|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.29
July 17, 2000
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.
1) MALUKU NEWS
****PLEASE
SIGN MALUKU STATEMENT:
[a] Strong Response to Joint Human Rights Statement
on Maluku
AHRC's statement calling for the UN, ASEAN, Indonesian
Government and Indonesian Human Rights Commission to act to
resolve the crisis in Maluku has been distributed for signatures
via the intenet. In the first three days, over 400
individuals and organisations have signed the statement. The
Joint Statement can be signed at the following URL address:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/maluku.htm
It will be available for the rest of this week for signatures,
and will be delivered to those concerned next week.
[b] TV Cameras Show Soldiers Engaged in Conflict
At least 20 more people were killed over the weekend in Ambon,
including a pregnant mother and her daughter who were killed when
a mortar was fired into their home. New television footage
has shown images of soldiers in uniform fighting alongside the
civilian militants, with the militants clearly using automatic
weapons that are likely to have been supplied by the army.
This is despite the imposition of a state of civil emergency by
President Wahid. [Source: BBC World Service]
[c] Indonesian Defence Minister Calls for Sacking of
Soldiers
The Indonesian Defence Minister, Dr. Juwono Sudarsono has
blamed rogue army officers for inflaming religious war in the
Malukus. "There are some, or even many, members of the
army, according to information gathered from both of the warring
camps, who have become a major cause of the clashes...The army
should get rid of these officers", said Mr. Sudarsono,
whilst admitting that he had no power to remove the offenders,
only to 'give advice'. [Source: Sydney Morning Herald]
[d] Former Councillor Says Locals Not Responsible for
Violence
A prominent former member of the Moluccas Legislative Council,
Mr. Drs.Z.J. Apituley (christian), declared to the local mass
media that indeed the situation in the Moluccas has entirely got
out of control. The list of the tremendous devastation carried
out during the last few weeks is heavy hundreds of casualties,
villages and town-quarters wiped out. Two universities have been
destroyed, together with several medical centers, police offices,
telecommunication facilities, schools etc. Mr.Apituley says that
"It is unimaginable that ethnic Moluccans are behind all
these destructive activities that ruin the Moluccas. Only some
private personal interests in the destruction of these two
Provinces, can explain the presence of those ruthless jihad
warriors, who have no respect whatsoever for Moluccan values and
heritage". And he added : " In this stage of the
unrest, the mutual violence is not carried out any longer by
locals but is directed by influential people from the country's
capital. That is why the United Nations should intervene,
if only to protect hundreds of thousands of innocent people who
are distressed, panicking, scared to the death, stripped from all
protection against". [Source: Fides]
[e] WCC appeals to UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights
The general secretary of the World Council of Churchs (WCC),
Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser wrote to the UN High Commissioner of Human
Rights Mary Robinson on 14 July on behalf of the WCC.
Following is an excerpt.
"It is now two weeks since the Indonesian Government
declared a state of Civil Emergency, an action of extreme
measure, to control the violence in the Malukus, but it continues
unabated resulting in grave and serious human rights violations
and crimes against humanity. The recent attacks of the intruders
indicate a design to annihilate Christians or force them out of
the Malukus. To save the Christian community from this ordeal
church leaders in the region have been constrained to call on
their followers to evacuate their homes and move to secure areas.
"Given the gravity of the situation, the World Council of
Churches appeals to you to undertake an immediate visit to
Indonesia
and urge the Government to stop the human rights violations and
atrocities being committed in the Malukus by intruders backed and
supported by the Indonesian army. The Indonesian Government
should be asked to take steps to effectively stop the entry of
intruders into the Malukus region. The Government should also
immediately bring to trial those guilty of committing human
rights violations."
