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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.16
April 17, 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

This issue brings you the bizarre news that the number of overfed in the world now equals the number who do not have enough to eat.  Both are forms of malnutrition, and combined they make up half of the world's population!  We also provide you with some information from India on a spate of attacks taking place on Christian schools, which appear to be the work of trained Hindu extremists acting with some impunity.  We also bring you some insights on the place of women in the different major world religions from a recently-released report of a Conference held in Nepal, as well as the usual News in Brief, this time from Hong Kong, East Timor, Indonesia/Ambon and Korea.  We hope you find some use for this information, and welcome any comments you have, particularly regarding the place of women in world religions.

Please notify us in case your e-mail address is changed.

1. Global Overnutrition = Undernutrition For First Time
2. Christian Schools Attacked In India
3. What The Religions Say About Women
4. News in Brief

1. Global Overnutrition = Undernutrition For First Time

The problem of overeating and undereating means that half of the world's population is suffering malnutrition, according to a new study by Worldwatch.  Some developing countries are trading undernutrition for overnutrition.  China, for example went from having 9% to 15% of its population overweight in the space of 3 years.  In Hong Kong, there has been an alarming rise in the proportion of school children who are overweight, despite a 5-year plan to reverse this trend, and in the US, if you are an adult you are more likely than not to be overweight.  Meanwhile, since the famine crisis in Ethiopia in the 1980's, the population of that country has doubled whilst its farmable land has halved, and the UN is warning of a crisis emerging that will eclipse that tragic period in sub-Saharan Africa.  South Asia now has the worst hunger problem with 44% of children underweight. 

A global food surplus has resulted in farmers being paid to NOT produce food.  Some 80% of the underfed live in countries with food surpluses, but inequitable distribution of the food results in poor health on both sides.  The following press release explains the main findings of Worldwatch's report on the state of malnutrition, including for the first time the problem of the overfed.

Chronic Hunger and Obesity Epidemic Eroding Global Progress

For the first time in human history, the number of overweight people rivals the number of underweight people, according to a forthcoming report from the Worldwatch Institute, a Washington, DC-based research organization. While the world's underfed population has declined slightly since 1980 to 1.2 billion, the number of overweight people has surged to 1.2 billion.

Both the overweight and the underweight suffer from malnutrition, a deficiency or excess in a person's intake of nutrients and other dietary elements needed for healthy living. "The hungry and the overweight share high levels of sickness and disability, shortened life expectancies, and lower levels of productivity-each of which is a drag on a country's development," said Gary Gardner, co-author with Brian Halweil of Underfed and Overfed: The Global Epidemic of Malnutrition.

The public health impact is enormous: more than half of the world's disease burden-measured in "years of healthy life lost"-is attributable to hunger, overeating, and widespread vitamin and mineral deficiencies. "The century with the greatest potential to eliminate malnutrition instead saw it boosted to record levels," said Gardner.

The number of hungry people remains high in a world of food surpluses. In the developing world, there are 150 million underweight children, nearly one in three. And in Africa, both the share and the absolute number of children who are underweight are on the rise.

Meanwhile, the population of overweight people has expanded rapidly in recent decades, more than offsetting the health gains from the modest decline in hunger. In the United States, 55 percent of adults are overweight by international standards. A whopping 23 percent of American adults are considered obese. And the trend is spreading to children as well, with one in five American kids now classified as overweight. Liposuction is now the leading form of cosmetic surgery in the United States, for example, at 400,000 operations per year. 

Surprisingly, overweight and obesity are advancing rapidly in the developing world as well. "Often, nations have simply traded hunger for obesity, and diseases of poverty for diseases of excess," said co-author Brian Halweil. Still struggling to eradicate infectious diseases, many developing nations' health care systems could be crippled by growing caseloads of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.

2. Christian Schools Attacked In India

Following is a Press Release from the Citizen's Forum dated 13th April, 2000

CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS IN MATHURA DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH

At the recently concluded conference of the Bajrang Dal in Mathura, cadres were trained to check the activities of the anti-national forces which in their jargon means Muslims and Christians. And hardly a month later, we see a series of well planned attacks on the Christian community. As reported in the media, between April 6-11, 2000, three Christians missionary school in Mathura district, namely the Sacred Heart School, St Dominic Convent School and St. Teresa School have been attacked by armed groups. 

