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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.21
May 21, 2001


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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) UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION Establishment of Pakistan envisioned by the Founder
2) ALLAH AS GREAT MOTHER by Zuriah Aljeffri
3) THREE CATHOLIC PRIESTS WERE SHOT near Imphal ( north-east part of India)
4) RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO DEVEOPMENT
5) EUROPE: BISHOPS URGE RESPECT FOR RIGHT TO ASYLUM courtesy JRS
6) Concluding observations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on SAR Government, Hong Kong
7) ANCIENT BUDDHA STATUE PLUNDERED, Sri Lanka
8) Sri Lankan war mothers call for prisoner exchange
9) REHABILITATING CHILD SOLDIERS, INDONESIA/MOLUCCAS: JRS
10) ARSENIC IS CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER AND THREATENING THE HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN ASIA
11) CHINA UNLEASHES "STRIKE HARD" CAMPAIGN IN TIBET Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

1)UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION : Establishment of Pakistan envisioned by the Founder

On 6th of May 2001 on the occasion of "3rd Death Anniversary of Bishop John Joseph", we all the Christians and Muslims broad-minded participants of the conference on "Peace and Solidarity Conference" hereby declare that we want to see the establishment of Pakistan envisioned by its founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah - where:-

- There will be justice for every Pakistani.
- Every Pakistani will be considered as equal citizen with equal rights.
- Every Pakistani live in an atmosphere of equality and tolerance.
- Every Pakistani will work for the elimination of sectarianism, religious prejudice and discriminatory laws.
- Separate electorate will be abolished and PPC 295-C repealed.

We promise that we will promise the aim and movement of late Bishop John Joseph. We, the religious, political, social and human rights activists will collaborate with the government to make Pakistan a civilized and model society.
Report from national commission for justice & peace, Pakistan

2) ALLAH AS GREAT MOTHER

"In the Qur'an, Arrahim is one of the attributes of Allah. It means Compassion or Most Merciful. Rahim also means the womb which is a precious gift from Allah. It is through the womb that Allah gives life. And it is through the womb that generation after generation of human beings are born on earth."

We must respect the womb and through this, extend our respect to all of humankind. Yet, women and young girls are continually being raped, killed and maimed. When will human beings realise that when women are raped or killed, it not the female population of a certain community or country that is being erased but the whole of humankind. Let us pray to Allah's compassion. Only then can we prevail over the heinous acts and atrocities taking place in the world today.

Salams Zuriah Aljeffri , courtesy AMAN-ASIA, owner@yahoogroups.com

3) THREE CATHOLIC PRIESTS WERE SHOT near Imphal ( north-east part of India) last night , creating shock waves through the Christian community . The killing of the priests at the Don Bosco Celestian Noviciate, located on the Nagarian hills about 30 km east of the Manipur Capita, is believed to be part of the sustained militant campaign against the community.

On May 16, the killings took the number of priests murdered in the state in recent times to six. Eight Catholic Schools in Imphal have also been closed down after failing to meet the extortion demands of a militant group.

AMAN-ASIA@yahoogroups.com

4) RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO DEVEOPMENT

BRUSSELS -- UN and government leaders yesterday discussed practical examples of good governance and the need to cultivate a culture of democracy, with transparent and accountable institutions, as a way to improve least developed countries' status around the world. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson told delegates important steps have been made to verify the importance of human rights in the development and good governance sectors, including advances in political and cultural views in several countries. She said development agencies are also increasingly adopting rights-based approaches grounded in international human rights treaties.

5) EUROPE: BISHOPS URGE RESPECT FOR RIGHT TO ASYLUM

The European Union (EU) must recognise its "responsibility in the world", according to a declaration by the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community on 30 March. Quoting the Holy Father's call for solidarity, the Bishops urged the EU to respect the right to asylum set out in the 1951 Convention. They said access to the asylum system for refugees should be ensured, that they should be received in conditions which guarantee respect for human dignity, and that their asylum applications should be processed in accordance with the highest standards.

The Bishops also encouraged the European Commission to work more closely with countries of origin so people are not forced to leave their homes. They underlined their particular concern at the situation of migrants with irregular status, who are too often "victims of exploitation that denies their human dignity". "A person who exercises his or her right to search for better living conditions by legitimate means should not be considered as a criminal simply for doing so," said the statement. JRS

6) COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLES 16 AND 17 OF THE COVENANT

Concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

People's Republic of China: HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

The Committee strongly recommends that the HKSAR establish either an inter-departmental anti-poverty unit or an independent anti-poverty commission, to conduct relevant research, formulate anti-poverty strategies and monitor all policies for their impact on poverty.