[f] Inter-religious Peace Demonstrations in Indonesia
Two inter-religious peace demonstrations have been held in
Jakarta, on the 10th sand 13th of July. The gatherings were
to call for an end to the bloodshed, and were attended by ardent
followers of the Moslem, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu
faiths. Among the banners displayed at the first rally were
"Quickly stop all violent conflicts and war in Maluku and
North Maluku", and "It is not religious difference, but
conflicts among the power holderst that cause common people to
suffer". At the second rally, the following demand was
made at the House of Representatives: "Weapon bearers,
don't destroy Indonesian people! Hurry up! Help the
refugees, beginning with the women, children and
babies!". The actions were supported by the group
Common Action for Crisis in Maluku and North Maluku. [Source:
Krisis]
2)
UN PLANS TO BRING TOGETHER 1,000 WORLD RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The Washington Times has revealed that the UN is planning a
global summit of 1,000 religious leaders in New York at the end
of August. The summit will be called The Millennium World Peace
Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, and will include Pope
John Paul II, but as yet the Dalai Lama has not been
invited. Leaders will, however be invited from 12 world
traditions, from the monotheistic faiths to Zoroastrianism,
indigenous religions and Confucianism.
The religious leaders are expected to issue a Declaration for
World Peace and agree to some form of a permanent International
Advisory Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders.
3)
PHILIPPINES 'DEATH DUMP' TRAGEDY A CONSEQUENCE OF POVERTY
Almost 200 bodies have been recovered from the Payatas dump,
which collapsed following heavy rain onto the adjacent
poverty-ridden squatter colony, which depends on the dump for
survival.
Local Mayor Mel Mathay has said that 60,000 people live in the
colony. However Vernard Garcia, director of the Urban Poor
Institute, a nongovernmMany live in barung-barong - flimsy houses
built from the simple materials
taken from the dump, such as plastic and cardboard. Those who
have a little more money use better materials. ental organisation
working with people living at the dump, estimated that 300,000
people live in the area.
Some residents eke out a living from the dump, sifting through
the smouldering pile of rotting waste for materials that can be
re-used, re-sold or recycled. Anything - plastic
containers, bottles, newspapers, scrap metal or even food - is
collected.
Residents even turn to the dump for food, digging out leftover
food and frying it in oil before eating it, Mr Garcia told BBC
News Online. Mr Garcia said the waste provides the only
means of income for about a third of Lupang Pangako residents and
provides part-time work for about 70% of residents, who may have
other jobs such as construction workers or taxi drivers.
"They may be involved in the separation of garbage, as
middle men or collecting the garbage itself," he said.
The collectors may make only 100 pesos (.25) or less a day,
although middle men can earn a lot more.
The World Bank has estimated that up to 2% of the population
in developing countries may survive by scavenging.
Heavy rain can often pose a hazard at the dump.
"It's terrible when the rain comes," said Ding B
Manuel, also of the Urban Poor Institute. "The area
becomes very wet and muddy and there's a very strong
odour." Disease is another major problem, with typhoid
fever, hepatitis, cholera, parasites and other infectious
diseases not uncommon. Skin diseases and asthma are common
among children because of the pollutants from the dump, Mr Garcia
said.
But Mr. Garcia explained that they cannot leave the dump, even
if they are given some other home. "The garbage is the
only means of livelihood for them. They have few other
opportunities." [Source: BBC Online]
4) OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF
[a] PAKISTAN: military leader, General
Pervez Musharraf, has issued a new decree reviving Islamic
provisions in the country's suspended constitution.
Hardline Islamic groups have been demanding the move since
General Musharraf suspended the constitution after the military
coup last October. The decree said all provisions in the
constitution embodying Islamic injunctions remained in force. The
provisions include a declaration that the minority Ahmedia sect
is not considered as Muslim, and a ban on any law which conflicts
with Islamic principles. A government spokesman said that
the decree
aimed to underline the government's commitment to the Islamic
rules contained in the constitution. [Source: BBC World Service ]
[b] BURMA: The Chinese vice-president, Hu
Jintao, is in Burma at the start of a five-nation visit. On
arrival in Rangoon, he said that relations between the two
countries were gaining a good momentum of development at the
start of the new century. This is despite repeated calls by
the democratically elected leader, Ang San Su Kyi, for the
Burmese junta to be excluded from the international community.
[Source: BBC World Service]
5)
REMINDER: HIROSHIMA DAY ?6 AUGUST TO BE A DAY OF PRAYER
- For the victims of all nuclear accidents.
- For the ratification of CTBT and the NPT
- For the adoption of measures to prevent break-out, nuclear
theft and nuclear terrorism/criminality
- For opposing the production, testing, and the use of weapons of
mass destruction.
Posted on 2000-07-17
remarks:1 |
