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Angolas Catholic Bishops say the country could use this years elections to boost the countrys fledgling democracy. The Bishops also urge the government to urgently address issues of poverty.

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City.

The Bishops said all eligible voters must register and renew their cards in readiness for the August elections.

In a report released by the Catholic-owned Radio Ecclesia, Archbishop Jos Manuel Imbamba, President of the Bishops Conference of Angola and So Tom (CEAST), said the August general elections could be a watershed moment for the country to make a democratic leap forward.

A strengthened democracy, by its nature, contributes to the affirmation of human dignity, the strengthening of justice, peace and well-being among citizens, said the CEAST President.

Archbishop Imbamba, the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Saurimo, spoke from the Diocese of Benguela, where the Bishops are meeting in a CEAST plenary assembly.

The city of Benguela, situated in the western part of Angola, is one of the most populous towns.

The ruling party, MPLA has been in power since 1975. President Joo Loureno was first elected in 2017 after serving as Defence minister under president Jos Eduardo dos Santos. The ruling party recently confirmed President Lourenos bid for a second mandate.

Angola is yet to fully recover from a brutal civil war that started in 1975 and only ended in 2002. The war began after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The two former anti-colonial movements, MPLA and UNITA, engaged in a protracted power struggle that led to devastation. About 500 000 people died in the war. Many roads, bridges, and buildings were damaged.

Currently, the opposition holds about a third of the seats in the National Assembly. In 2017, the opposition complained of widespread irregularities in elections won by MPLA.

It remains to be seen how the National Electoral Commission (CNE) will demonstrate its independence. It is composed in proportion to party representation in parliament. Another concern is Angolas decision to count votes from a central place and not at local polling stations as is the norm.

Angolas oil-driven economy has remained stagnant for six years despite being a major oil producer. The cost of living has been on the increase, and in their statement this week, the Bishops noted that unemployment and the poverty situation in Angola are issues that need to be addressed urgently.

Economists also say Angola has a huge international debt, most of it owed to China.

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Catholic Bishops in Angola call for the consolidation of democracy. - Vatican News

ROME One year after a military coup overthrew Myanmars democratic leadership, the nations outspoken top Catholic prelate has called for dialogue and an end to violence but cast doubt on the future of democracy in the Southeast Asian country.

Speaking to Crux, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon said the armed conflict that has bloodied Myanmar for the past year has brought our country to its knees.

On Feb. 1 last year Myanmars armed forces, the Tatmadaw, led a coup overthrowing the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, the countrys democratic leader, on charges of election fraud.

Aung San Suu Kyi who was put on trial and sentenced to six years in prison for incitement against the military, breaching coronavirus restrictions, and breaking a telecommunications law faces a swath of other charges, including corruption and bribery, that could land her 150 years in prison.

In the wake of last years coup, Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) resisting military control have sprung up across the country and have clashed with government forces in a conflict that has turned into a bloody standoff with both sides refusing to back down.

According to the United Nations human rights office, at least 1,500 people are known to have been killed so far in the armed resistance, with potentially thousands more killed in armed conflict that are still unaccounted for. At least 11,787 have been unlawfully detained, with some 8,792 remaining in custody.

In his comments to Crux, Bo said he is encouraging both sides to dialogue, but now there is painful distaste for talks and the military and resistance forces are in a stalemate.

In terms of democracys future in Myanmar, Bo said the military has promised a disciplined democracy, which clearly implies certain restrictions.

There are no reasons for optimism in Myanmar at present. But hope is another matter, he said, adding, Democracy is the undying fire in the hearts of the people. No stakeholder in Myanmar can run this nation for long if they deny that.

Bo also reflected on the role of young people in the resistance, the advocacy of Pope Francis for peace in the country, and the role of the Church as bloodshed continues.

Please read below for Cruxs full interview with Cardinal Charles Bo:

Crux: Its been one year since the military coup began. Since then, the situation has quickly deteriorated. Did you expect the situation would become so violent and so drastic?

