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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.4
January 24, 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.

Dear friends,

We wish to reproduce here two unedited reflections on Malaysia and Sri Lanka, which are highly appropriate in the circumstances that the two countries find themselves in today. In the aftermath of the arrest of the members of the opposition parties, Fr. Jojo S.J. admonishes that "in the days ahead" we should neither be unseated nor "uprooted from the firm belief that God is amongst us. Where there is God, there is strength for our human spirit to carry on the struggle for greater peace, fairness, truth, justice and solidarity in our land."

A poignant description of the island of Sri Lanka drawing parallel between the present day society in the country and the period prior to Buddha from which a number of learning can be gleaned, is from our regular contributor Basil Fernando.

Please take note of our new e-mail address: rghr@ahrchk.org

1) Hide not your face O God: A Personal Faith Reflection on the Current Crackdown - Jojo M. Fung, SJ
2) Sri Lanka: Independence Day - to remember the victims of the collapsed systems - Basil Fernando
3) Briefly: Hong Kong, Indonesia, UN

1) Hide not your face O God: A Personal Faith Reflection on the Current Crackdown - Jojo M. Fung, SJ

The recent arrest of political stalwarts of the opposition parties has sent a chill down the spine of many defenders of democracy and human rights in Malaysia (The Star, NST January 13, 2000).

KeADILan President, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail commented, "I cannot talk about this matter because I do not know the facts of the case and it is also sub judice to talk about it as Marina is expected to be charged" (The Star, January 13, 2000). PAS President Datuk Fadzil Noor asked party members not to resort to any kind of action which could be detrimental to the laws of the country - "Let us be patient and use whatever legal avenues to overcome the matter" and "we will monitor the situation and take the best possible action using the laws of the country" (Ibid). PRM, in its January 13, 2000 statement, has lamented that the hope that there would be more democratic space after the general election has been dashed. PRM believes that "these arrests are politically motivated. They have been selective, directed mainly at opposition party leaders as well as a widely circulated opposition party newspaper...These new arrests seem to have a double-edged purposes. Firstly, in a rather vengeful manner, the BN leadership, which is ultimately responsible for them, wants to serve a warning to the opposition parties that it will not stop at anything to weaken the increasing Malay support for the Alternative Front. Secondly, at the same time it is also sending threatening signals to dissenting groups and individuals within UMNO that strong reactions can also be taken against them if they try to challenge the incumbent top leaders of UMNO during its coming General Assembly in May this year."

Given this current political crackdown, and the state of desolation, displeasure and outrage in the hearts of our people, many concerned Christians are already lamenting : "How long O Lord, how long?" "Hide not your face, O God!" (Psalm 26). For me, the poignant question to ask is : Where is God in all of these? I believe that God is much alive in the persons who are victimized during this crackdown. They were not the first nor the last. Jesus has been through it. In Mt 12:14, "the Pharisees went out and began to plot against him, discussing how to destroy him." In Lk11:53, they "began a furious attack on him." Fully aware that one day he would be the victim of a political crackdown, he taught, "And when you are taken to be handed over, do not worry beforehand about what to say; no, say whatever is given to you when the time comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; it is the Holy Spirit" (Mk 13:11). As if the harassment was not enough, the Jewish authorities threatened him with the arrest and murder of John the Baptist (Mt. 14:1-12).

From a Christian perspective, the God-with-us is very alive in the hearts of the harassed. The death and resurrection of the God-With-Us is once again re-enacted and re-lived in their lives as they undergo harassment, and, as their family members, relatives and friends weather the emotional turmoil due to this crackdown.

Any institution which are unscrupulous agents of such systemic violence is guilty the sins of violation and infidelity against neighbours and God; sin of violation because such institution has failed to mediate mercy, compassion, justice in terms of the respect for the dignity and human rights of the citizenry. For Mt 23:23 states, "Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay your tithe of mint and dill and Cummins and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law - justice, mercy, good faith !! These you should have practised, those not neglected"; sin of infidelity because any violation of such values is an affront to the God who has created all humankind in God's image and likeness. St. John was adamant in teaching that "anyone who says 'I love God' and hates her/his sister/brother, is a liar since no one who fails to love her/his sister/brother whom s/he can see can love God whom s/he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from God, that whoever loves God, must also love her/his sister/brother" (1 John 4:20).

Violence currently experienced in the recent crackdown may be compared analogously to war, war against the harassed, members of the different institutions and the public, albeit in the absence of arms. In his January 1, 2000 World Day of Peace Message, John Paul II explained, "no one should be deceived into thinking that the simple absence of war, as desirable as it is, is equivalent to lasting peace" (no.13). He identified such violation and suffering in times of violation as caused by "a logic of supremacy" "fuelled by the desire to dominate and exploit others, by ideologies of power or totalitarian utopias, by crazed nationalisms or ancient tribal hatreds" (no.3). Such violence wounds not only the Malaysian psyche but defeats the spirit of fellow Malaysians for "war is a defeat for humanity" (no.3). Peace is needed to restore justice and harmony much desired by fellow Malaysians during and in the aftermath of the crackdown, for "there is no true peace without fairness, truth, justice and solidarity" (no.13).

Whatever unfolds in the days ahead should not unseat and uproot us from the firm belief that God is amongst us. Where there is God, there is strength for our human spirit to carry on the struggle for greater peace, fairness, truth, justice and solidarity in our land.

