wfn.org | Archbishop condemns violence in All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi

[a.whitefield@quest.org.uk]

Title:Archbishop condemns violence
July 11, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon James Rosenthal,Director of Communications, 
Anglican Communion Office
London, England

ACC 1283 

Archbishop condemns violence in All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi

ACNS) The Archbishop of Canterbury has written to the Most Revd David
Gitari, Archbishop of Kenya, to express his horror over the attack on
peaceful protesters in and around All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi.

The text of the letter follows:

"I am horrified to have read the reports of the violence perpetrated by
Kenyan security authorities against Church members and peaceful
demonstrators in and around All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi.

There can be no justification at all for such behaviour on the part of
trained soldiers.  I want you to know that you will have my full support
in any action which you take yourself, and I am in the process of
writing to your President and also our Foreign Secretary.

Whatever the political disagreements in Kenya or anywhere else in the
world, there is no call for peaceful process to be disrupted in such a
violent and undisciplined way.  The cause of peace and justice will not
be served by such actions, and we as Christian leaders must speak out
calmly but firmly against such a suppression of human rights.

You and your people will be very much in our prayers here at Lambeth,
and I know that you are receiving messages of support from all over the
Communion."

The Most Revd and Rt Hon George Carey

July 10, 1997