Bo: As the date approached for swearing in the newly elected government there were rumours. At Christmas I normally invited both the democratic leader and the Commander in Chief for a cordial meeting. For Christmas 2020, only the Commander in Chief came. I was deeply disappointed that I could not bring them together.

The peoples reaction to the February 1 action of the military was massive. In the beginning it was non-violent. I always feared that bloodshed would ensue. Sadly, it happened. Brutal violence took over. As I said in the post-Christmas message, the whole Myanmar is now a war zone. Embittered youth seek solutions through armed response. The army is historically known for a no mercy approach. We have buried more than a thousand people in this war of no victory. We need to arrest this deadly spiral. As of now, we agree with your assessment: Yes, it is violent and drastic.

The reason given for the coup was related to allegations of election fraud. Do you think the military is open to holding new democratic elections if Aung San Suu Kyi is not among the candidates, or is this a complete regression to previous times? In other words, is democracy completely lost in Myanmar, or do you think there is still hope?

I am a firm believer in dialogue. Did we need such response to allegations of election fraud? Problems created by human beings can only be solved by human beings, not by guns. So much violence and so much blood letting could have been avoided through dialogue. Sadly, it is not happening.

About future elections: At first the Commander in Chief promised elections within a year. Then it was extended to 2023. But they promise disciplined democracy which clearly implies certain restrictions. Among the thousands regarded as enemies who are incarcerated there are at least five hundred NLD [National League for Democracy] members. They were the part of democracy till recently. There are no reasons for optimism in Myanmar at present. But hope is another matter. Democracy is the undying fire in the hearts of the people. No stakeholder in Myanmar can run this nation for long if they deny that.

It is true that Myanmars military was previously in control for many years, but now the people have tasted democracy, albeit briefly. Do you think the military is surprised by the level of resistance theyve faced in the wake of the coup, especially from young people?

Yes and no. In many ethnic areas the [militarys] control was and is contested. Even during the democratic interlude, the military retained control, through the constitution they themselves had written. The fact that they already held that control makes it strange why they launched this coup which has brought our country to its knees.

The army faces a new generation that is sailing through the social media cosmos. It cannot be controlled and forced back to dark days. The people tasted a limited form of democracy in those five years. They were exposed to values such as freedom of speech, critical education, the right of free assembly, and they could also see that Myanmar has much to offer Asia and the world.

Our young people are our greatest resources, they struggle not only for democracy but for the opportunities that come with that. They see how opportunities pulled millions out of misery in other Southeast Asian countries and, for example, South Korea. They will not easily be subdued. The army knows this. It is why the struggle reaches to every corner of the country.

Clearly the situation at its current status is not sustainable. You have had conversations with some of the military leaders, and Im sure you have also met with members of the resistance. Do you perceive there to be an openness on either side to resolving the conflict in a peaceful way, to having a dialogue? Or is everyone set on digging in their heels?

There are two governments, one that claims legitimacy, one in the shadows. There are two armies, one well equipped and battled hardened, the other in the shadows full of anger and commitment but without proper command or weapons. So, this is going to be painful stalemate with disastrous results for the ordinary people. So, we urge for dialogue to both the groups. Now there is painful distaste for talks.

The time for talks will come. This is what I and other religious leaders have tried to prepare for. It is why I have tried to keep open the channels for dialogue with everyone. But neither side appears ready to compromise now. We are at a stalemate. Violence cannot be arbiter of this nations destiny. Its time is over.

What do you think it would take for all sides to put down their weapons?

No one will put down their weapons easily. The Tatmadaw are not the types to give in. But a good leader knows when to sue for peace, when the cost is too high. All the wars that the Myanmar army waged are against its own people. After 70 years there is no clear victory. This realization should strike home to the army as soon as possible. This nation cannot stay on a permanent conflict mode. The army has many motives in waging the war; economic interests are the major ones. They need to understand a free and open economy gives more gain for all.

