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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.1 No.19
October 19, 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.
Ecumenical Perspectives Beyond 2000
By Rev. Reid Shelton
( The summary of a paper presented at the ACISCA*
Consultation on Ecumenical Perspectives Beyond 2000)
"The new millenium provides us with an opportunity to
revisit God's calling to build His kingdom ..." is presented
as the major challenge facing the churches in Asia. It is a
call to "make the world more human and to highlight the
sacredness of life".
This appeal is also made in the context of the present system
characterized by globalisation with its motivating factor of
profit accumulation, consumerism destroying all traditional human
and spiritual values, the States loosing their identity,
marginalisation through exclusion and the exploitation of
narrow religious, ethic, class, race and other sentiments to
heighten tensions, conflicts and the use of arms. In such a
context what is emphasized for the Churches are Alternative
Thinking, Alternative Structures and Alternative Action.
Alternative Thinking and Structures:
The researching on the concept of a Meta-Church focusing on
the vision of Christ, the realisation of the Kingdom of God with
the least of the controls and institutional baggages are
advocated. 'The emergence of collaborative ministry must be
encouraged as a programme for the future. With this there will be
new structures to facilitate all brothers and sisters who
profess their faith in Jesus Christ.... Local ecumenical
partnerships need to be encouraged at the base level
especially by working for the poor, the marginalized and the
oppressed".
Alternative Action:
- to listen to the victims among us and besides us, build
up alliances based on trust and right information, and
the creation of avenues for reconciliation based on the
admission of collective and individual guilt;
- Refusal to take part in violent and unjust structures by
being critical and opposing proposed agreements
like MIA;
- Economic projects at the base initiated and implemented
by the poor and the marginalized;
- Inter-faith activity in and through the economic
activities;
- Ecological movement to be promoted through education,
implementation of global treatises, organizing
environmental societies and insisting on legal provisions
for environmental assessment for all projects
- Feminist Movement for enhancing their dignity;
- Highlight traditional cultural values, for instance in
health;
- Human rights movement for their promotion and defense
through the study of UN declarations;
- Alternative education system (based on an analysis of the
present system) geared towards the formation of a new
society based on equality, justice and integral
development;
- Alternative trade
- A Kairos document? "Why not initiate such a document
highlighting the ecumenical and social liberative
dimensions of Asian traditions, cultures and faiths"
The adoption and the nurturing of such alternatives would
require on the part of the Churches the following
dispositions:
a) the year 2000 jubilee to be seen as a Kairos event;
"The jubilee instructions of Lev.25 give us God's moment of
visitation where there is no inequality but fellowship,
forgiveness and the cancellation of debts, a clear land
policy."
b) Active non-violence; not "passively succumbing to the
situation but claiming power of non-violence which can defeat any
wrongful use of power in society".
c) Forgiveness; "Forgiveness as a willingness to abandon
one's right to resentment, negative judgment and indifferent
behaviour towards one who unjustly injures us, while fostering
the undeserved qualities of compassion, generosity and even love
toward him or her."
d) Reconciliation; "...spirituality, bringing new hope to
the injured parties, enabling them to come to terms with their
shame and failure, empowering them to move on to unity".
e) Washing of the Feet; " I have given you an example, go
and do likewise" i.e. sharing in the mission of Christ.
In conclusion the churches are invited to become "alive
to different traditions, histories and unfortunate past events of
mistrust and persecutions ..., and to work towards unity that
respects and celebrates diversity. The great author of diversity
is God himself."
*ACISCA = Association of Christian Institutes for Social
Concern in Asia
VIEWS ON
WOMEN
Has Modern Buddhism Strayed from its Original Teachings?
At a Seminar held in Bangkok several Buddhist scholars
discussed Buddhism.
The talk attracted most attention according to The Nation was
that of Suwanna Satha-Anand who won the day with her provocative,
well-researched and detailed study of ''Women and Their Place in
Buddhism''. Beginning her talk with a memorable quote from the
Lord Buddha's own lips ''Nothing holds a more powerful grip on a
man than the sight, sound, taste and touch of a woman''), she
closed her talk with the disturbing image of women denied of
status in hailand, especially for those women who want to serve
the Buddha as bhikkhuni but are relegated to mae chee status and
end up doing cooking and cleaning for the monks. Suwanna left us
pondering on the reality of how far we have strayed from Buddha's
original teachings.
Plight of the Domestic Workers Returning to
the Country
10 October 1999, The Island, a Sri Lankan daily, reported that
domestic workers, upon returning home after their stint of
work in foreign countries, are being systematically preyed on by
gangs operating in collaboration with the Airport Taxi Service.
Given the broader implications which exacerbate the graveness of
the injustice done to women overseas domestic workers; The
lack of respect for women who have already undergone much
suffering and hardship as overseas domestic workers, and thus,
non-recognition of their contribution to the welfare of their
families and of the national economy.
The security of persons using the services of national
facilities, like airports, in general, and in particular, those
groups who are more vulnerable to such crimes.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please write letters, faxes and emails as
soon as possible. According to the newspaper report, some of
those responsible have been apprehended by the police, as the
beginning of a criminal prosecution procedure.
