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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.28
July 9, 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) FUJEN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
2) DEATH PENALTY: ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AKRON DOMINICAN SISTERS
3) POPE URGES NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO SRI LANKA CONFLICT
4) AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE INQUIRY INTO LANKA DISAPPEARANCES
5) CALLING THE CHURCH TO PRAYER AND ACTION FOR BURMA
6) AHRC HOME NEWS

1) FUJEN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

The Fujen Conference on Abolition of the Death Penalty was held at Fujen University 24-26 June 2001 with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Education, the National Science Council, the Canadian Government and Fujen University. The Conference was directed by the Department of Law and the John Paul II Peace Institute.

The Conference Agenda covered the cultural, legal and practical aspects of abolition in Taiwan. At the final plenary session a call was made for an umbrella organization of NGOs to work towards abolition.

The Conference affirmed the following points:

1) Though China has used the death penalty for thousands of years, we do not believe that it is a necessary part of Chinese culture, nor that it is any longer necessary in a modern democratic society. It is possible to be both a heir of Chinese culture and be opposed to the death penalty.

2) Religious groups which have formerly shown explicit or tacit approval for the death penalty, believe that it does not correspond to the wishes of their founders. For Christians, Cardinal Paul Shan SJ (Catholic) and Pastor Chou Lien-hua (Presbyterian) joined in calling for respect for human life, even for the life of sinners. For Buddhists, Sakya Chao Fei questioned the morality of allowing anyone to become involved in the state execution of condemned persons as it involves the direct taking of life in contravention to the Buddha's practice and teaching.

3) The Conference asserted the value of international human rights norms and asked that these be respected in Taiwan. In particular we noted that the number of capital crimes currently listed, execution of minors, execution for non-violent crimes and mandatory death sentences are all incompatible with international norms.

4) While accepting that the law of the ROC does contain many safeguards to ensure fair and just sentencing, we note that there is reasonable doubt as to whether relevant legal norms are enforced and hence we can have no guarantee that innocent people are not liable to be charged with the death penalty or even executed. Hence we ask for a complete moratorium on all executions.

5) To ensure that all criminals receive a fair and just punishment we call on judicial and police authorities to set their goal on cracking more cases of crime, making sure no criminals escape justice. We also ask for sure and sound imprisonment for offenders whose release into the community would be a threat to internal security.

6) Finally the Conference calls on all persons in Taiwan to stand up and declare their opposition to the death penalty. In particular we ask religious leaders, all politicians and would-be politicians as well as leading pop stars, media personalities and other persons of influence in the community to declare their desire to have a Taiwan free of the relics of past barbarian practices, a Taiwan that is prepared to stand up as a beacon of human rights and respect for life in Asia.
- Edmund Ryden SJ

John Paul II Peace Institute, Loyola Building, Fujen University, TAIWAN

http://www.fju.edu.tw/homepage2/peace/DPConference.htm

2) DEATH PENALTY: ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AKRON DOMINICAN SISTERS

In accord with our Assembly (Chapter) 2000,... the Akron Dominican Sisters after prayerful reflection and study of the issue voted to take a corporate stance against capital punishment.... The results were announced on June 15, 2001. A short version of the Statement follows.

"We, the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron, Ohio, affirming our belief in the sacredness of all human life, profess our opposition to the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman method of punishment. It is our belief that in taking the life of another through capital punishment, the cycle of violence is not reversed but rather accelerated.

We further reject capital punishment because there is ample evidence that it is applied in a racist manner; that death sentences disproportionately affect the poor; that it is not a deterrent to crime; and that appeals by prisoners have been drastically restricted, increasing the risk of execution of the innocent.

As people of faith we accept the call to extend the compassion of Jesus to victims and their families supporting them through their pain and grief."

3) POPE URGES NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO SRI LANKA CONFLICT

VATICAN CITY, July 1 (AFP) - Pope John Paul II called Sunday for a negotiated solution to bring an end to two decades of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

"A negotiated solution is the only way to confront the serious issues which are at the root of the conflict," the pontiff said in Sunday prayers before a crowd of thousands in Saint Peter's Square.

"The parties involved in the tragic ethnic conflict which has, for nearly 20 years, brought violence and atrocities to (Sri Lanka) are struggling to find the path to dialogue and reconciliation," he said.

Roman Catholics are a minority in predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka, where efforts, spearheaded by a Norwegian peace envoy, to end the island's drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict have become bogged down.

4) AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE INQUIRY INTO LANKA DISAPPEARANCES

July 04, Colombo: The London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) has asked Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to immediately investigate disappearances and torture in the northern province.

In a statement Amnesty accused "a pro-government Tamil group, the People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), of carrying out atrocities in the Vavuniya region."

"Fifteen children who were allegedly being trained by PLOTE at the 'Lucky House' camp have been transferred to an unknown PLOTE camp," Amnesty said. "The armed forces can claim no improvement in the human rights situation until it can exercise control over paramilitary activity," AI went on to say.

(ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka)

5) CALLING THE CHURCH TO PRAYER AND ACTION FOR BURMA

Individuals and churches in the following countries sent their responses describing activities on The Global Day of Prayer for Burma, March 11, 2001: England, Philippines, N. Ireland, USA, Thailand, India, Canada, Wales, Burma, Germany, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia.

Excerpts:

"Thank you so much for this day. Thousands are praying inside Burma. Many people say they want more day of of prayer leaflets. Let us make more and pray more." - Karen Pastor working along Thai-Burma border

"A special service was conducted here by Burmese students. Two Burmese students shared about Burma representing the Dona Range and the Naga Hills in Burma. "Lead on O King Eternal" was sung by the congregation. A message was given on "The suffering of Christ" by a Burmese student. A special prayer for Burma and Burmese students of the school was led by the chaplain." - Nagaland, India.

What we can do the rest of the year for Burma: Please remember Burma in your prayers. Remember the power of prayer "... for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7

(Christians Concerned for Burma (CCB), June 2001)

6) AHRC HOME NEWS

6.1) AHRC welcomes AnneMarie McDowell from the USA on a one-month internship.
6.2) Urgent appeals issued:

PAKISTAN: Young mother sentenced to death - 5.7.2001
MALAYSIA: Denial of right to freedom of association and expression, continuous arrests under the ISA - 9.7.2001