Sadly, the enablers of this conflict are from outside, those with geostrategic interests and those who flourish through arms industry. Our curse is our resources. Russia makes profit from the sale of weapons and gains a foothold in Asia. Great nations like China and even Japan, which should want stability in the region, can goad the army into talks, a durable peace is possible. Yet even when peace comes, this nation will take years to heal. The world needs to engage all the stakeholders, make them part of the solution. If this realization is missing, we are riding a long-haul turbulence.

Pope Francis many times has expressed his closeness to Myanmar and has prayed for peace to prevail, including with his special Mass for Myanmar last year. What has his support meant to the people of Myanmar? Has his advocacy had any direct impact on the situation?

The popes witness is poignant. His love for this country was shown when he chose this small country for his pilgrimage of peace. After this conflict broke out, the pope has prayed at least ten times in public for Myanmar. Each time his words are encouraging. In the special Mass for Myanmar, he spoke of Myanmars dramatic and painful experiences of violence, conflict and repression. His words continue to be balm of healing to our people.

His words matter since they give visibility to the wounds of Myanmar. Of course, he was principally speaking to encourage the Christian minority in Myanmar. But he is a significant world leader with a moral voice. Despite all risks, during his visit to Myanmar he met all stakeholders here, including the army leader. The Pope urged all to strive for peace.

Although the Commander in Chief has visited many religious leaders, myself included, we do not yet see the results of these conversations. Christians along with all others continue to suffer, thousands are displaced, churches continue to be attacked. We wish to see a positive move towards de-escalating conflict.

Many religious in Myanmar have taken bold actions, standing in front of tanks and soldiers to prevent further civilian bloodshed. Given the ongoing violence, the increasing death toll, and the displacement of so many, what should the Churchs role be? How can it best help the people and contribute to peace at this time?

The first role of priests and religious is to accompany the people. The Church is more than the consecrated persons, and therefore we can work at many levels, such as seeking dialogue and attempting to bring humanitarian assistance to the afflicted. In many areas the practical help is being blocked. This is one of the matters I raised with the military leaders. My requests were heard, promises were made, but we are waiting for the outcome. We continue our efforts along with all religious leaders.

When all others fled, like INGOs, the Church stayed with the people despite huge risks to life. Its presence offers a measure of security to the beleaguered population. The Churchs mission is first of all to pastorally accompany and listen to our people. Second, we seek to serve one another, to be of help at times of grief or of need. Third, we must defend the rights and human dignity of all people. In all this the Church is highly challenged since it is also wounded in different ways. I have indicated in my encouragement to all that this wounded Church needs to be the healer. We live with this challenge as a Church in Myanmar.

Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter:@eliseannallen

The rest is here:
On democracy in Myanmar, cardinal says there's 'no reason for optimism' - Crux Now

India has underlined the need to distinguish between political ideologies that are part of a pluralistic democratic polity and the radical ideologies that subscribe to terrorism, emphasisng that any attempt to paint both of them with the same brush is "inaccurate" and "counterproductive".

Speaking at the Ambassador-level Annual Briefing to Member States organised by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said India has always maintained that nations should not go back to pre-9/11 era when terrorists were being divided into 'your terrorist' and 'my terrorist'.

He said the categorising them weakens the collective resolve to combat terrorism.

Tirumurti said there is a need to understand is that in democracies right-wing and left-wing are part of the polity and come to power through elections reflecting the majority will of the people.

"Democracy by definition contains a broad spectrum of ideologies and beliefs. We need to distinguish between the political ideologies which are part of a pluralistic democratic polity, as against radical ideologies which subscribe to terrorism. Our fight is against such radical ideologies and not against democracy. To paint them with the same brush is inaccurate and counterproductive," he said.

Amid efforts to prepare report of the Secretary-General mandated by the General Assembly to assess the threat posed by the terrorist acts on the basis of xenophobia, racism, and other forms of Intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, Tirumurti underlined that "we should not be selective in our approach but in fact seek to implement a zero-tolerance against terror."

Tirumurti, currently the Chair of the 1988 Sanctions Committee as well as of the Counter-terrorism Committee of the Security Council, said the overall threat of terrorism has only increased.

