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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.1
January 3, 2000
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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.
p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Dear Friends,
We are glad to bring you some thoughts from our readers which
might enlighten you as you strive to make your agendas for the
coming years.
Let us work more for a millennium devoid of discriminations
than for economic wealth, which might be for the benefit of the
rich, is the message of our Executive Director Mr. Basil
Fernando. How the thoughts and actions related to yin and yang
that the Chinese are familiar with can be the basis for the
promotion of each others rights in future is the perception of
Mr. Jack Clancy, attorney-at-law.
Mr. Peter S.H.Chen from Singapore has this challenge to the
Churches; namely to be on the side of the poor, while Shanthi
Abeysinghe from Sri Lanka speaks of the need to be at the center
of things if we are to ensure the enjoyment of rights by all. Ms.
Rosaline Costa, the Human Rights Coordinator of Hot Line
Bangladesh, draws our attention to the plight of the victims of
acid throwing and rapes and wishes for the day when children and
women are freed from such heinous crimes and that all human
beings enjoy the fullness of life.
Last but not the least is the good news of the release of the
Founder of Human Rights Movement in Bhutan and other political
prisoners. We hope that the Government of Bhutan would follow
this welcome gesture by taking back all the refugees.
Happy New Year to all.
Please take note of our new e-mail address: rghr@ahrchk.org
1)
Thoughts for the new millennium
If the new millennium produces more wealth, it still will not
be a success, as wealth will belong only to a few of the
privileged class. However, if the new millennium brings an end to
all forms of discrimination, it will bear more success than other
times in history; even if no new wealth is created.
It will be a much better millennium if happiness, instead of
wealth, is increased. But for happiness to increase there must be
an end to discrimination and barbaric acts. We wish from the
depths of our hearts that the new millennium will not repeat the
barbarism and humanity's inhumanity to itself, as
has happened so many times in history.
We wish for a millennium devoid of discriminations whether
based on caste or religion; an end to all forms of discrimination
against women. We hope that children will be freed from bonded
labor and sex exploitation, and that the children will be able to
play and be happy by the improvement of living conditions in the
family and the world as a whole.
A century of concern for victims of the HIV virus and the
excluded. Freedom from debt, and overall a much more healthy
environment for humankind to advance confidently into the future.
2)
Reflections on Yin Yang and Human Rights : by Jack Clancy
The existence of the universe, according to the theory of yin
and yang, resides in the tensions between the force of non-being
yin and the force of being yang. The birth of the universe is
explained as being the result of the interaction between the two
opposing universal forces yin and yang.
Being opposites they lack a basis to produce themselves or
interact with each other. It was to Lao Tzu who posited the
existence of Tao as the third something providing the basis and
the context for interaction. The functioning of Tao is seen as
eternal and recurrent producing all things and directing their
activities.
The International Covenant on Human Rights is based on the
perception that there exists rights based on natural law. "...
all persons have rights because these rights are rooted in a
natural law"." In the yin-yang world view, there is an
underlying Great Ultimate or Tao which is the source of life and
nature, as well as being a unifying force of all that exists; the
Great Ultimate is in nature and can be discovered by those who
seek it."
The goal of this yin-yang approach is "not to keep these
natural laws principles, values, laws etc., in a museum" but
to discover their relevance and apply them to issues facing
people. They however need to be adopted for the purpose of
creative dialogue on contemporary problems.
"In the perfect world of the yin-yang harmony, there is
no clear cut division between religious values and political
concerns. .. .There is a constant tension between the two sectors
and there should also be a dialogue between them if progress is
to be achieved. For example;
- is the extra-judicial killing of people a political issue
of a religious issue?
- Is the torture of individuals a political issue or a
religious issue?
- Is environmental degradation a political issue or a
religious issue?
A yin-yang approach would answer they are both religious and
political issues. They are the concerns of both natural law and
positive law. What is postulated is a creative dialogue between
religion and politics." Religion must recast and re-kindle
their principles and values and enter into dialogue with all
sectors of society, including political leaders so as to ensure
...harmony in society".
The yin-yang dialogue can perhaps be first initiated among the
various religions. As a first step discussions leading to the
formulation of common positions, for instance on the rights of
children, women, the political detainees, the tortured or the
right to food, etc., can be initiated. This should eventually
would pave the way for a dialogue with all those who want to
develop human rights so that we as religious believers can
cooperate with them in a for the enjoyment and the protection of
basic human rights by all.
(Here is a summary of a talk given by Mr. Jack Clancey. The
full text can be provided on request)
3)
Standing with the poor and the Church in Asia
As we approach the Jubilee of the Year 2000, I would like to
take the occasion to focus our attention on one of the main
concerns for the Church in Asia; namely the poor.
