Let There Be Peace!

"If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But
now they have been hidden form your eyes." (Luke 19:42)

These days President Bush's United States Government has divided the world into good and evil, as a basis for confrontation. It is revealing its imperialistic character in seeking to dominate the world as its supreme military power. Now, the attack of the US on Iraq is in its countdown phase and may be underway as these words are written. Yet again, humanity has been brought to a point of crisis by the violence of the United States. However, the voices of peace are spreading and are like crying stones (Luke 19:40).
Now is the time when Korean Church Women must choose peace as they have
suffered too much through a history of violence.

Korean Church Women are against any attack of the United States on Iraq.

The Bush Administration will carry out this terrible, dark war for the benefit of the United States alone. The supposed relationship between Iraq's Government and Al Qaeda and the development of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction threatening the United States have not been clearly shown to the world. International society is strongly objecting to this imperialistic attitude but the Bush Administration is totally ignoring our determination and viewpoint. Therefore, President Bush has lost his credibility amongst the family of nations-the international community. Even in his own country the people do not fully support his justification of his violence against Iraq as being a moral and just obligation. However, Korean Church Women, who follow Jesus Christ who came to bring peace on Earth, are against this war which cannot bring security and peace for our nation.

Korean Church Women request the Korean Government to reject the demands of
the United States for support in the battle against Iraq.

The Bush Administration has declared that it will attack Iraq without any agreement from the United Nations. It has also sought support for the attack and the provision of human resources, including medical volunteers, for the rebuilding of the Iraqi nation after the war. In view of the relationship between S. Korea and the US, the S. Korean Government will probably agree to this demand.

So far, our priority has been to solve the nuclear issue with North Korea peacefully. This is the basic principle for good relations between the South and the North. If the S. Korean Government agrees to the demands of the United States, it will lose the trust and moral support of the international community. Korean Church Women have had to think about Iraqi women and children. Therefore Korean Church Women reject the demands of the United States for support in the war against Iraq and request the S. Korean Government to re-examine the strong diplomatic relationship with the United States.

Korean Church Women desire a peaceful resolution to the threat of war with Iraq and that of the nuclear situation in the North.

The United States does not accept the demands of the North despite its making
its position clear as regards the nuclear issue and its desire for a peaceful resolution of this matter. The Bush Administration does not exclude the possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula in pursuance of its efforts to force North Korea to give up its nuclear capability.

Korean Church Women are against any development of nuclear power. They also
oppose the attitude of the United States which could drive the Korean Peninsula to a crisis of conflict. Also, Korean Church Women want to inspire our Government so that it never gives up discussions and negotiations for a peaceful resolution with North Korea. They do not want another war crisis in our land.

Korean Church Women desire to continue the movement for peace by joining with Church Women around the world. They want to further the drive for peace and resist any violence which pushes them into a war crisis. Korean Church Women declare that our world is a place for peace and they will strive to pursue the cause of peace until it is a reality for all people.

March 13, 2002
Church Women's Alliance for Peace and Against War.