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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.32
August 6, 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) REMEMBER HIROSHIMA: AUGUST 6, 1945
2) BREASTFEEDING: INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS WEEK
3) PAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR ALLEGED BLASPHEMY
4) MALAYSIA: NGOS HAND OVER ANTI-ISA BILL TO MPS
5) VIETNAM: UNHCR SAYS ACCESS TO REFUGEE RETURN REFUSED
6) AHRC HOME NEWS

1) REMEMBER HIROSHIMA: AUGUST 6, 1945

In 1947, the second year after Hiroshima experienced the disaster of the world's first atomic bombing, Hiroshima held a Peace Festival in the hope of developing it into a global-scale event to help convey Hiroshima's desire for lasting peace to people around the world.

The three-day festival started on August 5th. On the 6th a ceremony was held in the open area that was to become Peace Memorial Park. The first Peace Declaration read by Mayor Shinzo Hamai included the following;

"This horrible weapon brought about a 'Revolution of Thought,' which has convinced us of the necessity and the value of lasting peace. That is to say, because of the atomic bomb, the people of the world have become more aware that a global war in which atomic energy would be used would lead to the end of our civilization and extinction of mankind.

This revolution in thinking ought to be the basis for an absolute peace, and give rise to a new life and a new world."

"What we have to do at this moment is to strive with all our might towards peace, becoming forerunners of a new civilization.

Let us join together to sweep from this earth the horror of war, and to build a true peace.

Let us join in renouncing war eternally, and build a plan for world peace on this earth.

Under this tower of peace, we hereby make a declaration of peace."

All the cries against war and all the genuine searching for peace welling up from deep in the hearts of the people of Hiroshima took form in this document, the Peace Declaration.

The Peace Declaration has since been delivered by the mayor of Hiroshima every year at the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6, but its content has changed with the times. The words "against atomic and hydrogen bombs" appeared for the first time in Mayor Tadao Watanabe's Peace Declaration in 1956, the year after the first World Conference Against A- and H-Bombs." In 1971, 26 years after the war ended. Mayor Setsuo Yamada clarified in his Peace Declaration that "In order that the meaning of war and peace may be handed down infallibly to the coming generation, education for peace..." was necessary. In 1982, Mayor Takeshi Araki incorporated into his Peace Declaration a call to the cities of the world to respond to a call for solidarity for peace that had been made at the Second U.N. Special Session of Disarmament in June of that year. At present, this city solidarity has spread to embrace 426 cities from 100 countries and regions.

In the Peace Declaration of 1991, the year he took office, Mayor Takashi Hiraoka stated for the first time that, "Japan inflicted great suffering and despair on the peoples of Asia and the Pacific during its reign of colonial domination and war. There can be no excuse for these actions." In the Peace Declaration of 1996 he stated his hope that agreement on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would "lead to a total abolition of nuclear weapons," and called for the "creation of a culture of peace" and "an archive of A-bombed materials" to convey as widely as possible the reality of the bombing. To realize a world without nuclear weapons, the Peace Declaration of 1997 called upon the government of Japan to devise security arrangements that do not rely on a nuclear umbrella." At the same time it emphasized the necessity of candid dialogue among all the people of the world to transcend differences in language, religion, and custom.

So that no other people in the world would have to suffer tragedies like those experienced by Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hiroshima will continue to plead in the Peace Declaration for the removal of nuclear weapons from the world and the establishment of lasting world peace.

- Hiroshima Peace Site (http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/peacesite/English/Stage3/3-0E.html)

2) BREASTFEEDING: INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS WEEK (1-7 August)

UNICEF is holding educational seminars throughout Pakistan on the media's role in promoting and protecting breastfeeding as part of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action's World Breastfeeding Week, which began last Wednesday.

In collaboration with the Punjab Breastfeeding Steering Committee, UNICEF is calling on the media to take up the challenge of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Shamshad Qureshi of UNICEF's Lahore office announced a donation of more than ,000 to promote breastfeeding in Punjab province.

Costa Rica is also planning activities to raise public awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding. According to the Costa Rican National Commission on Breastfeeding, during the first three months of life a child needs 3,600 grams of formula a month, which would be equivalent to 32% of the minimum salary in the country.

Cochabamba Los Tiempos reported that the increasing prevalence of manufactured baby formula has led to an increase in respiratory infections, digestive and immunological problems, allergies, tumors, diabetes and early death).