The people in Asia are "reaching out to God in their
hearts, searching for deep spiritual values, and are hungry for
freedom, dignity and for a life that is human. Asia is a very old
civilisation where all the great religions originated, is very
diverse in culture and religion, and the vast majority are poor.
Recognising this reality, the bishops in Asia have asserted the
need for the local Church to engage in dialogue with the local
cultures; in life-dialogue and solidarity with the masses of the
poor and the oppressed in the region; and in dialogue with the
diverse religious traditions in Asia.
In his book "Doing Faithjustice", Fr Fred Kammer.
SJ, "We are called to stand with them (the poor) with the
same love with which Christ Jesus reached out to the outcast and
ostracised, to make the poor the horizon of consciousness against
which we address questions of our personal lifestyle, corporate
decisions, church parish goal-setting, economic policy making,
and the election of every political candidate today. To create
and nurture that mindset, it is important that every Christian be
in regular contact, not with poor people, but with tangible
persons living in poverty... But, then, always ask, "Why
are these people poor?"
4)
Solidarity with the victims of heinous crimes in Bangladesh
Yes, it is a great joy for me to share with you some thoughts
about human rights in the perspective of Bangladesh and also of
South Asia.In Bangladesh, only a very few people are really
committed for the cause of human rights of the people. However,
these few who are really dedicated do help the oppressed, needy,
and come forward to assist the victims of human rights
violations; they are so genuine that their works influence the
other victims and are helped by that way.
Today, in Bangladesh, young women are thrown acid by young men
which is very inhuman and barbaric; men (many) after marriage
torture their wives for dowry and in most cases the women are
killed but there is no justice done to the victims nor to their
families. Besides, not all the criminals get punishments for
their grave offences. That is why today we see a 3-year child
raped by a 45 year old man, or the women being killed for dowry.
As the relatives are threatened by the culprits with dire
consequences no legal action is taken and the victims continue to
suffer.
I wish that all people of good will come together and raise
their strong voices against all these injustices, all real and
committed human rights activists will strongly protest these
heinous activities and stand by the victims in solidarity and
with loving approach. And we all will build a better world next
Millennium. A very happy New Year.
Rosaline Costa
Human Rights Coordinator
5)
Let us be at the centre and make things happen
"One of the greatest liabilities of our times is that
many people can live through periods of revolutionary change in
history and not grasp its
significance "(Dr. Martin Luther King)
We have just celebrated our last Christmas for this century.
Looking back at the century, let us be aware that things have
happened and are happening at this very moment which seem
destined to be carried over into the New Millennium. It is not an
exaggeration to say, that never in the world's history has there
been so much mass slaughter, race and ethic consciousness, .....
as in the century that is just passing..
History shows, that many a person slept through the American
Revolution of 1776, the French Revolution of 1789 and the
Industrial Revolution which heralded the end of Feudalism and the
birth of Capitalism in the 19th.century. These events
revolutionized thinking and had a far reaching effect on society
and the world. On the threshold of a new century, we are
witnessing events that will certainly have an effect on the New
Millennium; our thinking, our outlook, our ideology, our
behaviour, our relationships etc. In this unfolding riddle of
life and history, it is very much up to us to ensure that the
rights of all are defended and the promoted. Let us make it
happen.
6)
We Wel-Come the release of the Founder of Human Rights Movement
in Bhutan and other political prisoners.
South Asia Forum for Human Rights wel-comes the release of the
founder of human rights movement in Bhutan. It is a great victory
for all the human rights activists and the organizations around
the world fighting for the cause of freedom. The release of Mr.
Tek Nath Rizal and other political prisoners on the national day
of Bhutan by the Royal Government is a positive step in the
direction of restoration of human rights in the country.
We hope that the Government of Bhutan would follow this
welcome gesture with concrete steps towards reconciliation and
would make all the necessary arrangements to take back the
100,000 plus refugees languishing in the camps and outside the
camps in Nepal and India with dignity and honor.
The refugees are hopeful that they would soon return to their
homes. We also hope that the Royal Government of Bhutan would
undertake steps to evacuate the land of the refugees that have
been distributed to the Bhutanese from the north and east
and make the environment safe for the return of the
refugees.
We call on the Government of Bhutan to make all the necessary
arrangements for the medical check up and proper rehabilitation
of Mr Tek Nath Rizal.
Tapan K. Bose
Secretary General
7) ANNOUNCEMENT: you may
obtain past copies of this E-Newsletter and other related
material from RGHR. Those who wish to write articles or letters
may contact RGHR c/o AHRC at the address given below.
SOME OF THESE DOCUMENTS WILL APPEAR IN PRINT FORM IN Human
Rights SOLIDARITY - A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE ASIAN HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION
Posted on 2000-01-03
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