INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE IN THE WORLD

 Sir,

Yesterday marked International Day of Peace in the World, which we must all celebrate. But as we celebrated this day the world is experiencing neither peace nor justice.

Those who hold political power around the world today are seen not preparing for peace with justice but instead are seen actively investing in weapons of war.
Daily in televisions screens we see desperate human beings struggling to flee persecutions by some of the leaders who were there when this day was chosen to be recognised and celebrated by all of God’s creation as the day of peace.

The so called civilised world is quiet as millions of Rohyjnga Muslims are being slaughtered in Burma, with thousands struggling to escape rapes and the mass murder of boys and men.

In Yemen we see thousands dying of either hunger or diseases, or are simply being slaughtered by air raids from Saudi Arabia, while the world turns its face away from the crisis as though it was not happening. In the land where our Lord Jesus was born, Israel, Palestinians are being persecuted by the Israeli Government with its heavy military support from one of the world powers which fools the world that they are capable of mediating peace in the Middle East while fully arming one of the parties in the conflict. Such is the hypocrisy of the world we live in today.

In Africa we continuously see the ongoing slaughters in the DRC and Burundi, where the two governments are in some kind of collusion to kill the tribes to which they are politically opposed. And African leaders are conspicuous by their collective silence, while in South Africa the woman who failed Africa as the head of the commission is now seeking election to replace her disgraced former husband, the current president of the country. In South Sudan thousands are fleeing to neighboring countries, escaping the multiple rapes and killings of boys and men.

There is no peace in Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, Central African Republic and several other African countries but African leaders appear not to see what is happening around them. Looking around Africa, including Swaziland; what we see are heavy investments in the militaries than in social sectors which are likely to promote and protect peace and justice; such as high quality education for all children, sustainable health standards, democratic governance which promotes economic prosperity to benefit the majority of their respective majority citizens.

We, in the Swaziland Justice and Peace Institute, take this opportunity to encourage all those who chose to be involved in the service of God’s people by promoting human rights and equal access to justice by all their fellow human beings to feel encouraged by what they have chosen to do because peace can only come to us when those who are privileged are committed to strictly observing God’s rule: that they must govern justly all the time because they shall each account before Him as to how they governed His people.

Musa I N Hlophe
Swaziland Justice and Peace Institute
Executive Director

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