2) Sri Lanka: Independence Day - to remember the victims of the collapsed systems - Basil Fernando

February 4, year 2000

A Day to renounce all prevalent forms of Barbarism and to be firmly committed to change the course of historic failures.

The Independence Day in Sri Lanka has in recent times turned out to be a day for grumbling about the failures of the nation. 'Where is independence?' and 'what are the achievements of independence?' are the questions that are usually been asked and negatively answered.

Perhaps, a better way to celebrate the Independence Day would be to admit the failures and to make a genuine determination to overcome them. Thus, this year's Independence Day can be dedicated to the commemoration of the disappeared, the extra judicial killings, violations of human rights in all forms, the war victims on all sides, the collapse of the Rule of Law and the fall of the Legal Order.

The level of societal collapse in Sri Lanka should be a matter of grave concern for every citizen. On the other hand the collapse of the legal order which means the collapse of the political system should become a major concern for all citizens. During the time of independence it is common for newspapers and other forms of media to carry lamentations about the poor quality of politicians in the country both in the Government and the Opposition. There is no doubt about this matter. By only being apologetic or critical about the poor quality of the nation's political leadership is not going to help the people in any way to overcome the problems that they encounter. However by recognizing the grave problems the country is facing in every area of life, determination may be expressed by the people themselves, to intervene directly to change the situation. Direct intervention of the people to safeguard the rule of law and democracy could be the last saving factor for Sri Lanka.

In the absence of many heroes in Sri Lanka, it can instead commemorate the victims. The commemoration of the victims will bring into the minds of people the nature of the problems, which the nation is facing and thereby adding a tone of seriousness and determination to bring to an end the era of irresponsibility and decadence. The commemoration of the victims of Nagasaki and Hiroshima for example, brought a tone of immense seriousness to the Japanese and to the world as a whole, which gave rise to different approaches in avoiding similar type of tragedies in the future. In many other countries too, the deep concern for the victims of collapsed systems, have resulted in the upsurge of creative energies channeled to prevent the type of tragedies that resulted in their victimization.

In fact great historical epochs have emerged as a result of the efforts in addressing grave crises. The best known Indian Buddhist of the twentieth century, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has shown in his research, that in the period preceding the time of Guathama Buddha there was a great decay in the Aryan society. The society had so degenerated and was so miserable, the killings and the sexual misconduct were of no concern to anyone. Ambedkar then adds that, " Buddhism was a revolution. It was as great a revolution as the French Revolution. Though it began as a religious revolution, it became more than a religious revolution. It became a social and a political revolution". To be able to realize how profound the character of the revolution was, it is necessary to know the state of the society preceding the revolution. Aryan society of his time [Buddha's] was steeped in the worst kind of debauchery: socially, religiously and spiritually". It was deeply divided on the basis of the caste system. In such a society, getting acceptance for his Dhamma and the five precepts embodying the call for refraining from killing, stealing, sexual immorality, falsehood and spirit- liquor, required a tremendous struggle. In the Middle East, the emergence of Moses as the leader of the Jews and the imposition of the Ten Commandments was a direct response to the moral decadence of that society. "Thou shall not kill" was imposed on a society that took easily to killing.

There is good reason then to 'celebrate' independence in the year 2000 in Sri Lanka as a day to commemorate the victims of the nation's immorality (of all sections of the nation). To renounce all forms of barbarism and immorality, which has become a normal way of life in the country.

Independence Day must not become the occasion to forget the past or ignore the enormous national crisis that has affected all aspects of life; it must instead become a day to recognize the gravity of the crisis, a day to renounce all forms of barbarism and then resolve to restore the rule of law and human rights of each and every one in the country. The peace that everyone talks about can come only through complete cessation of killings, hostilities, immorality and irresponsible ruling practices.

A country that has sunk so low at present as Sri Lanka, has no reason to be ashamed of seeking assistance of a third party in getting the country back to a more normal situation. Given the level of societal decay and demoralization, people will not believe in an internal reform without the mediation of a willing, capable and sincere third party. As the people are now aware of the negotiations begun nearly two years ago under the auspicious of the Norwegian government, there is now the possibility of overturning a great historic tragedy if good-will and determination to reach an agreement is manifested by the parties to the conflict. This precisely is the reason for approaching the issue from an uncompromising moral point of view, during the Independence Day of the year 2000.

3) Briefly:

HONG KONG 

The Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong condemns the detention of the families with children of the 13 mainland overstayers and requests their release.

INDONESIA 

According to JRS since fighting broke out a year ago in the MOLUCCAS, over 200,000 people have been displaced and more than 1,500 have been reported killed: 500 died in December alone. For a good analysis of the factors leading to the crisis in MALUKU, you may read "Analysis of the Sectarian Convlict in Maluku and its Role in the Islamacisation of Indonesia: http//www.jubileecampaign.co.uk/church/ind5.htm

UN

DISCONCERTING COMMENTS FROM A US SENATOR. US Senator Jesse Helms, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, addressed the UN Security Council yesterday, offering "a hand of friendship" but also criticizing the United Nations for inefficiency and alleged intrusions on US sovereignty (Barbara Crossette, New York Times).
According to Helms, "Many Americans ... see the UN aspiring to establish itself as the central authority of a new international order of global laws and global governance. This is an international order that the American people will not countenance" (Colum Lynch, Washington Post). Helms also said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent statements on sovereignty and human rights were disconcerting. "[The UN] must respect national sovereignty" and must not seek "to impose its utopian vision of international law on Americans," he said (Betsy Pisik, Washington Times).