LESSONS LEARNT AFTER THE GARISSA UNIVERSITY TERRORIST ATTACK

On Thursday 2^nd April 2015, in the wee hours of the morning at around 5.30 am, Moi University Garissa campus in Kenya was attacked by Al-shabaab terrorists who killed innocent students while they were asleep and others in morning prayers. According to the survivors, the terrorists targeted Christian students; they were separated and shot point blank on the head execution style. The death toll reached 147 victims by the end of the attack. There were issues with the security’s response to avert the attack and use of intelligence provided. As such Hekima University College organized a Public Forum to dialogue on Lessons Learnt after the attack. The forum which was held on 8^th May 2015 at the College’s Riara Campus brought together Civil Societies, Faith Based Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.

Sheikh Ibrahim an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and one of the key speakers during the Forum reiterated that the April 2^nd 2015 Moi University attack in Garrisa that left 147 innocent students dead and several others injured was not only brutal but inhuman too and that it left majority of Kenyans feeling insecure, vulnerable and traumatized as well as straining the delicate interreligious coexistence relationship.

According to Sheikh Ibrahim, the viable options that needs to be addressed includes appreciation of the magnitude of the problem at hand, uncover the drivers leading the youth to radicalization such as push and pull forces which make the youth easy targets. He reiterated the need for interfaith dialogue with a view of coming up with a solution and reason out the best way of tackling terrorism.

Mr. Nahashion Kariuki a Researcher and Coordinator Research, learning and Policy programme Nairobi Peace Initiative- Africa and who was also a key speaker in the Forum says terrorist is a criminal act fueled by fanatic ideologies and one does not need to subscribe to Islamic faith to be a terrorist. He cited Historical Injustices as one of the drivers leading to terrorism by the youth. Adding that time to act is before radicalization and the reaction should not be emotional. He also said that viable solutions can be found through proactive means. 

“We cannot defeat an unconventional force with military intervention.” This was said by another Key speaker Professor PLO Lumumba. According to him, people have Islamized terrorism thus seeing every Muslim as a potential terrorist. Professor Lumumba who is the director of Kenya School of Law and an advocate of High Court of Kenya and Tanzania believes that more laws are not solutions; vigils and prayers cannot solve the menace; more intra and inter religious seminars and workshops cannot solve the problem rather the battle can be only be won in the minds and hearts of the people.

To ensure that the incident of Garrisa University attack is not repeated, Professor Lumumba recommends engagement of the youth to find out what are their grievances, engage religious formation, and learn how other nations have countered the terrorism. According to him, closing of institutions in Garrisa or building a wall at the Kenya Somalia Border is not the solution.

It was generally established that to effectively deal with radicalization and terrorism, there must be tolerance among religions, have structures that make people feel they belong and have a sense of belonging. Deal decisively with rampant corruption in the heart of the security apparatus, rehabilitation of radicalized youth and get information from them, have a forum for mothers to share information about their sons who they suspect to be radicalized and try to help them because parents know when their sons are radicalized or in bad company. 

The relationship between the police and civilians needs to be reconsidered as many civilians fear contacting the police to give vital information for fear of being accused of being a terrorist or sympathizer.

The general public should desist from referring to the terrorists as Jihadists as this terminology makes them to have a mass following of youth who perceive and associate them with being martyrs, but rather they should just be called criminals or terrorists who are out to cause havoc and mayhem. 

Radicalization and terrorism are ideological wars and as such there is need to forge ideas which are superior to overcome them. The Catholic Church needs to upscale its activities i.e. use of Pastoral letters and the country need to listen, and accord religious leaders the respect they command. This will lead to an effective narrative which will be able to counter the menace of radicalization and terrorism.

A call for Peaceful 5th National Election for Ethiopian People

Below is the  message from the Ethiopian Catholic Church read to all Ethiopians by His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus, C.M., Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa, President of CBCE and Chairman of AMECEA.

 

 

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

First of all I would like to express my deepest joy in the name of the Ethiopian Catholic Church for having this chance to present my view on the fifth coming election of May 24, 2015. The first is that the whole Church, in all her being and acting — when she proclaims, when she celebrates, when she performs works of charity — is engaged in promoting integral human development (CIV 11). One of the ways that integral development is expressed through participation in all aspects of life including election. I use this opportunity to call all people to play their role in creating young people who are developed integrally to have smooth relationship in politics, economy and social affairs. Our people have a lot of questions therefore, all citizens, should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good. The church praises and esteems the work of those who for the good of men devote themselves to the service of the state and take on the burdens of this office.’(The church in the Modern World 75). 

Pope Benedict XVI strongly encourages the lay people to “… have an active and courageous presence in the areas of political life, culture, the arts, the media and various associations. Do not be hesitant or ashamed about this presence, but be proud of it and conscious of the valuable contribution it can offer to the common good!” (AM 131). Therefore, we want to encourage our people to participate in all phases of election (i.e. pre, post and after) for our common good as a nation.  