"The threat posed by al-Qaeda, ISIL and their affiliates in Asia as well as in Africa, and their links with those designated under 1267 need to be recognised and addressed," Tirumurti said.

He said the recent report of 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee highlighted how the close link between the Taliban, especially through the Haqqani network, and al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups still continues.

"We need to ensure that radical groups in one region do not draw sustenance from another," he said.

Tirumurti said he looked forward to enhancing synergies between the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), both of which play complementary roles.

"One of the aspects, which has not been fully explored is the role victims of terrorism and their networks can play in countering terrorism. We know that the UNOCT has put a spotlight on this issue. We are also reaching out to civil society to support our efforts on counter-terrorism," he said.

Tirumurti also referred to the adoption of 7th review resolution of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) in June last year, when it was reaffirmed that there cannot be any excuse or justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of motivations of the terrorist actors as underlined in relevant UN Security Council resolution.

The review also, more importantly, rejected the divisive efforts of a few member states, looking for labeling terrorism based on motivations, especially based on political and other ideologies. It is important that the UN response to terrorism remains united, unambiguous, and unequivocal, he said.

Tirumurti noted that it is equally important that the integrity of the GCTS is preserved and attempts to undermine this hard-earned consensus are stopped.

He also voiced concern over the "real emerging threat" posed by the terrorist use of information and communications technologies, emerging technologies such as social media, new payment methods, video games, encrypted messaging services, cryptocurrencies and drones for which most of the member states do not have adequate response capabilities.

"We have been witnessing cross-border terrorist attacks through drones. Global expert bodies such as Financial Action Task Force or FATF have been raising red flags about terrorist financing, and laxity of certain member states in bringing their practices at par with international Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) standards," he said, calling for the need to strengthen efforts of FATF.

"Countering terrorist narratives, particularly through internet and other online means, have remained a challenge. Enhanced online presence of young people during pandemic has exposed them to exploitation by a terrorist group through hate speech and recruitment. Let us not forget that the greatest violators of human rights are the terrorists," he said.

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Radical ideologies subscribing to terrorism and political ideologies part of democracy are not same, says - Economic Times

Ortega warned in his book that the rise of the mass man endangered small-r republican government and high culture, Continetti said. Ortegas mass man was a man without qualities, a man who thought of himself as common and insignificant, a mere part of an undifferentiated crowd. The mass man, Ortega said, was the consequence of untrammeled democracy, of classlessness. The mass man was uneducated, ill-informed, fickle, coarse and quick to anger. He was ripe for totalitarian picking.

The second session, titled The Right and the Politics of Democracy and moderated by UVA adjunct politics professor Mary Kate Cary, ran the gamut on more current issues surrounding conservatism, as Cary had her panelists New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and Emory University history professor Patrick N. Allitt focused on changes in the 21st century. Douthat in 2008 published Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream. Allitt in 2009 published The Conservatives: Ideas and Personalities Throughout American History.

Among the many topics, Cary asked both to describe the state of conservatism today.

I think its reasonable to look at conservatism, in any given context, to retain the established traditions of a given culture or society, Douthat said. I think in the American context, I usually stress the idea that America has had, along with our written Constitution, this unwritten constitution or a cultural constitution, which maybe is a pointless conflation of different categories. But if you look at what 20th-century American conservatives imagined them to be doing, they were trying to conserve various forms of American exceptionalism, American cultural habits and folkways that were somewhat different from the combinations that showed up in other modern societies, especially in Western Europe.

However, as habits have changed over the years, it raises questions, Douthat said.

What are conservatives doing? What are they conserving? he said. And its how you get into a moment when theres more appeal to the idea of reaction. Where its like, All right, we lost. We lost the things we were fighting for. So now we have to start again, at the beginning even if that means questioning all the way back to the founding itself.

In light of Donald Trumps presidency, Cary asked both panelists about the value of personality vs. policies in conservatism.

(Ronald) Reagan created the idea of conservatives as thoroughly likable people, Allitt said. And I dont think that theres been a Republican leader like that since then; John McCain, some of it, but not quite as much. And obviously, Trump completely failed in that department. I mean, he provoked animosity with just about every sentence he spoke.