The modus operandi has been the same in all the three cases. A group of 10-20 armed persons enter the school campus, they severely beat up the Principal and other members of the school, vandalise school property and loot whatever cash or valuables they can lay their hands on. That these attacks are a part of a strategy to terrorise the minority Christian community in the State is confirmed by the statements of the teachers of the Sacred Heart School. They have said that before leaving the school campus the anti-social elements had warned that this was not the end. Subsequent attacks on St Dominic Convent School and St. Teresa School proved them right.

Though the UP administration, particularly in Mathura district, should have been aware of the possibility of such attacks after the Bajrang Dal convention no preventive measures were initiated. Even after these attacks they remain close-lipped as to the identity and political affiliations of the perpetuators. One observes a strange similarity in what had happened in the Dangs in Gujarat last year and what is happening in Mathura today. Not just the manner in which the attacks are carried out is similar, but also the response of the administration and police. This notwithstanding the fact that both the States are under BJP governments.

The Citizens Forum condemns these pre-planned attacks on members of the Christian community and their property. It believes that the recent attacks on Christian institutions in Mathura is a part of the larger strategy of the Sangh Parivar to terrorise the minorities in the country. After experimenting with their "fascist" hindutva ideology in Gujarat they have now turned their face towards UP. As a group of concerned citizens, the forum criticises the UP government for its failure to protect the interests of the Christian community in the State. It demands that the government should make public, information on the perpetuators of these crimes and make all efforts to punish them

Christians and "secularists" in this country, whose feelings have been hurt by these dastardly attacks will find comfort only when the government through its actions sends a very strong message to the Hindu communal groups against such misadventure in future.

3. Women and the Major Religions

The following is an excerpt from the report of the Workshop on Women Issues for South Asian Students, held in Godhavari Ashram, Nepal in October 1999.

One cannot deny, most of the root causes of women's oppression have derived from religious teachings and myths.  And because religions have such tremendous impact on women, much of "women's self and social image is derived from religious values".  Religions have contributed in varying degrees to the curtailment of woman's social mobility in their respective spheres of influence in Asia.  Through custom, ties and rituals associated with these traditional religions, Woman has been cast in a stereotype mold as weak and suppliant, submissive and subordinate.

Hinduism and Women:

The Hindu religion has clearly defined woman as the property of man.  There are many practices, which enforce the low status of women.  During menstruation women are not allowed to enter into the kitchen, the place of worship, or touch any plants, food that is to be eaten by other.  There is a festival of women, when they fast and pray for the long life of their husband and son, young girls pray that they may get a good husband.  During this fast they are not allowed to swallow even their saliva.  They break the fast by washing the feet of their husbands and some of them drink that water as a sign of their respect for their husbands.  There are some systems; Devadasi / deuki system, a system of socio-religious origin.  They are made use of for the temple, now it has become the legacy of temple prostitution, which is handed down from mother to daughter.  This still exists but because of greater awareness they refuse to send their girls and they are trying to provide education for their children.

Buddhism and Women:

The first truth claims that [dissatisfaction] and pains lie at the core of human existence (dukkha).  The violence against women and the harshness of women's life is part of dukkha.  Dukkha has a cause and if the cause is eradicated then dukkha will evaporate.  Buddhism believes that gender differentiation is part of human imperfection and that its existence can be the cause of violence, exploitation and greed.  The society can change if the causes of ill are discovered and rooted out.  It was an invitation to men and women to celibacy as a method of transcending of gender differences.  Buddhism does not blame women who have to work as sex workers for their livelihood but blames men who buy their services.  Buddha established four groups of Buddhists; monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.  All these groups are equally responsible to see themselves as united community.

Islam and Women:

Equality of status is what the Quran offers freely for Muslim women.  Prophet Muhammad highly respected women and called for unity among all.  But people may not be aware that Muslim women all over the world has fallen in line with the rigid interpretation shaped by male dominated, narrow minded, patriarchal system, which has passed for the traditional.  Women have been looked upon as socially and intellectually inferior to men for centuries.  The women have to prove themselves superior to men in order to be treated as equal by them.  In Islam the traditional interpretation of the Quran by male religious leaders has always claimed the authority of the husband over the wife.  This interpretation has been used to justify and legitimize physical violence against women.  But Muslim women are beginning to question these and other male interpretation of Islamic scripture and law.  Indeed it is evident that a great many discrepancies exist between Islamic theories and practice everywhere.

