"IF MANKIND DOES NOT END WAR, WAR WILL END MANKIND"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was the appeal for help in ending the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia made by the Council of Hierarchs of the Catholic Church of Eritrea. The bishops warn that, if such help is not forthcoming, the "saying, 'if mankind does not put an end to war, war will put an end to mankind', will be tragically confirmed."

"After two years of alternating hope and disillusionment, of more or less bloody clashes," they write, "the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia has, in recent days, entered its most tragic phase. The last drop of hope linked to attempts at mediation has vanished and arms have had the last word."

They describe the "terrifying scene" of "incessant bombings on cities and villages, people fleeing to unknown destinations, the thousands of dead and wounded."

"What is it that has not worked in the attempts to stop this mad arms race," the bishops ask? "It is the grave duty of whoever can do something to ask themselves, in all conscience, why they have done nothing."
"As pastors," they continue, "we wish to note only one thing: just one day of delay could mean the extermination of an entire population and devastation of the territory. ... Thus, our anguished appeal: May the way to further massacres be blocked, may arms be silenced immediately, may the violence not be allowed to continue to prevail over reason. Tomorrow is already too late."

The bishops of Eritrea address their appeal "to those who, at the international level, have institutional responsibilities and the possibility to intervene" to save those who face "extinction through violence, hunger and deprivation."

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