Cary ended the event by asking each panelist for what makes them hopeful for the future of the conservative movement.

Conservatism in itself is a very sensible thing, Allitt said. Were all intrinsically conservative because we want to hold onto the things in our world that we like. So, its got a future. But whether that future can easily be transfigured into policies is a different question.

Cary followed, Are you hopeful about our democracy?

Oh, very (hopeful), Allitt said. Everybody believes in it.

A full replay of the event can be found here.

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UVA Democracy Event Analyzes the Past, Present and Future of Conservatism - UVA Today

(Each Saturday, a faith leader offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)

Tomorrow, the Sunderland Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, will conduct its Annual Congregational Meeting following its morning worship. This combination is intentional. The church at worship inspires the church at work. Spiritually nourished by Word and Communion, the members are prepared for the sacred responsibility of church governance, which entails everything from mundane financial matters to how best to preach and live the gospel in the church and in the world.

Every member of the congregation contributes to the leadership of the church. Each members opinions and expectations, and the consensus that emerges from them in dialogue, are judged to be the most trustworthy expression of the Spirits intent.

This Congregational Church Model is and has been thoroughly democratic since it arrived on these shores with the Pilgrims. Each members conscience is respected. Each congregations autonomy is protected. What holds this together is a respect for covenant, a solemn and sacred agreement to value the opinions of others and to expect the same in return. Covenant requires mutual trust and a humble willingness to compromise.

Gathering as a community is valued and entered into freely. I have heard it said, only somewhat jokingly, that Congregationalism at its most forceful will strongly encourage. This recognizes the value of teaching and informed discussion. Congregationalism employs a collaborative leadership and is an outright rejection of the power of the privileged few. This heritage of democracy influenced the political formation of our nation and has long been respected as its fundamental tenet. In a nation not defined by a common faith, origin, race or ethnicity, it is democracy that is our keystone.

The birthdays of Lincoln and Washington fall later this month. When I was in school and waiting for winter vacation, it was the birthdays of these two American icons that were celebrated on Presidents Day. Washington surprised the world when he relinquished command of the Continental Army at the end of the Revolutionary War. Abigail Adams wrote that if Washington were not one of the best-intentioned men in the world, then he might be one of the most dangerous. Washington respected the nascent American democracy. His example of walking away from the autocratic power that was almost expected of him at the end of the war and of his second term set an example for future Presidents.

Lincoln was called upon to reassemble the nation Washington had helped form, and to begin in earnest to advance a more complete understanding of the ideal: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal He was the President whom fate would have confront Americas peculiar institution of slavery. The enlightenment of Americas words could no longer tolerate the barbarity of its actions. Lincoln is quoted as saying, No man is good enough to govern another man without the others consent. He led us through the cataclysm of Civil War to advance the scope and thus the legitimacy of our democracy.

Lincolns February birthday, along with that of Frederick Douglas, is also the reason why February is African American History Month. Some three weeks ago, we celebrated the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He stood on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famous I have a dream speech. He called out America for not fulfilling its promise to continue advancing democracy among all its people. That struggle remains ours still today.

Democracys continuing work is a noble endeavor and one that depends on our higher selves. It battles the baser instincts of pride, power and greed. It challenges us to respect each other as equals and also the covenants that hold us together as one people, one people who are actually stronger because of our differences. In our church tomorrow, we will treat democracy as a sacred gift. I hope we as a nation can do the same.

The First Congregational Church of Sunderland, United Church of Christ, has ministered to the people of the local communities since 1717. Worship services on Sundays begin at 11 a.m. The churchs website and Facebook page are found under First Congregational Church of Sunderland. The churchs phone number is 413-665-7987. If you would like to reach Rev. Randy Calvo, please email him at randyc1897@gmail.com. We offer religious education for the youth and Bible study for adults. We have a wonderful music program under the direction of Anthony Tracia, and a bell choir. All are welcome and we mean it.

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Faith Matters: The sacred gift of democracy - The Recorder