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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.1 No.16
September 27, 1999
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Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net
Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.
Summary
of the Press Release
"A STATEMENT BY THE ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CALLING
FOR UNITED NATIONS INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
OF ACTION IN BRINGING ABOUT A CONSTRUCTIVE AND A PEACEFUL
SOLUTION TO SRI LANKAN CRISIS, AS THE WAR TURNS HIGH-TECH."
The plea by the Asian Human Rights Commission for the
involvement of UN and the international community is preambled by
statement of facts where the daily carnage is referred to. In the
weeks preceding the issue of the Statement there were the
reported of deaths of over seventy combatants, twenty-two
refugees and over fifty civilians. The statement equally refers
to the cost of this protracted war. "The war in the North
claims hundred of lives weekly and is caused both by the military
as well as the LTTE. While casualty among the combatants is over
60,000 many thousands if ordinary people have also lost their
lives, limbs and property due to this ongoing armed conflict.
According to an UNICEF statement issued in August 1998, about
50,000 children have been killed in the North and East. There are
over 167,000 internally displaced persons and about 300,000
refugees." A widespread consequence of this protracted war
and the related general instability is t
Chat " for the last two decades, normal policing in all
parts of the country has collapsed and the confidence in the
police is at an all time low."
It is in this context of death and destruction that the public
is informed of the plans by the Government to call for bids for
high-tech equipment. According to the statement, foreign
companies have been invited to register for the supply of
military hardware that included laser-guided bombs and electronic
warfare systems.
"Sri Lanka’s defence budget touched an all-time high
of USD 760 million last yr, accounting for roughly one-third of
the country’s budget. The world naturally has reasons to be
alarmed about these developments," adds the statement.
The statement then goes on to alert the international
community of the serious consequences. " A high-tech war in
a very low-tech country will come to face with many
contradictions…..a grotesque situation is likely to rise.
The civilian population again will be the victims rather than the
actual combatants." " In a brutal war, where each side
is only seeking for excuses to kill the other, high-tech warfare
will only increase such casualties. Besides, high-tech warfare is
likely to increase regional tensions and the possibilities of
regional conflict," where the two neighboring countries are
nuclear capable. It further warns that "the present
situation of gross human rights abuses is likely to degenerate
into worse forms with the high-tech warfare."
It is in this context of escalating violence and the broader
scenarios of human rights abuses and regional tensions, that it
proposes a "comprehensive plan of action" that will
include all political parties, the parties to the conflict and a
"very strong UN component." The reasons for such a
proposal stems from the fact that all peace efforts in the past
focusing either on bringing in the third parties or of bringing
the parties to the conflict to the negotiating table have failed
and more importantly "both the Sri Lankan government and the
LTTE must be regarded as perpetrators of gross human rights
abuses. They have both come under repeated international
condemnation." It then goes on to assert that "Without
UN involvement the peace in Sri Lanka will only be plain talk,
while the brutal war goes on."
The justification for UN involvement comes not only from the
inability of the perpetrators to the conflict to solve the
national problem, but also from a new heightened awareness of the
universality of human rights. "This week, Mr.Kofi Annan, UN
Secretary General, in a major policy statement declared clearly
that human rights must outweigh the notion of sovereignty. He
spoke about ‘the rights beyond boarders’ and called for
forging of ‘unity behind the principle that massive and
systematic violations of human rights - where ever they occur
– should not be allowed to stand." The statement goes
on to warn that those who oppose such interventions by the UN on
grounds of impartiality or interference in the internal affairs
of independent countries "must take the responsibility for
the continuing carnage by both sides."
The statement is then wound up with the appeal "We urge
every concerned group and persons to take an active part in
convincing the United Nations and the international community of
the need for effective intervention to bring to an end systematic
gross human rights abuse taking place in Sri Lanka."
(Please note that the full text of this statement can be sent
on request)
Statement
on Timor
TO WHOM It MAY CONCERN
(The refugee situation in West Timor)
While the world is applauding President Habibie of Indonesia
for his acceptance of United Nations Peacekeepers to come into
East Timor, we would like to draw attention to the present
situation and possible scenarios for the future: -
The forced flow of refugees from East to West Timor continues
although not in such obviously large numbers as during the first
week after the announcement of the result of the ballot. At this
moment the total in the area of the Diocese of Atambua (Belu and
North Central Timor Regencies) has reached 98,000. When the
numbers shipped to Kupang and other areas of Indonesia, along
with those flown to Australia, are added the total may be already
more than 160,000 and will obviously continue to rise till the
arrival of UN peacekeepers.
The conditions in which these refugees are living are
appalling; with many still having no roof but the blue sky,
minimal water and sanitation facilities, and minimal food and
medical assistance Added to these privations is the fear and
insecurity in which they live, as armed militias roam the area
terrorizing them, and the local population1 while seeking out and
removing certain individuals from the camps1 to be taken to a
destiny unknown, but presumed to be brut murder.
