ETHIOPIA: Religious Leaders in Ethiopia ask the Government to engage in discussion to bring lasting Peace.
By Pamela Adinda and Makeda Yohannes
The religious leaders in Ethiopia while responding to the ongoing conflicts in certain parts of the country have asked the government to engage in discussion with stakeholders with contentious issues, and hear the distress and questions of the affected people and respond immediately.
The leaders who spoke during a joint meeting held in Addis Ababa on October 13, said that they are very much concerned with the violence that have been taking place in some areas of our country in recent times where precious lives of people have been lost, spiritual and physical injuries caused and properties destroyed.
In a statement that was released after the meeting, the religious leaders said that they have been engaged in various discussions with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and government officials to request that the concerns of the public be heard and given immediate response.
“We are deeply saddened by the lives lost recently because of the chaos that took place during ‘Erecha’, (a celebration where people get together and perform their prayers and thanksgiving to God) on October 2, 2016 in Bishoftu Town. we pray for the consolation of the bereaved and the people of Ethiopia,” the statement said in part.
The Religious leaders asked for arrangements to be made for the compensation of people who lost their loved ones as well as those who lost properties in different parts of the country. They called upon the government and Ethiopian people to support their efforts of bringing about national understanding, reconciliation and psychological relief by establishing a peace task force composed of religious leaders, elders, academicians and business people from different parts of the country.
“Our spiritual children of different religions, we ask you to accept each other with mutual respect, forgiveness and mercy and unite for peace and growth of the country, to look at your fellow Ethiopians as brothers and sister, to repent hatred and chaos and present all your concerns peacefully.”
Additionally, the Religious Leaders said that Infrastructures are the properties of our country thus they asked all citizens to protect them.
“Above all it is the responsibility of the government to calm down the conflicts and turn it to peace thus we ask the government to take necessary farsighted measures in an amicable spirit, we also ask our people to fulfill their roles and responsibilities properly.”
Finally, they appealed to both local and international media, social media networks and individuals to refrain from transmitting messages that promote hatred, conflict and violence and above all messages that lead to destruction of valuable human lives and properties.
The Ethiopian government on Sunday 9, October declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency following months of anti-government protests. It is the first time since the ruling party came to power 25 years ago that a state of emergency has been put in place in the country.
