Report One

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) – New meetings and new initiatives for the inter-religious popular movement “Mussalaha” (“Reconciliation”), which proposes a “reconciliation from below” starting from families, clans, the different communities of Syrian civil society, tired of the conflict.

While the country is torn by conflict, peace initiatives and meetings are multiplying, being born in an entirely spontaneous and independent manner: in past days a new meeting which involved civic leaders, religious leaders, moderates, Christians and Muslims, tribal leaders, Sunnis and Alawites citizens of the mosaic that makes up the Syrian society, was held in Deir Ezzor, in the province of Djazirah (eastern Syria), near the Euphrates.

The movement, note sources of Fides, intends to say “No” to Civil War and notes that “we cannot continue with a toll that totals between 40 and 100 victims a day. The nation is bled white, it loses youth and its best forces.” For this reason a new initiative that comes from the “genius of the people” from people “who want a decent life, who reject sectarian violence and sectarian denominational strife, as preconceived ideological and political opposition are urgently required.”

In many Syrian cities, where on one side there are clashes and victims – refer sources of Fides – ” gestures of friendship and reconciliation grow, offered by civilian moderate leaders to community representatives considered hostile (this happens between Alawites and Sunnis), in the spirit to ensure security and peace through civil society.”

The movement hopes to find an institutional reference in the Minister for Reconciliation, the Socialist Ali Haider, who was appointed the new Syrian Executive and from the opposition party “People’s Will Party.”

But meanwhile, it is finding support abroad: the Irish Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 with Betty Williams and leader of the movement “The Peace People”, in a statement sent to Fides said “No to war in Syria”, and says: “We must put ourselves in the shoes of the Syrian people and find peaceful ways to stop this mad rush toward a war that mothers, fathers and sons of Syria do not want and do not deserve.” The text adds: “We urgently need to support those working for peace in Syria and are looking for a way to help the 22 million Syrians to resolve their conflict, without promoting violence or chaos.”

The Nobel Prize invites the UN to “be a forum where these Syrian voices are heard” voices of “people who have worked hard for Syria, to the idea of Syria as a secular, peaceful and modern country.”

http://www.bogoslov.ru/en/text/2652827/index.html

Report Two

Thanks to an agreement between government forces and opposition forces, sponsored by the Interreligious popular Committee “Mussalaha” (“Reconciliation”), some progress in the crisis of civilians trapped in Homs is being made. Currently nearly 200 families, between Christian and Muslim, are blocked in the neighborhood of Bustan Diwan and Hamidiyeh, stranded for days in the crossfire. Attempts to save them failed. Now those neighborhoods are no longer the target of bombings by the regular army and tension seems to have declined slightly.

After proving to be a free and transparent initiative, which only seeks the good of the Syrian people, without prejudice, the local committee of “Mussalaha” is expanding its support and getting attention and sympathy even from the opposition. Thanks to this benevolent disposition on behalf of both parties, in this context, the result obtained by the “Mussalaha” is miraculous.

According to many observers, “Mussalaha” may be the “third way”, born from the popular Syrian genius. After days of blackouts, telephones in the Bustan Diwan are again active, some priests present in Homs refer to Fides. About 100 faithful Christians in the area are helped by the Jesuit fathers who give humanitarian aid, opening their convent on Wednesdays and Sundays. They provide food, comfort, prayer and medication. Some families in recent days had asked to leave the neighborhood, but the factions of the rebels did not allow it, while dismissing the accusation of using them as “human shields”. The rebels, explain the faithful, ” have good care of Christians residents because they are a guarantee for the safety of all.”

Meanwhile, according to sources of Fides, the neighboring district, Khalidiyeh, is currently emptied. The thousand of civilians who in recent weeks the Red Cross had tried to evacuate from the area, have moved to other areas of Homs, with the coverage of rebel groups, because they were civilians (women, elderly, children) belonging to insurgent families. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 09/07/2012)

Report Three

As rebel forces and the Syrian army continue to engage in deadly combat in the suburbs of Damascus, Mother Agnes Mariam explains the issues.

Mother Agnes Mariam is Representative of the Mussalaha Reconciliation Initiative, and Spokesperson for the Catholic Media Centre of the Diocese of Homs, Hama and Yabroud, Syria is a guest of Pax Christi Victoria.

During the current crises in Syria, M. Agnes Mariam has played a prominent role in helping those who suffer as a result of the conflict, giving shelter and assistance at the monastery to those in need; without distinction to their religious or political affiliation. She has not been afraid to challenge certain Western media perspectives on the events in Syria and her testimony and personal witness to events in the district of Homs – one of the most troubled areas of the conflict – contrasts with the commonly accepted Western narrative. Mother Agnes Mariam, alongside her monastic community, has tried to hold the middle ground throughout this difficult period and has negotiated with both the state and the opposition for the benefit of peace and stability in the district.

The “Mussalaha”, which means “Reconciliation”, is an extraordinary community-based non-violent popular initiative born within the civil society of Homs; a city which has been torn apart by the conflict between the regular army and opposition forces.

Click here to listen to an interview with Mother Agnes Mariam, by Phillip Adams on Late Night Live, ABC Radio.