MCC Canada letter calls for halt to bombing [Annual meeting]

Delegates to the Mennonite Central Committee Canada annual meeting here November 23-24 sent a letter to the prime minister of Canada to raise concerns about the "war on terrorism."

"We feel that the bombing campaign, which Canada supports, continues to promote injustice towards the people of Afghanistan," said Ron Dueck, MCC Canada chair.

"As Canadians, we want to add our voice to those who are calling on our federal government to assume a stronger international role. We would like to see our country work towards a solution that would lead to world peace rather than contribute to a war that increases the suffering of many innocent people."

The letter was approved by the 35-member delegate body, which represents Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches, about 200,000 people. Drafted with the help of MCC Canada's Ottawa office, the letter raises the following concerns:

1) There seems to be far too much faith in the efficacy of military action. History shows that massive military action often makes things worse.

2) In many countries, including the Congo, Colombia, and Indonesia, millions of people has been terrorized, displaced and killed in recent years. This has riot aroused the world to action.

3) The injustice in the, international economic system should be recognized as one reason for the anger against the West. The financial aid that goes from rich to poor countries is small compared to the sums that flow from poor to rich countries, often to pay debt.

4) The war may cause a deterioration in inter-religious relations. This could have serious implications for Muslim minorities in western countries, and for Christian minorities in Muslim-majority countries.

"We do not generally write these kinds of letters," said Dueck. "But our constituents want us to reinforce our thoughts and ideas to the government."

The letter urges the Canadian government to call for a halt to the bombing of Afghanistan and to oppose the bombing of any other countries.

"We believe the task of bringing to account those who perpetrated the September attacks can be effectively pursued through the UN and other multilateral procedures," says the letter.