Egypt’s bloodshed demands urgent impartial investigation; Anglican Communion Office Annual Review: “2012 a packed year for ACO staff”
Egypt’s bloodshed demands urgent impartial investigation
There must be a full and impartial investigation into the violent dispersal of sit-in protests in Cairo this week, where security forces used unwarranted lethal force and broke promises to allow the wounded to exit safely, Amnesty International has said on the basis of its research on the ground.
Unprecedented levels of violence have left more than 600 dead around Egypt. The Ministry of Interior reported 43 fatal casualties among security forces. The death toll is expected to climb further as bodies are transferred to official hospitals and morgues.
“Based on the initial testimonies and other evidence we’ve gathered, there seems to be little doubt the security forces have been acting with blatant disregard for human life, and full investigations that are both impartial and independent are urgently needed,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty.
“While some protesters used violence, the authorities’ response was grossly disproportionate, seemingly not differentiating between violent and non-violent protesters. Bystanders were also caught-up in the violence.
“Security forces resorted to lethal force when it was not strictly necessary to protect lives or prevent serious injury – this is a clear violation of international law and standards. Previous promises to use graduated force when dispersing the sit-ins and provide ample warning and safe exits were quickly broken.”
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Anglican Communion Office Annual Review: “2012 a packed year for ACO staff”
Sharing mission and evangelism resources, capacity-building, issuing news and information, and faciliating a major pan-Anglican meeting were just some of the ways the Anglican Communion Office supported Member Churches last year.
According to its Annual Review 2012 , ACO staff members – who hail from countries including Japan, Jamaica, Colombia and Ireland – worked for the Anglican Communion in a range of areas. These included development, relief and advocacy; communications, theology, mission and evangelism, and ecumenism.
The main focus of the year, however, was the 15th Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Auckland, New Zealand.
Writing in the foreword to the Annual Review 2012 Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Canon Kenneth Kearon noted, “This was no small event: more than 100 delegates and guests met at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral for ten days of prayer, worship, fellowship and Anglican Communion business”.
Director for Communications at the ACO Jan Butter said the Annual Review had an important role to play in reporting back to Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world, “Most of the funding that allows us to do our work comes from Communion provinces,” he said. “Member Churches entrust us with facilitating the global-level collaboration and meeting that are crucial to our global communion.
“This publication lets people clearly see what we’re doing on their behalf.”