About 1,000 refugees in the North Central Timor area are from
the Ambenu enclave, while almost all the others come from the
area between Dili and the West Timor border. We have no contact
with and no account of all those East of Dill and can only hope
that their fate is better than that of their brothers and sisters
forcefully evacuated to the west.
The reduced flow of people has been replaced by an increased
flow of goods, - the possessions and produce of a hunted people
becoming the booty of their hunters. This pillage is followed by
a scorched earth campaign as the emptied villages are burned
down. (To avoid burning their fingers, they give kerosene and
matches to children to do the job for them). Churches,
presbyteries and religious houses, which were vacated, have also
been looted, what couldn9t be taken broken, and buildings damaged
or burned.
This looting and pillaging is the primary contributor to the
sad state of the refugees, because the armed hijacking of
vehicles in the Atambua area, to transport the booty from East
Timor, has led to a total breakdown in the transportation of
available aid to the refugees.
One cannot avoid noticing the absence of active men-folk from
among the refugees. Apparently the majority or them have sought
refuge in the mountains, some may have been forced into militia
gangs, while in at the women and children in their privation and
insecurity.
It is least one incident they were separated from the women
and children on their Way west, and executed in front of their
wives and families. The absence of able men is an extra physical
and psychological burden on impossible to give figures for the
numbers killed which may be anywhere between a minimum estimate
of 1000 end a maximum going into tens of thousands. Our latest
definite information confirms the deaths of five priests Fathers
Hilario Madeira, Pr., Francisco Soares, Pr., Francisco Baretto,
Pr., Tarsi Dewanto S.J. and Albrect Karim S.J, while various
other reports of the deaths of priests and nuns are unconfirmed.
Who we the Militia? It is very obvious that the militia groups
are not just undisciplined gangs, of pro~autonomy East Timorese
youth with Indonesian military support but a combination of such
youngsters and trained paramilitaries from other areas of
Indonesia along with members of Indonesia’s elite 'Special
Command Force' (Kopassus) giving them immunity from local or
provincial civil and military authorities.
On the basis of the above stated realities it is imperative to
question some of' the possible scenarios for the future: -
The arrival of thousands of UN peacekeeping troop will lead to
the total relocation of the militia and a major relocation or
Indonesian army units from East to' West Timor. The concentration
of these disappointed, undisciplined and humiliated forces in
West Timor, with its possible two hundred thousand plus refugees
and its 90% Christian population, will lead to a new reign of
terror in West Timor.
Young men recruited locally, and who later leave the militia,
will be sought out and murdered rather than let them live to tell
the tale of the atrocities they witnessed.
The forced evacuation of the population1 who will be claimed
by Indonesia as pro-integration, from the area between Dili and
the West Timor border, will become an excuse to grant
independence to only half the territory of East Timor.
d. Those among the 200,000 or more East Timorese, who will
have become refugees, in West Timor and other parts of Indonesia
before the arrival of UN peacekeepers and who later wish to
raturn1 will be slaughtered rather than allowed, back to East
Timor.
Therefore, as a result of recent developments, It has become
essential that the International community foresee the
humanitarian problem of the whole island of Timor, and not just
East Timor alone. To prevent further massive slaughter or
Innocent civilians, the widespread destruction of property the
looting of possessions and the permanent dissolution of East
Timorese families, it is essential that the UN Mandate be
extended to all of Timor, while East Timor receives peace
keepers. The Indonesian government should be forced to accept the
UNRCR and the ICRC in West Timor to guarantee the humanitarian
needs, security, and the free right of refugees to return to
their place of origin if they so wish.
Our most urgent needs as we strive to lessen the trauma,
privation and grief of these displaced people are;- tents or
funds to erect temporary accommodation water storage tanks for
the camps and tanker trucks to transport water' food and
nutritional food supplements like milk powder and nutritional
baby foods, clothes and light blankets1 or the funds to buy them
locally; and a need which came poignantly to my awareness today,
namely the need to bury the dead. These displaced people have no
means to bury their dead, but with such huge. Numbers in the
above mentioned conditions there will be deaths every day. Could
some charitable organization contribute a minimum US$. 50 per
funeral to avoid adding shame to the grief of these unfortunate
brothers and sisters of ours:
In conclusion it is necessary to stress that the crimes
against humanity in East Timor for more than twenty four years
are the total responsibility of the military and individuals
within the Indonesian Government, not the Indonesian people It is
a moving experience to see' how these refugees are accepted by
their neighbours and kin here in West Timor; irrespective of
their political affiliation; to see the sacrifices the families
are prepared to make accepting three or four families into their
own simple homes, and even risking their lives to hide and
protect those who are being sought by the assassin gangs. The
paradox or twenty four years of Indonesian inhumane involvement
in East Timor is that the military have not forced integration on
the East Timorese people, but have left them no alternative other
than to choose independence when a peaceful, humane integration
with their neighbours and kin should have been the ideal
solution.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
in the Context of Timor: What do we mean by
the Good Samaritan?