SEND APPEALS TO:
1. Mr. O S M Seneviratne
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
2.Airport Taxi Service
---------------------- SUGGGESTED LETTER ---------------------
Mr. O S M Seneviratne
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
50 Dr N M Perera Mawatha
Borella
Colombo 8
Sri Lanka
Telephone (94 1) 696 610
Facsimile (94 1) 694 924
Commissioner Arivaratne <arisar@sri.lanka.net
Commissioner Aluwihare <aluwihare@popmail.pdn.ac.lk
We would like to draw your attention to the reports on rape
and harassment of several women returning from employment abroad,
during their travel from airport to their homes. It appears that
such acts have been done in connivance with the Airport Taxi
Services. (The Island, 10-10-99) We are concerned about this
matter, as this violates the right of movement
and right to security of the affected persons. We are
particularly concerned that the persons victimised are returning
women overseas domestic workers. We are aware of the very
difficult conditions under which they work outside their country,
and the difficulties of their families . Inspite of this,it is
known that their remittances contribute 20% of the foreign
earnings of the country. No one will doubt the gravity of the
injustice done to them.
As the National Human Rights Commission you have the mandate
to inquire into this matter and suggest corrective action, for
the particular persons concerned and also regarding the general
situation. We urge you to thus investigate the matter and share
your findings with the government as well as the public.
Be assured of our support to your commission
Yours Sincerely,
------------------------ 2nd suggested letter
----------------------------
Airport Taxi Service
CO Director
Colombo Airport
Katunayake
Sri Lanka
Tel: 94-1-45 2911
We would like to draw your attention to the reports on rape
and harassment of several women returning from employment abroad,
during their travel from airport to their homes. It appears that
such acts have been done in connivance with the air port taxi
services.
(The Island, 10-10-'99)
We are concerned about this matter, as this violates the right
of movement and right to security of the affected persons. We are
particularly concerned as these persons are migrant worker women.
We are aware of the very difficult conditions under which they
work outside their country, and the difficulties of their
families . Inspite of this it is known that their remittances
contribute 20% of the foreign earnings of the country. No one
will doubt the gravity of the injustice done to them.
It is your authority's duty to provide a secure Taxi Service
for the public. This involves your duty to examine the
malpractices and wrongdoings and to take appropriate action. We
urge you to take action on this matter and also to prevent future
occurrences of this kind.
EAST TIMOR: International Solidarity and The
Role of the Churches
( Some of the salient points picked up from a statement issued
at the end of a Consultation by the Christian Churches on
East Timor in Aachen)
"As the international community has become more aware of
the plight of the East Timorese so has awareness and solidarity
activities within the Christian churches throughout the western,
and now increasingly, Eastern world."
"Since the result of the ballot was announced, the
churches have been ready to assist East Timor in its transition
to independence, offering financial assistance, solidarity
and international advocacy, technical assistance - whatever would
be needed."
"Since then, with the extent of the destruction following
the ballot being known and with much of East Timor's basic
infrastructure now in ruins, it is clear the needs are now many
times greater. This is all the more the case in view of the fact
that East Timor's most basic resource - its people - have been
displaced and dispossessed.
The Churches' Response
The Churches are already responding to the unfolding
humanitarian crisis through their Church partners, particularly
Caritas Indonesia and Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and
the GMIT, which are operational in both East and West Timor.
Financial assistance has been made available, and expertise is
also being contributed where practicable. In addition, the
churches have added their voices to a growing chorus of
international advocacy on behalf of nternally displaced and the
refugees, as well as East Timorese being hunted down by militia
and the Indonesian army in a variety of different parts of
Indonesia.
How the Churches internationally can help:-
Assistance for medium & longer term
In addition to assistance for immediate humanitarian needs,
ongoing assistance will also be necessary to rebuild East Timor.
This means more than physical infrastructure, although this will
be a huge task in itself. Society will need emotional,
psychological and political reconstruction as well. Targeted,
medium term assistance which will build up capacities in
administration, accountancy, law, agriculture for East Timor's
independent future is a priority. Churches internationally can
offer scholarships as well as in-country training programmes.
Reconciliation and reconstruction
The churches internationally have a wealth of experience drawn
from societies which have been ravaged by war, destruction and
natural disaster and have rebuilt themselves afterwards. Recent
church experience from South Africa may provide valuable lessons,
and also initiatives conducted in Central American countries such
as Guatemala. Links could be facilitated by the wealthier church
networks between different southern partner churches so that
lessons can be shared in peace-building and reconciliation.
Conclusion
There is a great deal that the Christian Churches
internationally can do in partnership with the East Timorese
churches to assist the new nation East Timor both in the
immediate and in the longer term. Nonetheless we should take a
lead from our East Timorese partners, not foisting our ideas and
schemes upon leaders and citizens who are more than capable of
taking a lead. We need to respond to requests in a spirit of
dialogue, mutual agreement and trust. Coordination is also needed
for assistance offered by churches internationally, and should
also extend to International NGOs, UN agencies, governments. We
need to build as wide and complete a picture as possible on
activities in East Timor so value can be added rather than
duplicated."
Posted on 1999-10-19
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