Voting as an Act of Hope: as people of faith, voting is one part of our commitment to that testimony. Voting gives us the power to express that deep hope for a better and more just society. Hope orients our hearts to actively participate in the society and world, knowing that when we do our part it opens the way for God to do more. Voting gives each of us that chance to shape our government and political system. We believe that participating in election is "avoiding sinning by omission". Therefore we all are called to vote our leaders/ servants for the next five years.

To be the Voice for the Voiceless: The leaders should be the voice for the voiceless by giving option for the poor. Through participating in voting we give vote for people that have high moral character who show solidarity through responding the questions of the community and searching option for the poor. In this part religious people should play a pivotal role as a voice of the voiceless, "It is also not just a voice to make a voice, but is also a moral voice". 

To conclude we want to quote what pope Francis said "I ask God give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective aimed at healing the deepest roots- and not simply the appearances- of the evils in our world! Politics, through often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good. We need to be convinced that charity "is the principles not only of micro- relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro- relationships (social, economic and political ones)”. I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor! It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare. Why not turn to God and ask him to inspire their plans? I am firmly convinced that openness to the transcendent can bring about a new political and economic mindset which would help to break down the wall of separation between the economy and the common good of society (Joy of the Gospel 205).

In this short message we call all respected Ethiopian people to take our faith-filled values of equity and justice to the polls and vote for candidates who promote a person (human being)-oriented politics. We hope and pray that we will have free and fair election in 2015.

God bless Ethiopia

LET US SEEK THE LIGHT

 By Antony Mbandi- AMECEA Justice and Peace Department

In the last few months, darkness has filled the African continent.  The latest incident has been the senseless killing of Ethiopian Coptic Christians in Egypt by Islamic extremists.  This has been quickly followed by the Xenophobia attacks in South Africa.

We no longer can place logic to the brutal and obsessive nature of the ongoing killings of persons who their gravest mistake is to be meek and humble in the presence of their persecutors, and to be of a different religion, origin, tribe, race etc.  Brothers and Sisters, we are equal in the eyes of the Lord and if we do his will we cannot segregate in our hearts.

It is time we rose up as one and acted against such killings.  If we do not act now, we are providing a fertile breeding ground for mass religious genocide.  We seem to have forgotten only too soon what happened in Bosnia.  We seem to forget only too soon what happened with the killing of millions of Jews.  We cannot continue burying our heads in the sand and assume this will go away.

Africa has to rise up and speak in one voice on the need to be tolerant with herself.

No man should die through beheading or burning for whatever reason.  Let us seek the light and turn away from this darkness engulfing Africa.

CCJP MEDIA STATEMENT CONDEMNING XENOPHOBIA ATTACKS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICA

– 18/04/2015

A CCJP media statement in total condemnation of the resurgence of the xenophobic attacks of immigrants in South Africa.

1.0. Preamble
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi is a social justice and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church in Malawi that is committed to bring about the reign of the Kingdom God in which justice and peace, respect for human dignity, upholding the sanctity of human life and human equality prevail.
The Justice and Peace Commission is saddened and shocked by the resurgence of xenophobic attacks in different parts of South Africa aimed at killing foreign nationals from different countries of origins. We categorically state that this is criminal and retrogressive to the civilization that the global village is promising in this era. Those South Africans perpetrating this hatred and the killings must stop these belligerent actions and remember the oneness of humanity enshrined in the Ubuntu philosophy that their own son, Archbishop Desmond Tutu preaches. South Africa, especially her leadership, must remember their history and the original vision and values of their forefathers who fought against the apartheid regime that pitied whites against blacks.

2.0. Some critical facts to note
I.       South Africa has been the hub of socio-economic development in the SADC region from time immemorial. This economic development must not be seen in isolation of the human resource that was hired from most Southern African countries to work in the mines in South Africa. Whilst South Africa had natural resources, it needed additional human resource from other countries to exploit and commercialize these natural resources. This means most Southern African countries have contributed to the socio-economic development of South Africa, giving South Africa a moral responsibility to share the economic benefits.
II. During the fight against the apartheid regime in South Africa, most black fighters got support from a number of southern African countries. Their operations were launched and planned in most of the southern African countries. The cooperation and the inter-dependence of southern African countries cannot be over-emphasized nor can they be easily dismissed.

III. Currently, southern African companies are largely investing in southern Africa in so doing exporting South African products into most southern African countries. In essence, South Africa is, trade and economic wise, “neo-colonizing” southern Africa. As such most southern African countries are a market for southern African products. Such economic linkages cannot be wished away or cannot be overlooked.