Christianity and Women:

"The Catholic Church has asked forgiveness for the way it has treated women," says Monsignor Anthony Sharma, during the opening mass of the program.  In Christianity though God intended humanity to live in a loving community, the church is hierarchical in nature and men are the one who decides everything at the top.  Women are not allowed to celebrate the rituals like men.  Women are the followers of all that men has decided.  When we turn to know Bible, we see some harsh statements directed to women.  In Genesis 3:16 woman is condemned to a great increase of pain in child bearing and to desire for her husband who would rule over her.  This is her punishment of kind of curse.  The rule of man over woman is the first sign that the shalom of God has ceased to exist.  Feminist Scholars and theologians have challenged the authenticity and validity of male-based theology and teaching, which relegate women to an inferior and subordinate role in the home, in a religious sphere and in the society.

4. News in Brief

HONG KONG  Mainland hints at need for control over media

The Bar Association, university students, human rights activists and politicians all denounced the views of a Mainland official who has warned Hong Kong media to not report views advocating Taiwan independence.  The protesters, from a wide range of backgrounds, were unified in their view that a free press is an essential component of Hong Kong's system, and that attempting to control the media was opposing the 'one country, two systems' philosophy on which the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong is based.

[Source: South China Morning Post]

EAST TIMOR TNI Training Militias in West Timor

Indonesia's eastern region military commander acknowledged on April 11 that pro-Jakarta militia were continuing "clandestine activities", but denied his troops were training militiamen in West Timor.  However, Mr Yosep Lega Laot, co-ordinator of LAP Timoris (the Council for Timorese Advocacy and Research), said his group had found evidence the TNI was planning to arm the militiamen for a possible mass incursion into East Timor. "There are about 5,000 militiamen who will infiltrate East Timor," he said. "They plan to go in a month's time, but we don't know the exact date."

LAP Timoris's claims are supported by reports from Mr Benjamin Bria, the Vice-Bishop of Atambua.  During regular aid visits to refugee camps, Vice-Bishop Bria said, he had seen TNI soldiers organising training sessions. "It is no secret here. I have seen TNI training. They gather militias together and give them instructions," he said, following visits to Betun and camps at Sesekoe and Matabuik, near Atambua.  The UN has also backed up the disturbing claims.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]

INDONESIA  Muslim Jihad Army Training to Clash with Christians in Ambon

Thousands of Muslim youths are completing military training for a Holy War with Christians following an escalation in violence in Ambon and the surrounding Moluku region, and protests in Jakarta in which about 500 students chanted "Allahu Akbar!" (Allah is Great) and "Jihad! Jihad!" (Holy War). Thousands of lives have already been lost as well as countless injuries to people and property over the past year.  The Indonesian President, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, and other senior political leaders have called on the extremist Muslim group to abandon plans to "defend" Muslims in the Moluccas, saying a paramilitary force would only heighten tensions in the traumatised province.

Nevertheless, Commander Jaffar Umar Thalib said the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Forum planned to send 3,000 men to Maluku at the end of the month. The group's chairman, Mr Ayip Syafruddin, said it hoped to eventually send 10,000 people to the Moluccas.  He said the volunteers were being trained at the camp by men with experience in the Afghanistan, Bosnia and Moro (Philippines) wars.

[Source: CNN]

KOREA  Historic Korea summit to be held between North and South

The international community has praised North and South Korea for agreeing to hold their first summit and hoped it would close the final chapter of the Cold War. The North's reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, and South Korea's President, Kim Dae-jung, announced earlier they would hold the historic meeting in Pyongyang from June 12 to 14 in an attempt to ease tensions along their border.

The rivals - still technically at war as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended only in an armistice - have never held a summit. Their last high-level talks in 1991 led to the Basic Agreement on improving ties, but this was never implemented.  The move drew excitement from key allies of Pyongyang and Seoul, although foreign diplomats urged caution.

China, the United States and Japan praised the Koreas yesterday, with Tokyo saying it could have "epoch-making significance"  Seoul officials said the summit would pave the way for the two Koreas to establish a peaceful co-existence. But civic groups urged Seoul to be cautious, citing Pyongyang's unpredictable negotiation tactics.

[Source: South China Morning Post]