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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.2 No.44
October 30, 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.
1.
HONG KONG: CHINESE MARTYRS HONOURED DESPITE BEIJING WARNING
Reported by Stella Lee in the South China Morning Post, October
30
About 1,200 people celebrated the canonisation of 120 Chinese
and foreign saints yesterday, despite Beijing's appeal to keep
such ceremonies low key. The 87 Chinese martyrs and 33
foreign missionaries were canonised by Pope John Paul on October
1. They were killed between 1648 and 1930, most during the Boxer
Rebellion. Beijing denounced the Vatican ceremony, saying
most of those honoured deserved to die and that the event was a
gross insult to China, especially as it coincided with
National Day. Last month, Beijing's Liaison Office relayed
to the local diocese the central Government's message that the
celebration of the canonisation should be held in a low-key
manner.
Hong Kong Auxiliary Bishop John Tong Hon said he was not
worried about whether Beijing considered it appropriate as
religious freedom was protected in the Basic Law.
During the Mass yesterday, the relics of 14 of the martyrs
were placed on an altar at the cathedral as worshippers sang and
prayed in memory of those killed. Father Francis Li, whose
uncle and grandfather were among the martyrs, shared his family's
stories during the Mass and gave thanks for Beijing's recent
criticism. "We are happy the Chinese Government gave so much
publicity to the canonisations at the beginning of this month in
all the mass media," he said. "This caused everyone in
Hong Kong, and in the whole world, to become aware that the
Catholic Church was holding a canonisation ceremony."
Precious Blood Sister Beatrice Leung Kit-fun, associate
professor at Lingnan University's Department of Politics and
Sociology, said the local church was fortunate Bishop Zen was so
outspoken. "China whispered to him, but he revealed it from
the roof-top," she said. One of the Catholics at the
Mass, Joseph Wong, said: "I don't think we are qualified to
be followers if we are scared of even attending the Mass."
2.
ROLE OF WOMEN AS PEACEMAKERS REMAINS UNRECOGNISED
UN Newservice - 24-25 October
Since most conflicts today are internal rather than
international wars, civilians -- especially women -- are more
often targets than combatants. More than 80% of casualties
worldwide are women and children. Women and children also
account for more than 75% of the 40 million people displaced by
conflict or human rights abuses (UN The UN Security Council has
held its first-ever meeting on women and armed conflict with a
debate on the needs of women in all UN peace operations, as well
as women's role in building and sustaining peace. UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on October 23 at the opening
that women are often better equipped than men to prevent or
resolve conflict. "For generations, women have served
as peace educators, both in their families and their
societies," Annan said, stressing that women have been
instrumental in building bridges instead of walls. He said that
while the United Nations is striving to recruit more women for
peacekeeping activities, their contributions remain
"severely undervalued," and women are themselves
"grossly under-represented" as decision-makers.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Angela King, who is the world
body's special adviser on gender issues and the advancement of
women, also highlighted the absence of women in conflict
resolution processes. She said that during peace negotiations,
the socioeconomic fabric of a country is a "major focus of
attention" and that women's groups need to be a part of the
process.
King said that women are often less hierarchical in dealing
with local communities, and women are more likely to confide in
female peacekeepers about rape and other sexual violence. Noeleen
Heyzer, executive director of the UN Development Fund for
Women, added that peace processes suffer when women are not
included.
"[If] women are half of every community, are they
therefore not half of every solution?" she asked. "How
can we, in good conscience, bring warlords to the peace table and
not women?"
The council is considering a resolution, sponsored by Namibia,
that would ask Annan to ensure UN peacekeepers are trained on the
protection, rights and needs of women. The resolution also urges
equal representation of women at all decision-making levels in
trying to settle conflicts. The resolution is expected to be
adopted at the end of the month.
To read more comments from speakers during the debate, click
HYPERLINK
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20001024.sc6937.doc.html
3.
POLICE CALL FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION TO STOP SEX TRAFFICKING
(Xinhua News Agency, 24 Oct)
Senior police officers from five South Asian countries called
Monday at a workshop in Nepal for more regional cooperation
to combat cross-border trafficking of women and children. The
event was sponsored by the UN Development Fund for Women.
In the course of the two-day workshop, participants urged
governments, police and nongovernmental organizations to
collaborate. They also suggested setting up a regional
information network to help monitor trafficking activities and
launch rescue operations for trafficking victims. In addition,
they called for governments to establish legal guidelines
for investigating and prosecuting trafficking, and to
identify areas of trafficking law reform.
Some 74 million South Asian women are missing, and as many as
20 million are living in Indian brothels. Some 25% of women
trafficked are minors.
4.
