 
KAIROS—Statement on the devastation in Asia
5 January 2005
As we face daily images of horror and suffering in Asia, as people
of goodwill around the Earth mobilize emergency aid, KAIROS turns
its special expertise and mandate into action.
KAIROS encourages all our supporters and friends to pray for all
affected, and to donate generously through those agencies that have
the mandate and expertise to be most effective on the ground. These
agencies include our denominational
members. Emergency aid is complex. Those who specialize in emergency
aid have the experience needed to surmount immense obstacles created
by the scope of the devastation in Asia.
In times of disaster, KAIROS advocates profound change to structures
that will block recovery and prevent people from reclaiming their
future. In collaboration with partners in the South and in the North,
and social movements around the world, we renew the urgent cry for
debt cancellation and involvement of civil society in relief and
construction.
Protect human rights
KAIROS is developing our plan of action in consultation with our
partners in Asia, including those hardest hit by the earthquake
and tsunami. We are working closely with the human rights monitoring
organization Kontras, and Yakoma-PGI, an arm of the Communion of
Churches in Indonesia, which has led conflict resolution training
in Aceh and other conflict zones. Even before the catastrophe, Kontras’
work in Aceh was being carried out under very dangerous conditions.
Now the situation is extremely critical and very complex, and needs
to be closely monitored.
Our partners are now concerned that the Indonesian military, which
has been responsible for massive human rights violations against
the people of Aceh over the past decades, not be permitted to control
relief operations. KAIROS and our partners also call for an immediate
halt to military operations in the province. Already our partners
are reporting misappropriation of aid and raids on Acehnese villages
by the Indonesian military. Armed conflict and corruption remain
a problem in this and other affected regions.
Cancel the debt
At the request of our partner Jubilee South KAIROS signed on to
their appeal
for immediate and total debt cancellation for all affected countries.
While the Canadian government is to be commended for its unilateral
moratorium on about one billion dollars of bilateral debts owed
by affected countries, KAIROS is calling for total debt cancellation
of both bilateral and multilateral debts. The cost of servicing
larger multilateral and private debts and the eventual resumption
of postponed payments on bilateral debts will interfere with long-term
reconstruction.
Co-ordinate disaster response
In Canada, KAIROS is working in coalition. Strategies are taking
shape in consultations with our church denomination staff, especially
KAIROS’ Asia Working Group and CCIC’s Asia Pacific Working
Group.
KAIROS has welcomed the invitation of the Canadian Council of Churches,
the Canadian Jewish Congress and others to join in planning an Inter-Faith
Commemoration of those killed in the tsunami. We encourage our local
network and church members to consider your own ecumenical or interfaith
response.
Together all of us-- network members, board, staff, donors and
other supporters-- can work for the profound changes needed for
all the people affected by the tsunami to survive and rebuild their
lives, and for the Earth that sustains them to recover.
Please watch our website for more details as we and our partners
prepare for long –term reconstruction and raise key advocacy
concerns.
Background documents:
For further information, please contact
Adiat Junaid, Communications Coordinator:
ajunaid
or 416 463 5312 x223.
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