- UN Wire

3) PAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR ALLEGED BLASPHEMY

On 25 July 2001, the Multan Bench of Lahore High Court upheld the death sentence for blasphemy and rejected the appeal of Ayub Masih, a Christian. This is the first time since the blasphemy laws were introduced that a bench of the High Court has confirmed the death sentence. The current verdict is probably the result of extremist pressure.

Ayub Masih of Arifwala, Distt. Sahiwal (Southern Punjab) was arrested on 14 October 1996 on the charge of 'passing derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad' (PBUH). He was given the (mandatory) death sentence and fined Rs. 100,000 on 20 April 1998 under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. This case became internationally known when Bishop John Joseph, a Catholic Bishop (Faisalabad Diocese), offered self-sacrifice on 6 May 1998 in protest of the verdict.

Please do not let Bishop John Joseph's sacrifice be in vain. Please write letters to show your concern over the death sentence awarded to Ayub Masih under the Blasphemy Law. You can access more details regarding this Urgent Appeal at: www.ahrchk.net/index.html

Further information about Blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the sacrifice of Bishop John Joseph are available on our website at: www.ahrchk.net/ua/blasphem.htm

4) MALAYSIA: NGOS HAND OVER ANTI-ISA BILL TO MPS

On 1 August, a coalition of 80 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the umbrella Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) handed over to opposition members of Parliament a Private Members' Bill seeking to abolish all laws which allow for detention without trial.
Opposition leader Fadzil Noor, in receiving the bill on behalf of Barisan Alternatif (BA) MPs from AIM, said laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be repealed.

"The Act is already 41 years old and has now run amok and used to arrest political dissidents," Fadzil told reporters at the Parliament House lobby.

Drafted collectively by the NGOs representing politicians, social activists, workers' union and youth groups, the bill was presented to the MPs in conjunction with the 41st anniversary of the ISA.

The bill calls for the repeal of the 1960 ISA, 1985 Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act and the 1965 Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969, all of which allow for detention without trial.

Newly appointed PRM vice-president R Sivarasa, who was present, explained that the bill was drafted to "restore the true spirit of the 1957 Federal Constitution".

"The accused should be charged in court. They are entitled to an open trial," he said.

AIM coordinator Zahir Hassan of Jemaah-Islaah Malaysia said the NGOs represented about 1.5 million Malaysians.
"We are doing this in the hope that justice and democracy prevail," he said at a press conference at the Parliament House lobby.
"This is our contribution to the country. This is our first step. We hope it will be favoured in Parliament," he added.

However, five minutes into the press conference, a Parliament House staff approached the group and requested them not to display anti-ISA posters and issue statements in the Parliament lobby.

"Only MPs can do this (issue statements) and please put down those posters or else we will not allow any of you in again," he said.

Malaysian Human Rights Organisation (Suaram) coordinator S Arutchelvam intervened, and told the group to abide by the staff's request after which they were allowed to complete their press conference.

- Malaysiakini

5) VIETNAM: UNHCR SAYS ACCESS TO REFUGEE RETURN REFUSED

Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Vietnam refused permission to monitor the voluntary repatriation of more than 300 members of a Vietnamese minority group who fled to Cambodia after a government crackdown this year.

UNHCR regional representative Jahanshah Assadi said he is disappointed, adding that without access to monitor the refugees, the refugee agency could not support their repatriation. "Access is a precondition," Assadi said. "We would not return them if they were not safe." He said Vietnam did not give a reason for its decision. Vietnam had earlier told the UNHCR it would agree to the "safe, dignified and voluntary" return of refugees from Cambodia.

Assadi said Vietnam's decision implies that Cambodia will have to continue providing temporary asylum to the 400 Vietnamese refugees, 320 of whom were under consideration for repatriation.

Human Rights Watch criticized the UNHCR for withdrawing protection for 107 Vietnamese refugees in Cambodia. The organization said the UNHCR acted prematurely in screening out people who it said failed to qualify for its protection. It added that UN surveillance of the Vietnamese side of the border has been insufficient to provide for the refugees' safe return.

- UN Wire

6) AHRC HOME NEWS

Urgent Appeals:

SRI LANKA: Nestle, Anchor, Govt, IMF denying food to infants - 30.7.2001
INDONESIA: 19 Bandung Detainees - a backlash against democracy - 1.8.2001
PAKISTAN: Denial of right to life, religious freedom, question over independence of judiciary - 3.8.2001