A PEACEFUL PROTEST AGAINST ELECTION VIOLENCE
Following is an email received today about a peaceful protest
to be held this afternoon in Kandy - a good example of how
religious groups can participate in efforts towards human
rights:
"According to available evidence, it is our conviction
that the Parliamentary Elections held on 10th October 2000 cannot
be accepted as Free and Fair - we regret to note that in the
Central Province the conduct of the Election was a travesty.
There was no opportunity for a free and fair poll for a large
number of people. There was political violence, intimidation and
ballot stuffing. Throughout the election campaign there was a
blatant abuse of state resources.
"Therefore, under the Patronage of His Lordship the
Bishop of Kandy, we the Religious and the people of the Central
Province wish to express our displeasure by holding a Peaceful
Protest.
"We will assemble at the George E. De. Silva Park Kandy
at 3.45p.m. on 30th October 2000, for the protest which will be
from 4p.m. -to 4.30 p.m. Kindly bring this to the notice of your
Parishioners and your community to co-operate with us to make the
Protest a success.
"We very earnestly request, your presence together with
many members of your Parish and your community."
Thanking You.
Yours Sincerely,
Rev. Fr. Cletus Perera OSB Rev Fr. Nandana Manatunga
Vicar General Director JP & HD Secretariat
Diocese of KAndy Diocese of Kandy
5.
UN CALLS FOR JUSTICE FOR SRI LANKA PRISON MASSACRE VICTIMS
Oct 27 2000 22:26 IST
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 27 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
said Friday that the killers of 26 Tamil inmates at an open
prison in Sri Lanka should be brought to justice. In a
statement through his spokesman, he said he was "profoundly
distressed" at the slaughter, which took place Wednesday at
the Bandarawela rehabilitation centre, 210 kilometres (130 miles)
east of Colombo. "He trusts that the authorities will
make every effort by conducting an impartial inquiry with a view
to bringing to justice those responsible," spokesman Manoel
De Almeida e Silva said. "He also appeals to all
parties in Sri Lanka to refrain from any further escalation of
violence, especially terrorist acts, which he condemns in the
strongest possible terms."
[COLOMBO, Oct 27 (AFP) - Human rights watchdog Amnesty
International Friday called for a review of tough prevention of
terrorism laws in Sri Lanka after the massacre of 26 Tamil
inmates at an open prison.]
6.
SRI LANKA: WIDESPREAD ETHNIC CONFLICT APPEARS IMMINENT FOLLOWING
PRISON MASSACRE
Obtained from abcnews.com 'Raw News'
COLOMBO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Police put parts of central Sri
Lanka under a curfew on Sunday as ethnic tensions mounted after
the funeral of one of the victims of last week's massacre at a
rehabilitation camp for former Tamil rebels and child soldiers.
Police said an indefinite curfew had been slapped on the areas
around the central town of Nuwara-eliya some 160 km (100
miles) east of Colombo after sporadic violence broke out in the
wake of the funeral. "Police opened fire at a railway
station when a crowd of protesters tried to stop a train. As far
as we know three people were injured,"
Parliamentarian for the Nuwara-eliya district R. Yogarajan
told Reuters by phone. He said protests also broke out in the
nearby town of Talawakelle and crowds of Tamils stopped vehicles
on the highways to force them to fly white flags - a sign of
mourning. "The funeral itself proceeded without
incident," Yogarajan said. Sri Lanka's central hills where
the Bindunuwewa rehabilitation camp was located has a large
population of minority Tamils - mostly labour in the country's
tea estates. Protests paralysed Tamil towns in the north and east
after a machete wielding mob of majority Sinhalese rampaged
through the camp on Wednesday killing 26 inmates including at
least two child soldiers and seriously wounding 14 others. The
government has been under growing local and international
pressure to get to the bottom of the massacre which President
Chandrika Kumaratunga blamed on "outside forces." The
carnage opened old wounds in the bitterly divided country which
has been battling the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) for the past 17 years. More than 50 Tamil prisoners in
Colombo"s main Welikada jail were massacred by Sinhala
inmates in 1983, during anti Tamil riots that plunged the country
in full scale war.
7.
SRI LANKAN OPPOSITION DEMANDS INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS BE
ESTABLISHED (A WELCOME MOVE!)
Sri Lanka's main opposition has set a 69-day deadline for
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government to introduce radical
reforms in exchange for support to prop up a shaky coalition. The
opposition United National Party (UNP) held a crucial meeting of
its legislators and decided to press for the establishment of
independent commissions to run the police, public service, and
the judiciary as well as run future elections. UNP
legislator Ravi Karunanayake said they agreed to press for the
implementation of a 10-point plan and give the government 69 days
from October 18, the day the new parliament opened its sessions,
to complete it. "What we are saying is that we will not the
rock the boat during this period," Karunanayake said.
"If they fail to implement it by then, we are going to
declare all out war on the government."
Posted on 2000-10-30
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