The Committee urges the HKSAR to ensure that Comprehensive Social Security Assistance levels permit recipients a reasonable standard of living consistent with articles 9 and 11 of the Covenant.

When formulating and implementing its policies on permanent residence and split families, the HKSAR is urged to give the most careful attention to all the human rights dimensions of the issue, including articles 2(2), 3 and 10..

The Committee calls upon the HKSAR to adopt urgent measures to address the problems leading to youth suicide and all forms of child abuse.

The Committee calls upon the HKSAR to amend its laws to raise the age of criminal responsibility so as to ensure the rights of the child under article 10 of the Covenant.

The Committee calls on the HKSAR to give urgent attention to the housing rights of all Hong Kong residents, including squatters and those living in roof-top structures and bedspace apartments or cage homes

7) ANCIENT BUDDHA STATUE PLUNDERED, Sri Lanka

By Shane Seneviratne, The Sunday Times

A 700-year-old Buddha statue at the Gadaladeniya Viharaya off Kandy was severely damaged by treasure hunters early yesterday - sparking a protest by hundreds of angry villagers who alleged that the chief priest and other authorities had not taken sufficient measures to protect the statue. The statue from the Gampola era of King Wickramabahu III was heavily damaged in the stomach and feet areas by the vandals who were apparently searching for some treasure in it.

8) Sri Lankan war mothers call for prisoner exchange

123India.com, May 14 2001 16:31 IST. COLOMBO (Reuters) - Hundreds of mothers of missing Sri Lankan soldiers held a demonstration to mark Mother's Day on Monday and urged the government and Tamil Tiger guerrillas to free prisoners taken in the country's 18-year ethnic war. Hundreds of white-clad women staged a silent sit-down protest in the heart of the capital Colombo and a spokesman said they hoped Mother's Day. "A prisoner exchange is the best way to start a peace process and end the pain of these women," said E.P. Nanayakkara, head of the Association of the Relatives Serviceman Missing in Action. http://news.123india.com//full/14052001/regional/reuters/010514110112rsaaifg615.html

9) REHABILITATING CHILD SOLDIERS, INDONESIA/MOLUCCAS: JRS in Ambon is pressing ahead with its efforts to assist Protestant 'Agas' (the word means a tiny fly, which can bite mercilessly) child soldiers. The children's most pressing need at the moment is shelter. The team reports: "A meeting for those directly involved in the welfare of the Agas was held at the Unicef office on 25 April. Unicef, JRS, the Amboina crisis centre (Catholic church organisation), local government representatives and Agas deputies were present. We discussed shelter and food, schooling, vocational skills and psychosocial support. The reintegration of the Agas and return to their families (if they have not been orphaned) and places of origin was also raised. It was agreed that JRS would collect basic data on all the youths and work with their parents and the Civil Emergency Board to identify places for them to live.

10) Experts at a UN meeting in Bangkok last week warned that ARSENIC IS CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER AND THREATENING THE HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN ASIA. Thousands in Bangladesh, China and India are already suffering from arsenic poisoning, they said during a three-day meeting which concluded last Friday.

The forum, "Geology and Health: Solving the Arsenic Crisis" noted that in most cases, arsenic contamination is related to geological settings. The experts called for the establishment of a regional ESCAP center for the exchange of information and the prevention of arsenic poisoning in the affected countries (UN Newservice, 9 May). The 62 experts also called for detailed surveys, which "can provide important information to avoid contaminated water sources altogether (UN WIRE)

11) CHINA UNLEASHES "STRIKE HARD" CAMPAIGN IN TIBET

Press Release

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

16 May 2001

Initiated by President Jiang Zemin, China re-launched "Strike Hard" campaign to "curb rising criminal offenses," beginning April 2001 for two years. The official statements justify the campaign as a "long-term endeavour to achieve the ultimate goal of improving China's public order situation in the future".

For the Tibetans, the "Strike Hard" campaign has always had serious human rights implications. There have been numerous cases of arrests and detentions, torture and long-term imprisonment, for mere expression of support for Tibetan independence and the Dalai Lama which the authorities view as "endangering state security" affecting stability of the nation. Such incidences have more of a political connotation than that of a criminal angle thereby camouflaging the real intent of the campaign.