wfn.org | Bishops Appeal to President Clinton

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (449
notes).

Note 446 by UMNS on Nov. 10, 1997 at 16:39 Eastern (5858 characters).

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally		 		 634(10-21-30-71B){446}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470			Nov. 10, 1997

Bishops appeal to President Clinton for help
in Africa, Mid-East; urge his support of land mine ban

	LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) –- In closing sessions of their week-long meeting
here Nov. 7, the United Methodist Council of Bishops voted to send a letter to
President Clinton dealing with Africa, the Mid-East and the ban of
anti-personnel land mines.
	The international body includes 50 active bishops from the United States, 17
from Europe, Africa, Eurasia, and the Philippines, and about 76 retired
bishops. President is Bishop Emerito Nacpil of the Philippines.
	Expressing "profound concern over the breakdown of the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process," the bishops urged Clinton to remain "personally engaged" and
to "sustain high-level involvement to revitalize the peace process and help
constrain the provocations that have led, and continue to lead, to such
terrible violence among both Israelis and Palestinians."
	The bishops, who agreed earlier in their meeting here to initiate a major
relief and rehabilitation effort in Africa, called on Clinton to "lead the
world in calling for an immediate cease fire reinforced, if necessary, by an
international peace-keeping presence to assure free movement of humanitarian
assistance to all those who are suffering in Sierra Leone."  The bishops
expressed a willingness to meet with the president to discuss Sierra Leone
since the church has a strong presence in the country.
	Noting the refusal of the United States to sign a Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel
Mines, the bishops asked Clinton to drop U.S. insistence on exceptions, sign
the treaty in December of this year, submit it to the U.S. Senate for
ratification as soon as possible, and join in efforts to gain adherence by all
countries.
	Refusal to sign the treaty "greatly diminishes the U.S leadership in all arms
control measures," the bishops declared.
	Regarding the Mid-East, the bishops called on the United States to
"demonstrate a more evenhanded policy" that might include: 
· "unequivocal U.S. opposition to further Israeli settlements in the West
Bank;
· "categorical U.S. rejection of economic assistance and trade opportunities
for the Palestinians, giving them more hopeful incentives to stay in the peace
process;
· "a substantial program of economic assistance and trade opportunities for
the Palestinians, giving them more hopeful incentives to stay in the peace
process;
· "increased multilateral cooperation with the European community’s diplomacy
in the Middle East, which has tended to maintain a more evenhanded policy but
has been excluded by unilateral U.S. policy from a more active role."	
	Beyond restoring democracy in Sierra Leone, the bishops said cultural and
historical ties offer compelling reasons for U.S. support.
	"Sierra Leoneans played an important role in the development of the United
States," they explained.  "More slaves came directly from Sierra Leone than
from any other region of Africa and their sacrificial labor helped develop
America’s agriculture and textile industries."
	The bishops also noted that some scholars maintain that the majority of
African Americans are descendants of Sierra Leoneans.  They also noted that
the African country has provided troops for every major military conflict
waged by Western powers in the 20th century, including the Persian Gulf War.
	The bishop’s action related to the ban of land mines is consistent with a
resolution adopted by the 1996 United Methodist General Conference in Denver. 
Delegates there urged an embargo on "present and future arms sales to Africa"
and urged measures to rid the continent of weapons "including the land mines
that kill innocent people, predominantly women and children."
	The bishops sent a resolution to the U.S. State Department expressing concern
over "ethnic conflicts, wars, violence and human suffering" in East Africa,
specifically Burundi, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, Uganda and Tanzania. The
bishops called for diplomatic leverages to encourage the Burundi government to
participate in peace talks with all parties involved.  They also called the
United States to take the lead in eliminating the sale of weapons to all
parties in the struggle.
	Bishop Alfred Ndoricimpa has been unable to receive a U.S. visa to attend
recent council meetings, which are held twice a year in the United States.  In
their message to the State Department the bishops voiced their objection and
added, "the political give and take of governments should not interfere with
church entities whose sole task is reconciliation and the proclamation of the
gospel."
	Retired Bishop Forrest Stith who has been working with Ndoricimpa in Kenya,
told the council that the Burundi bishop in exile is likely the "oldest living
Hutu who has been educated, and he us under the age of 50.  I fear for him
every day."
	In another action the bishops called for the permanent extension of Section
245(I) of the U.S. Immigration Act.  Without the extension, most applicants
who have violated immigration status requirements will be forced to depart and
apply for permanent resident status at a U.S. consulate in their home country.
	Without the extension, Chicago Area Bishop Joseph Sprague and Portland, Ore.,
Area Bishop Elias Galvan warned that family members will be torn apart. 
Sprague said an estimated half million family members could be affected 
	The bishops also urged both houses of the U.S. Congress to authorize a statue
of Mahatma Gandhi to be constructed in Washington, paid for by the Government
of India.  The statue would commemorate the 50th anniversary of the India’s
independence.
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