Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - “As missionaries, we are committed to always going out to help the people, who are victims of the rebels, bandits, and military. We have wished to address an open letter to the participants in this meeting, that they may listen to the voice of those who have not had the opportunity to make themselves heard,” Fr. Aurelio Gazzera, Carmelite missionary and parish pastor in Bozoum (Republic of Central Africa), told Fides. An encounter entitled “Inclusive dialogue” is being held in the capital of the country, Bangui, in order to resolve the chronic political instability that has been plaguing the country for years. Participating in the event are members of the government, rebels, and civil society. It is scheduled to end on December 20. The President of Gabon, Omar Bongo, heading up the mediation effort between the two Central African parties, is accompanied by former President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya.
Fr. Aurelio wrote an open letter to the participants in the “inclusive dialogue,” along with Fr. Cipriano Vigo, parish pastor in Bocaranga, and Fr. Valentino Vallarino, parish pastor of Ngaundaye. In their letter, the three missionaries point out that “the country needs everyone's efforts: the government, rebels, opposition, in order to get through this. They need to take the common good seriously and give the country a chance of survival, a chance to live in unity, dignity, and work. Make sure that these do not remain empty words.”
“The population has suffered too much,” the three missionaries said. “Deaths, violations, woundings, houses looted and burned, the impossibility of cultivating and selling one's own products... Access to hospitals and clinics is practically impossible. Thousands of students cannot attend school due to the high insecurity level. Many teachers with positions in Bozoum, Bocaranga, Koui, Hgaundaye, and Ndim refuse to go for fear of losing their own life and that of their families.”
“We ask you, leaders of the various parties, heads of government, and leaders of rebel movements, to take up this opportunity for inclusive dialogue, to listen to the cry of our brothers and sisters: We have had enough of the war and the violence!”
Former Burundi President Pierre Buyoya, who is presiding the sessions for “Inclusive political dialogue for peace in the Central African Republic,” affirmed in a press conference that “following a difficult debate, there have been fairly spirited discussions.” One of the points in question is that of the creation of a “government of long consensus,” presided by President François Bozizé. He took over power by force in 2003, later being elected in 2005. Not all the participants share the same goal: several parties of the opposition wanted to create an ad hoc Constitutional Assembly, which could impose the dimissions of President and the formation of a transitional government that prepares the 2010 elections. The positions of the participants seem to be fairly distant.
The situation in the northern part of the country, the most “heated” area, which seemed fairly safe until recently, has been disturbed by an assault on a group of soldiers in Bidou (600 km northeast of Bangui), in which 12 people died. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2008)