The story of the Good Samaritan comes from the Christian
Bible. An expert in the Jewish law had wanted to test Jesus
Christ when he asked Jesus what one must do to inherit eternal
life i.e. to go to heaven. Jesus replied by asking him instead
how he interpreted the law. The expert answered correctly
that one must love God, our Creator, with one's whole being, and
one must love one's neighbour as oneself. But to justify
himself he asked Jesus further: "And who is my
neighbour?"
It was in this context that Jesus told the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Briefly, a man fell into the hand of the
robbers when travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The
robbers beat him up and left him half-dead. A priest and
then a Levite (a lower Jewish religious minister) who came down
the same road left the poor man alone passing by on the other
side of the road. But a Samaritan, the one despised by the
Jews, the one, least expected to act correctly, came to the help
of the victim. He took the man to the inn and took care of him,
giving the innkeeper 2 silver coins to pay for the expense.
Jesus then asked the expert which of the three was a neighbour
to the man who fell victim to the robbers. The expert in
the law again replied correctly: "The one who took mercy on
him." (He could not even say "Samaritan" as
there were deep hatred between Jews and Samaritans.)
The humanitarian tragedy in East Timor cannot but touch the
conscience of every individual except perhaps the
"robbers" as in the story of the "Good
Samaritan." In our so-called global village today we
are reminded every moment by the media, of the horror that is
East Timor. Since the outbreak of violence there, reports
on East Timor have occupied the lead story on the front pages of
Straits Times, and indeed newspapers all over the world, not to
mention the hourly TV news and Internet websites.
How then have people reacted to East Timor? Many of us
no doubt would be like the "expert in the law" in the
story of the Good Samaritan, to whom the robbers' victim was just
a subject of discussion. Many more would be like the priest
and Levite, indifferent and ignore the crisis as another
unfortunate conflict to be avoided. Some of us would fall into
the category of the innkeeper for whom the wounded man is another
customer - they are more concerned about how business and the
economy and stock prices would be affected by events in East
Timor?
What can one do? Mr Wong Sin Hee in your forum (10 Sept)
wrote that "being in the midst of a sensitive geopolitical
arena, we can only display a studied concern and exercise eternal
vigilance. We cannot afford to be politically
vociferous." That sounds like a combination of the
attitudes of the expert and the innkeeper. Even as the
writer suggested that we can extend a helping hand and offer
humanitarian aid, he qualified that in doing so "we must not
be seen as interfering in the internal affairs of our
neighbour." Who is the neighbour in need?
He continued: "We can only wish them well and hope that
the Indonesians can resolve the conflict in East Timor in a
peaceful and amicable manner." It is a statement with
good intention but smack of the attitude of the priest or Levite.
What can the good Samaritans do? Well one good
Samaritan, Mr Alex Ren Ziming, Secretary of the Hearts
International (Association of Volunteers and Aid Workers) wrote
on Sept 8 in a letter with the caption: "Let us act to stem
the tide of terror," calling for action to help the East
Timorese. He wrote: "We call on the international
community to stand with the people of East Timor and help them in
their hour of need." It is important that ordinary
people who are concerned urged the governments "to take
action to stem the tide of terror." It is
necessary for ordinary people everywhere to express their
concerns to the world leaders to give them the
"mandate" to act in such situations.
No doubt for the more religious people, prayers are also
continually being offered for the poor victims in East Timor and
may I add also for the perpetrators of violence for a change of
heart and for the political leaders who can help end the
crisis. It will be important also for people to contribute
in money and in kinds towards the humanitarian relief efforts for
the East Timorese.
Victims of humanitarian disaster such as East Timor need the
rest of the world to stand with them to help rescue them.
Mr Wong had concluded his letter of 10 Sept saying, "We have
to be guarded in our speech and be sensitive, realistic and
pragmatic. … The discreet silence does not mean that we are
not aware and concern with events around us." Can you
imagine the deafening silence if that is the attitude adopted by
people everywhere?
Announcement
LEADING DALIT THEOLOGIAN BECAME BISHOP IN MADRAS
The Rev. Dr. V. Devasahayam, Professor of Systematic Theology
and Head of the Department of Dalit Theology at Gurukul Lutheran
Theological College, was consecrated Bishop in Madras of the
church of South India in May 1999. Bishop Devasahayam has written
and lectures extensively both in India and abroad on Dalit
Theology. He has succeeded the Rt. Rev. M. Azariah, one of the
earliest pioneers of Dalit Theology and a staunch Dalit activist
both before and during his years as Bishop.
Taken from DALIT INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER, Vol. 4 No. 3 Oct
1999
Posted on 1999-09-27
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