Asian communicators pledge to make the voice of the voiceless heard

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (APEN) - 41 participants of the WACC-Asia Region assembly held in Chiang Mai, Thailand 17-20 May 2008 have expressed concern that media in the region take sides with the interests of those in power, “instead of upholding the people’s voices and aspirations.”

“Commercial interests of media institutions do not promote people’s issues of justice and peace,” they said.

In a statement, Chiang Mai Declaration 2008, issued for “deliberation, adaptation and implementation at the local, national, and regional levels,” the assembly participants reaffirmed “our prophetic role as Christian communicators” and committed themselves to make the voices of the poor and the marginalized heard, and to support communities in their struggle for peace and hope.
Stating that building communities of peace necessitates a holistic approach, the Asian communicators called for a long and lasting peace based on justice in Asia.

Rev Buakab Ronghanam, in her keynote speech stressed the importance of creating “a new iconography of peace rooted in justice, to defense the poor, widow, orphans and migrants and to live a life rooted in forgiveness and solidarity or harmony.”

The assembly, which gathered participants from Bangladesh, Burma, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand, on the theme, “Communication is peace: Building viable communities in Asia,” said that economic, political, cultural and religious obstacles to peace must be addressed to build viable communities of peace in the region.

Rev Randy Naylor, General Secretary of the Toronto-based global WACC also attended the assembly and updated the participants with the work of the global office and the upcoming global conference on communication rights and peace, Congress, to be held October 6-10 this year in Cape Town, South Africa.

WACC is an ecumenical organization, which encourages co-operation between Protestant, Orthodox and Roman Catholic communicators and challenges denominations to see the broadest possible base for their communication activities. It also promotes co-operation between people of other faiths and ideologies.

Ms Maria Theresa Lauron (Tetet), Secretary of the WACC-Asia region, in her report said that the theme of the assembly will also be followed-up with a view to begin “a dialogue on how Christian communicators in the region may arrive at a collective understanding of the poverty situation” and to work out strategies to deal with it.

Dr John Henry Anand, president of WACC-Asia region, referred to the plans for developing poverty reporting standards in Asia. He said that WACC-Asia region will carry out a systematic analysis of mainstream news media in the region over a period of three years beginning with India, and extending later to Indonesia, Philippines, Burma and China.

The food crisis happening in many of the developing countries was an issue which the assembly took note of with alarm.
It also noted with concern the worsening environmental situation and urged the authorities to “regulate those big industries that contribute to the climate change.”

The participants expressed deepest sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the recent cyclone, “Nargis” in Burma and the earthquake in the Sichuan province in China.

The assembly called for launching initiatives at the local level to ensure that interreligious and interfaith dialogue takes place at times of conflict and to strengthen solidarity relations and resource sharing with Christian communicators within and outside the region.

The Chiang Mai declaration has made reference to the intensification of the political tension in Asia due to US led war on terrorism and noted that this has affected peace initiatives, especially unification and reconciliation in Korea.

The declaration expressed solidarity with “frontline communicators” who face challenges to give a voice to the voiceless and journalists who face harassments and even become victims of extra-judicial killings particularly in the Philippines.

The triennial assembly elected new office bearers for the next three years. Dr Samuel Meshack from India is the new president and Rev Augustinus Sarwanto from Indonesia was elected the vice president. Ms Maria Theresa Lauron was reelected as the regional secretary while Rev Judy Chan is the new treasurer. Mr Naveen Qayyun from Pakistan and Rev Saw May Min Lwin from Burma were elected the new executive committee members.
The next assembly in 2011 will possibly be held in Indonesia.

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