IV. In a specific case of Malawi, most of our strong men from the late 70s worked under the Employment Bureau of Africa (THEBA) till the late 90s doing the most burdensome work in the mines. They spent most of their productive ages in the mines. Some have even died and lost limbs while working in the mines. The contribution of all these Malawians is immeasurable and cannot be paid back by lynching and killing their sons and grandsons who trek to South Africa to earn a living by working and not loitering around.
3.0. Our worries

I. The resurgence of the xenophobic attacks of foreign nationals in South Africa is becoming trendy. Their seemingly arousal from some political and traditional leaders in South Africa is very disturbing and worrisome when we consider the points raised above.
II. The emergence of local black leaders in South Africa that would rather call for violence and extremism instead of dialogue and regional cohesion is a markedly departure from the southern African forefathers spirit of collaboration, inter-dependence and support. We are worried that this might have far reaching negative consequences in the region in areas of economy, security and peace.

III. The xenophobic attacks might, in our considered view, create among other southern African countries citizens, a spirit of retribution in so doing creating a chaotic southern Africa that will not know peace.
IV. We are further worried that, there could be genuine developments in south Africa where the citizens feel they are left out on the socio-economic development path, yet with their xenophobic actions and reactions, neighboring countries might not see the critical challenge that south Africans are facing. In so doing, missing out an important opportunity to address the challenge through proper policy dialogue in various governance institutions in-country or in the SADC regional bodies.

4.0. Our position
CCJP is categorically and unambiguously condemning the resurgence of xenophobic attacks of foreign nationals in South Africa. Whilst acknowledging some emerging rhetoric towards halting these attacks, CCJP is calling for South African leadership at different levels to take up moral responsibility and stop these attacks. Whilst the attacks may satisfy some eschewed views about the sources of South Africans suffering, the attacks are not and shall never be a solution to the economic malaise in South Africa. An honest reflection and discussion both at national and international levels is needed to arrive at a best solution to the wretchedness of some South Africans. The economic inequality must not be seen from the lenses of foreign nationals as there are more internal factors and more perennial reasons than what is currently being popularized.

4.0. Our appeal

4.1. To the South African government.
The attacks of foreign nationals imply a social problem in the country. You should not pay a blind eye to this problem. Time has come to discuss this and create a just and peaceful South African society. Let parliament and other governance structures choose to deal with this for proper solutions. We implore you to categorically stop some of your local political and traditional leaders that are inciting public anger that is differed on foreign nationals instead of squarely looking at the economic disparities that have always existed in your country despite being one of the naturally endowed countries with precious natural resources.

4.2. To the South African citizens
Experiencing poverty in a midst of plenty is a painful reality. Your Government has the obligation to create conditions that enable its citizens to live in dignity. However, killing innocent foreign nationals is not a solution. No leader should mislead you that foreign nationals are the source of your suffering. You need to go beyond and reflect upon the man made systems and structures of exploitation, poverty, and marginalization and tackle these before being misled that this suffering is caused by few foreign nationals. Remember, we in southern Africa, we have always lived together, worked together, suffered together. This oneness and solidarity is our vital source for peace and security the preconditions for our regional socio-economic development.

4.3. To the Malawian citizens in South Africa
You are certainly encountering rejection and prejudice. However, be assured that our government is executing a rescuing program. Your brothers and sisters in Malawi care for your security. Come back home for your life is precious no matter how poor you are. After all, there is more that can be done in Malawi. As you coming back home, please do not hold any anger and spirit of vengeance to any South Africans or any of their property. Retribution and vengeance are not a solution. Only love will heal our wounds and bring about justice and peace.

4.4. To Malawi government
Whilst CCJP acknowledges your efforts towards the plight of Malawian citizens affected by the xenophobia attacks in South Africa; it is high time you bring together different stakeholders to reflect upon the occurrences in South Africa. We need a stoke taking process to identify the challenges in our country, the reasons for the push factor to South Africa of our country’s youth, and discuss the solutions that must be implemented by relevant stakeholders and authorities- the ministries and departments of Immigration, Police, Socio-Economic Planning, Labour, the private sector and the Nongovernmental Organizations. Government cannot go on to put emergency repatriation plans and leave out the mundane causes and consequences of the issue at hand. This recent experience calls for an immediate national dialogue.

4.5. To the CSOs and Opinion Leaders Organizing Demonstrations
CCJP is in solidarity with your plans and intentions. Expressing our dismay with the xenophobic attacks is very important. As we plan, let us remember that peaceful demonstrations and non-violent citizen’s expression of their frustrations are only the genuine means of making those in decision making positions to listen. As we are encouraging the general public to participate in the demonstrations, let us, as leaders, ensure that there should not be any differed anger that might destroy property and life of South Africans living in Malawi. Though our people are being killed, retribution through demonstrations will not bring about desired changes needed in our relationships with South Africans.

5.0. Conclusion
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), in conclusion, believes these xenophobic attacks can end and they must end now. Dialogue and not killing can provide solutions for many political and socio-economic challenges South Africans face today. In this Southern Africa region, we have respected, supported, protected and defended each other from so many negatives forces that militated against our humanity. Together as one we can sustain this regional strength. But we can only do so when we take away the hatred, the violence, the differed anger and face the reality. CCJP says no to xenophobia!!.

Signed by: Chris Chisoni, National Secretary, 19th April 2015