pakistan. All Humanitarian Aid workers have left Afghanistan. The only ones left are those in custody in Kabul. And many Afghans are desperate to leave as well, refugees piling up on the borders. The UN are making preparations for a massive human disaster - the feeding of the 5 million.
Doves and Hawks
‘Blood cries out for blood’. People call for Retaliation and Restraint. The Doves and the Hawks debate. But the Broken One cries out ‘Father forgive’ even as He gives his blood for the world.
from your own correspondent
printed in YES magazine Sept 2001
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