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SuaraLamaholot.com- Opinion: Injustice in Supplying the Weapons to Ukraine (A Moral Reflection of the Right to Live)
(Rones Magalhaes Mau, a student in Angelicum Pontifical University, Rome-Italy)
The war between Russia and Ukraine continues up to now. Since Russian invasion in Ukraine began on 24th of February 2022, Ukraine has received weapons and military equipment from at least 28 countries, 25 of which belong to NATO. The support of weapons to Ukraine for now strengthens the Ukraine army to defend their country from the attack of Russia. However, we have to take into consideration that the supply of weapons to Ukraine could be unjust and immoral. Apparently, the support of weapons is no longer the good way for the protection of lives and the maintenance of the common good. We see that, lately Ukraine may resist, however, the Russian army has been attacking the populated places in Ukraine and as a result the victims of this war have reached 6,114 civilians killed, including 390 children, 9,132 injured, including 690 children. Besides, the current winter is certainly making a vast number of Ukrainians suffer due to the lack of energy.
Thomas Aquinas regarding the just war states that because of the common good it is the authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged. Those who have the authority of a country come into play and take the decision to eliminate the threat, if their country is in danger of threat, even the threat of war. Certainly, Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that, life is so meaningful that is the reason why he neglects the war. For Thomas Aquinas behind the war there must be violence but Thomas does not close his eyes to the reality that the war is always there and it arises in the midst of human society. Therefore, Thomas formulated the just war. Nevertheless, we need to take into consideration, is this war to fight against injustice and ultimately bring about the common good or is it just the burning egos of the two leaders of these two countries?
Apparently, the supply of weapons has so far increasingly been prolonging the current war and preventing a peaceful end. It continuously happens as it was said by Pope John Paul II about the “culture of death” whereby human lives are devalued. This sad
state of affairs destroys humanity’s yearning for a good and orderly life, peace, love, and so on. Pope John XXIII in his encyclical letter Pacem in Terris highlights that, peace will never be achieved, will never be secured, if the world-order established by God is not dutifully observed. This encyclical actually aims to establish a universal peace based on truth, justice, mercy, and freedom. It seems, this ongoing war does not pave the way for people, especially Ukrainians for having a good life, and absolutely no maintenance of a peaceful life for people. It is even worse that the impact of this war spreads throughout the world.
