Prayers for Uganda - Johan D.Tangelder

Prayers for Uganda

How selective are commentators and U. N. representatives who deplore crimes of "the right"; while at the same time ignoring crimes of "the left", as if the cause justifies the means?

A number of Roman Catholic missionaries in Rhodesia have been the victims of cold blooded murder. Rhodesian news reported that on December 20, 1976 "about 25 terrorist guerillas entered a compound of a tea estate at 8:30 at night. They rounded up all of the men, women and children they could find. They stripped them of all their possessions and marched them three quarters of a mile to a lighted building. They then forced 35 women and children to put their heads between their knees. The men were made to lie on the ground. For three or four minutes the 'liberation fighters' fired at their helpless bodies. Nine Mozambique nationals died, eight Malawi nationals died and 10 Rhodesians. All were black. "Where were the protests against these atrocities?

Khieu Samphan, the leader of new Cambodia, was interviewed by an Italian weekly magazine. Khieu's statements in the interview admit to the slaughter that took place after the communist takeover in Cambodia. He said: "In five years of warfare more than one million Cambodians died. Before the war the population numbered seven million. The current figure is five million." The interviewer asked: "What happened to the remaining one million?" "It's incredible," Khieu replied, "how concerned you Westerners are about war criminals."

When the Cambodian representative Ieng Sary appeared before a special session of the United Nations General Assembly he left behind him a devastated country, but the delegates from around the world gave him a warm round of applause.

When something happens in South Africa you hear immediately about protest demonstrations. The South Korean regime makes life difficult for dissenters. Commentators and U.N. delegates let their objections be heard, loudly and clearly. Are there two standards of morality? One for the left and the other for the right? Should justice not be evenhanded? What is wrong for one should be wrong for the other. Furthermore, the cause can never justify the means. And racism, whether it is the black or white kind, is wrong.

While I am on the subject - who is protesting what is happening in Uganda? This nation, once described as the pearl of Africa, is in shambles. Massacres are the order of the day. Technicians at a power station on the Nile have quit their jobs. They became sick of seeing bodies floating in the river, victims of purges carried out by Idi Amin, Uganda's Hitler-like dictator.

Tales of refugees escaping across the border into Tanzania and Kenya have one common theme: Idi Amin has ordered the killing of thousands of Christians. He is systematically trying to eliminate Christian tribes.

The Anglican Archbishop Janani Luwum was one of the victims.

Everybody knows what is happening because of the insane actions of Amin. What is being done for the persecuted Christians? Precious little. The Western world seems to have lost its moral awareness. Why the official silence in government circles?

Is Amin, because he is a black Muslim, allowed to go on killing – un-protested? We must act responsibly before God and the benefit of the persecuted. Our voice of protest must be heard where it matters to Amin - the U.N. and other political arenas.

A number of Christians have taken definite action and established the Uganda Fund. A Christian organization in Mississippi, the Voice of Calvary Fund for Uganda, 1655 St. Charles Street, Jackson, Ms.39209, has offered to collect funds in North America for Ugandan relief. The contributions will go the aid of orphans and widows now living in poverty and exile in Kenya.

Of course, money is not sufficient. Christians should offer their prayer support as well. A woman who lives in Uganda pleaded: "If you, have never prayed for Uganda during these past five years, now is the time to pray."

Johan D. Tanghelder
1977

		Reformed Reflections
	Prayers for Uganda How selective are commentators and U. N. representatives who deplore crimes of "the right"; while at the same time ignoring crimes of "the left", as if the cause justifies the means? A number of Roman Catholic missionaries in Rhodesia have been the victims of cold blooded murder. Rhodesian news reported that on December 20, 1976 "about 25 terrorist guerillas entered a compound of a tea estate at 8:30 at night. They rounded up all of the men, women and children they could find. They stripped them of all their possessions and marched them three quarters of a mile to a lighted building. They then forced 35 women and children to put their heads between their knees. The men were made to lie on the ground. For three or four minutes the 'liberation fighters' fired at their helpless bodies. Nine Mozambique nationals died, eight Malawi nationals died and 10 Rhodesians. All were black. "Where were the protests against these atrocities? Khieu Samphan, the leader of new Cambodia, was interviewed by an Italian weekly magazine. Khieu's statements in the interview admit to the slaughter that took place after the communist takeover in Cambodia. He said: "In five years of warfare more than one million Cambodians died. Before the war the population numbered seven million. The current figure is five million." The interviewer asked: "What happened to the remaining one million?" "It's incredible," Khieu replied, "how concerned you Westerners are about war criminals." When the Cambodian representative Ieng Sary appeared before a special session of the United Nations General Assembly he left behind him a devastated country, but the delegates from around the world gave him a warm round of applause. When something happens in South Africa you hear immediately about protest demonstrations. The South Korean regime makes life difficult for dissenters. Commentators and U.N. delegates let their objections be heard, loudly and clearly. Are there two standards of morality? One for the left and the other for the right? Should justice not be evenhanded? What is wrong for one should be wrong for the other. Furthermore, the cause can never justify the means. And racism, whether it is the black or white kind, is wrong. While I am on the subject - who is protesting what is happening in Uganda? This nation, once described as the pearl of Africa, is in shambles. Massacres are the order of the day. Technicians at a power station on the Nile have quit their jobs. They became sick of seeing bodies floating in the river, victims of purges carried out by Idi Amin, Uganda's Hitler-like dictator. Tales of refugees escaping across the border into Tanzania and Kenya have one common theme: Idi Amin has ordered the killing of thousands of Christians. He is systematically trying to eliminate Christian tribes. The Anglican Archbishop Janani Luwum was one of the victims. Everybody knows what is happening because of the insane actions of Amin. What is being done for the persecuted Christians? Precious little. The Western world seems to have lost its moral awareness. Why the official silence in government circles? Is Amin, because he is a black Muslim, allowed to go on killing – un-protested? We must act responsibly before God and the benefit of the persecuted. Our voice of protest must be heard where it matters to Amin - the U.N. and other political arenas. A number of Christians have taken definite action and established the Uganda Fund. A Christian organization in Mississippi, the Voice of Calvary Fund for Uganda, 1655 St. Charles Street, Jackson, Ms.39209, has offered to collect funds in North America for Ugandan relief. The contributions will go the aid of orphans and widows now living in poverty and exile in Kenya. Of course, money is not sufficient. Christians should offer their prayer support as well. A woman who lives in Uganda pleaded: "If you, have never prayed for Uganda during these past five years, now is the time to pray." Johan D. Tanghelder 1977

Reformed Reflections