World Christian News Updates

AFRICA/NIGERIA-Boko Haram threatens more attacks: there are 300 suicide bombers who are ready AFRICA/TOGO - The Bishops condemn violence and call for peaceful confrontation ASIA/PAKISTAN - Government Format: Paul Bhatti confirmed at the Ministry for Harmony ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - The Church to the people of North Korea: "Peace be with you" AMERICA/PARAGUAY - President Lugo disqualified, Bishops' appeal for peace
News	Fides Service
AFRICA/NIGERIA-Boko Haram threatens more attacks: there are 300 suicide bombers who are ready Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Alarm in the Christian community in Nigeria after the terrorist group Boko Haram, author of several recent attacks on Christian churches, issued a threat to carry out new attacks in order to make June "the bloodiest month for Christians."  The group said it has trained about 300 suicide bombers ready to attack the Christian churches in the states of Plateau and Kaduna (southern Nigeria). The group says it has recruited the sons and daughters of Muslims killed during the recent sectarian conflict by providing weapons and bombs manufactured in Mauritania and Somalia. Boko Haram has announced further attacks on government buildings in the states of Kano, Kaduna, Yobe and Gombe, as well as a demonstrative major attack on the Federal Capital territory, ie in the capital Abuja, to show the world that "the Nigerian security forces will not be able to stop us."  In past weeks, authorities ordered a curfew to restore order, as happened in the states of Kaduna and Yobe, with varying success. The Christian churches ask for more protection in five states in northern and central Nigeria, object of attacks in the past. In a statement sent to Fides, the NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), calls on the authorities "to respond to these threats, strengthening the protection of innocent civilians, to defuse any risk of retaliation." According to the NGO "Boko Haram has once again shown its links with Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and al Shabaab militia in Somalia," therefore "it is a phenomenon that goes beyond the borders of Nigeria: International cooperation is essential to destroy sponsors, supporters and the training network." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012) AFRICA/TOGO - The Bishops condemn violence and call for peaceful confrontation Lomé (Agenzia Fides) - In the phase of social tension that exists in Togo, it is necessary to seek peaceful and constructive confrontation, without degenerating into gratuitous violence: So says the local Church, which is following with great attention the critical institutional phase that the country is facing. The people took to the streets in past days to express dissatisfaction towards the electoral law passed during the National Assembly. A coalition of opposition parties and civil society groups, called "Save Togo", says it will continue to protest, accusing the government of having "trampled the rule of law." According to the coalition, the government reformed the electoral law without consulting the opposition. In the country the general elections should be held in October 2012, but an exact date has not yet been officially published. In recent days, the Episcopal Conference of Togo condemned the violent police raid in a church in Lomé, with the use of tear gas, while some people had sought refuge during the protests. In a statement sent to Fides, the Bishops also controverted the version given by the Government that "the strong wind caused tear gas to enter the church." The Bishops, deploring "the sacrilegious act that desecrated the house of the Lord," call on all citizens and the police to refrain from acts of violence. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012) ASIA/PAKISTAN - Government Format: Paul Bhatti confirmed at the Ministry for Harmony Islambad (Agenzia Fides) - Pakistan has a new prime minister: Raja Pervez Ashraf, of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), who yesterday received the positive vote of the Federal Parliament, and has already formed the new government.  A native of the district of Rawalpindi, 62 years old, Ashraf was Minister for Water and Energy in the executive led by former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, disqualified by the Supreme Court on June 20 last year.  The duty of the Ministry for National Harmony was confirmed to Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti's brother, a Catholic minister for minorities who was killed a year ago. Paul Bhatti told Fides: "While not agreeing with the decision of the Supreme Court, political forces have given a strong signal to continue the democratic path and do not want to create an institutional conflict. The new Prime Minister will continue Gilani's executive policy. The Ministry for National Harmony has been re-confirmed, according to a attentive policy towards religious minorities."  The wish expressed to Fides by Fr. Robert McCulloch, Missionary of St. Columban, who has been in Pakistan for over 30 years is that "this crisis does not lead to a democratic crisis. In Gilani's case, it would have been the first time in the history of the country if the Premier had completed his term, but unfortunately this did not happen." "This institutional crisis - he adds - highlights the need to review the balance among the powers in Pakistan. It seems that the judiciary is considering its role in an interventionist sense, as the American model, rather than safeguarding civil liberties, as intended, instead, by the British constitutional model, designed in the Pakistani Constitution. " (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012) ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - The Church to the people of North Korea: "Peace be with you" Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - "Peace be with you": a strong appeal for reconciliation, solidarity, fraternity comes from the Church of South Korea to the people of "Brothers and sisters in North Korea." This is what is said in the Bishops' message for the "Day of Prayer for reconciliation and unity of the Korean people" which will be celebrated tomorrow, June 24, 2012, in all the Korean dioceses. In churches, says to Fides Fr. John Bosco Byeon, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Korea, "  special masses for reconciliation and peace are held, and in some places there are prayer meetings and processions in the streets, while some communities experienced a novena of preparation, gathering to pray the Rosary for peace for nine days. " The Bishops' message, sent to Fides Agency, is signed by His Exc. Mgr. Peter Lee Ki-Heon, President of "the Episcopal Commission for Reconciliation of the Korean people." In the text, titled "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19), the Bishops deplore the distance, the suffering, the lack of dialogue between the two Koreas, divided for over 60 years. Above all, the message expresses deep concern for the families separated by the border of the two Koreas, who have been unable to meet for decades, with great suffering for all. The issue of North Korean refugees will be faced, who are having to deal with many obstacles before being able to visit their hometown and their families in the South. In conclusion, the Bishop says in the text: "Our first duty now is to hope and pray that an agreement is reached to drive out the dark clouds of division and conflict. I am sure the Lord will respond if we turn our earnest prayer to the One who guides our steps on the path of peace." Since 1965, the Catholics in South Korea have organized a "Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation" in the Sunday closest to June 25, the day when the Korean War broke out (1950-53). (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012) AMERICA/PARAGUAY - President Lugo disqualified, Bishops' appeal for peace Asunción (Agenzia Fides) - "Given the serious political crisis that the Republic is experiencing, as Bishops of Paraguay, we turn to the representatives of the government and all citizens to express once again our exhortation to peace and the safeguarding of human life as a supreme value ". With these words, spread in a statement sent to Fides agency, the Bishops of Paraguay invite to maintain social peace and order in the country.  The decision of the Congress to initiate impeachment for the President of the Republic, Fernando Lugo, has provoked, in fact, a situation of tension between the population in the capital.  "We call on political leaders, social organizations, trade unions and the people to keep calm and to avoid any confrontation and violence, which jeopardize integrity and people's lives," reads the text.  The Bishops have decided to launch this appeal because many farmers took to the streets and part of the population already speaks of "coup". The Senate, yesterday, June 22 voted for the impeachment of the President motivating the measure taken with the recent clashes between police and farmers in the area of Curuguatay where, due to a matter of land possession, 17 people died (see fides 18/06/2012). Federico Franco, vice president, was sworn in as new president of Paraguay. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2012)

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