A lasting peace needs to include everyone

LWF president meets government officials, partners and faith leaders in Myanmar

(LWI) - On his visit to Myanmar, LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa called on government officials to work for the benefit of all society. “Peace that does not include everyone will not last,” was his message in meetings with ministers and other officials in the country.

The LWF president met with Deputy Minister H.E. U Soe Aung from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the Deputy Minister H.E. U Win Maw Tun, Ministry of Education, and the Chief Minister and six State Ministers of the Rakhine State Government.

In Sittwe, the capital of the troubled Rakhine state, the LWF president convened representatives of the United Nations and other INGOs, such as NRC, Plan International and Oxfam, representatives from the local government and leaders of the Buddhist community, providing a space to meet in a sensitive political situation.

Appreciation for support

In his conversations, the LWF president voiced his appreciation for the continued acceptance and State support for the work of LWF World Service with vulnerable communities, especially in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. As many of the LWF implementing areas are restricted, the government needs to facilitate access and security for LWF staff to be able to work.

LWF and other international non-government organizations are not here to replace the government but rather to work alongside it for the benefit of this generation and the next. My visit is an expression of solidarity and support from the global communion of churches to the people and churches of Myanmar.

“LWF and other international non-government organizations are not here to replace the government but rather to work alongside it for the benefit of this generation and the next,” the LWF president said. He outlined the LWF policy of working with governments as primary duty bearers to ensure a lasting development for peace and prosperity.

“My visit is an expression of solidarity and support from the global communion of churches to the people and churches of Myanmar,” he said.

Long-standing commitment

LWF started working in Myanmar in response to cyclone Nargis in 2008. In 2012, long-standing ethno-political-resource tensions between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim population turned into violence leading to displacement of the affected population. LWF then expanded operations to the camps of displaced populations of both communities shortly thereafter.

Today, LWF World Service has offices in Rakhine, Chin, Kayin and Delta states. The biggest operation in Rakhine State is to provide education and development support those in need in both the Muslim and Rakhine communities where rights and access to quality social services remain a challenge.

LWF World Service is running temporary learning spaces, kindergartens and providing teacher training in the camps set up for displaced and underserved communities. The LWF temporary learning spaces are often the only way for these children to receive an education. LWF also trains teachers and rehabilitates schools in vulnerable Rakhine communities. More than 15,000 children of both ethnicities benefit from that support every year.

“Fair and balanced” emergency response

The Chief Minister of Rakhine state shared his appreciation for LWF’s “fair and balanced” response in Rakhine, in working with all communities in need of assistance, both displaced and host communities. “Emotions are really high in Rakhine State and as such INGOs should ensure that they use conflict sensitive approaches and do no harm,” the Chief Minister of Rakine said.

Other government officials also expressed appreciation for the quality of LWF work, indicating that LWF has a very good reputation amongst NGOs in Myanmar. Following the displacement crisis in Rakhine state, LWF together with other NGOs had called for a better protection of refugees and returnees.

“Although the challenges are many, we wish everyone success in bringing diverse groups together in unity for nation-building,” LWF president Musa said. “Segregation is not a viable long-term solution. There has been peaceful co-existence among the residents of Rakhine State in the past, and we hope that the concerted political, social, cultural and economic development peace and advocacy efforts will succeed in finding sustainable solutions for all the people in Rakhine and Myanmar.”

Musa, who is Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, was elected president of The Lutheran World Federation at the Twelfth Assembly in Windhoek, Namibia, in May 2017. The visit to Myanmar was his first in office as LWF president.

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LWF president meets government officials, partners and faith leaders in Myanmar

LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa called on government officials, during his visit to Myanmar, to work for the benefit of all society. “Peace that does not include everyone will not last,” was his message in meetings with ministers and other officials in the country.

Courtesy call and meeting with LWF World Service’s host ministry, MSWRR.

From left to right: Government Translator, H.E. U Soe Aung (Deputy Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement), Dr. Ko Ko Naing (Director General, Relief and Resettlement Department), U Nay Win (Deputy Permanent Secretary, Union Minster Office).

29 January 2018. Photo: Nay Pyi Taw

Courtesy Call and visit to the Emergency Operation Center of the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD).

From left to right: Allan Calma (Regional Program Coordinator), Rev. Jensen Rajan Andrews (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar (Lutheran Bethlehem Church)) , Bishop Rev. Andrew Maung Lone (Myanmar Lutheran Church), Mr David Mueller (LWF Country Representative in Myanmar), Win Htein Kyaw (Director, RRD), LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, Lwin Aung Zaw (LWF Admin/Logistic Coordinator), San Thein Maung (LWF Deputy Program Manager), Daw Su Nandar Myint (Staff Officer, Department of Disaster Management).

29 January 2018. Photo: Nay Pyi Taw

Courtesy call and meeting with the Ministry of Education. Education for children is a key component of our work in Myanmar, especially in Rakhine.

From left to right: Dr. Nay Myo San (Deputy Director General, Department of Technical and Vocational Education), Dr. Aye Myint (Director General, Department of Technical and Vocational Education), H.E. U Win Maw Tun (Deputy Union Minister), Dr. Nyan Win Than (Director, Department of Technical and Vocational Education), Dr. Mi Mi Cho Htwe (Deputy Director General, Department of Technical and Vocational Education), LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, Bishop Rev. Andrew Maung Lone (Myanmar Lutheran Church).

29 January 2018. Photo: Nay Pyi Taw

Sittwe, Rakhine. Reception dinner for the LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa attended by representatives from UN agencies (UNRCO, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNOCHA, WFP), the local government (Department of Social Welfare), representatives of the Senior Monk, INGOs (Oxfam, NRC, Plan), LWF Member Church Representatives and LWF staff in Sittwe.

From left to right: Nan Oo Hlaing (LWF Sittwe CCCM Officer), Christopher Carter (UN Senior Advisor for Rakhine State, UNRCO), Richard Tracey (UNHCR), Kathryn Lo (UNHCR), Yadu Lal Shrestha (LWF Sittwe), LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa.

31 January 2018. Photo: Sittwe, Rakhine

Courtesy call and meeting with the Chief Minister and 6 of his State Ministers.

From left to right: Mr David Mueller (LWF Country Representative in Myanmar), Mr Bhoj Raj Khanal (LWF Project Coordinator), LWF president Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa, Nay Myo Oo (LWF Sittwe Community Service Officer/Translator), H.E. U Nyi Pu (Chief Minister, Rakhine State Government).

1 February 2018. Photo: LWF Myanmar