Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guwahati (Fides Service) - According to the local people the Catholic archbishop of Guwahati is admired and respected by all for his work to promote peace and justice. He is a man to whom people listen and has extraordinary capacity of mediation. This is why for the 5th time Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati has been asked to intervene as mediator between conflicting ethnic groups in the north east Indian state of Assam, where different groups and tribes often resort to violence to try to settle political, economic, territorial and ethnic questions.
Very committed in the field of social justice and peace, and esteemed as an objective and impartial mediator Archbishop Menamparampil recently reconciled Karbi and Dimasa, people in the region of Anglong the scene of recent violence in which at least 95 people many of them women and children were killed, 115 are missing and 50,000 were displaced. To meet the emergency, the Bishop of nearby Diphu diocese Thomas Kattrukudiyil mobilised clergy, religious and lay people to assist the homeless people.
The Bishops’ intervention was publicly praised by civil authorities and public opinion and by the parties involved. Archbishop Menamparampil is chairman of a Joint Ecumenical Peace Team which promotes dialogue and harmony in north east India, helping to settle many local disputes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2005 righe 25 parole 265)
