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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.41
October 8, 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) UN DELEGATES CALL FOR DEFINITION OF TERRORISM
2) HINDU MARCH FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD
3) THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCES ISSUES STATEMENT TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL
4) FORCED CONVERSION ORDER DRIVES MUSLIMS FROM KAREN STATE
5) CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS IN BURMA IS VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION, EXPRESSION, CONSCIENCE, AND ASSEMBLY.
6) BELGIUM COURT HEARING ON SHARON ALLEGED WAR CRIMES
7) KCTU PRESIDENT NOT RELEASED ON OCTOBER 3, 2001
8) IN SOLIDARITY WITH YCW INDONESIA
9) AHRC HOME NEWS

1) UN DELEGATES CALL FOR DEFINITION OF TERRORISM

A special five day general assembly called in response to the September 11 attack on the United States is meeting to discuss measures to combat international terrorism. The recently adopted Security Council resolution on fighting terrorism, some argued, would be difficult to implement given there was no agreed definition of terrorism.

Malaysian Ambassador Hasmy Agan stressed the importance of a clear definition. "Acts of pure terrorism involving attacks against innocent civilian populations - which cannot be justified under any circumstances - should be differentiated from the legitimate struggles of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation for self-determination and national liberation."

Abuzed Omar Dorda, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group advocated clearly defining terrorism by convening an international conference and expressed opposition to classify resistance to occupation as a terrorist act.

Javad Zarif, Iran Vice Minister stated: "Legitimacy as well as sustainability of the global struggle against terrorism rests on applying a single set of standards to all." Information from UN Wire.

2) HINDU MARCH FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD

EelamNation, October 4, 2001 reports that over five thousand people belonging to the Hindu faith participated in a rally that was held in the capital of Sri Lanka on Tuesday October 2nd. The protesters demanded that the people who are involved in wars should end them and make this earth a heaven for peace. The protesters collected signatures and sent them to the United Nations in order to announce the day of October 2nd as a holy day for unity.

3) THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCES ISSUES STATEMENT TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL

Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) sent a letter to United Nations' secretary-general Kofi Annan. The letter expresses gratitude for Annan's "wise and measured leadership... in the difficult period since the tragic, heart-rending day of 11 September." It also stated that the answer to terrorism cannot be to respond in kind, for this can lead only to more violence and terror. He stated that "So long as the cries of those humiliated by unremitting injustice, by the systemic deprivation of their rights, and by the arrogance of power of those who possess unchallenged military might are ignored or neglected by a seemingly uncaring world, terrorism will not be overcome." Dr. Konrad Raiser also referred to the Decade of Overcoming Violence launched by the WCC in February this year, and stated that the decade represents a call to repentance and calls churches and individual Christians to reflect deeply on the violence we bear within us.... It also calls us to pursue vigorous dialogue among civilizations.

4) FORCED CONVERSION ORDER DRIVES MUSLIMS FROM KAREN STATE

According to information from Border States, regime troops operating in the Karen State have been ordering Muslims there leave unless they convert to Buddhism or Hinduism. This round of forced conversions is resulting in an unusually large outflow of Muslim refugees to Thailand. Mae La, the largest Burmese refugee camp in Thailand is bearing the brunt of the exodus with nearly one new arrival in three being a Muslim. Information from BurmaNet.com.

5) CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS IN BURMA IS VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION, EXPRESSION, CONSCIENCE, AND ASSEMBLY.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported on September 28, 2001 that the military dictatorship in Burma has issued an order known as the Higher Policy of the State and Development Council in early July and it is having a significant impact on Christian more than 80 church buildings have been closed in Rangoon and 20 more in Shwe Pyi Tar, a township north of the capital, have been closed. Christians in the township of Hliang Tai Yar were allowed to meet in private homes, but ordered not to sing. The higher Policy forces churches more than a hundred years old to silence their church bells on Sundays and forbids the placing of crosses on the buildings.

6) BELGIUM COURT HEARING ON SHARON'S ALLEGED WAR CRIMES

Yesterday, a Belgian Court delayed a hearing into whether Belgium has jurisdiction to investigate and try Sharon. It is alleged that a Lebanese Christian militia group allied with Israeli forces massacred 800 Palestinian refugees while Sharon was the defense minister. Israeli inquiries into Sharon's role found him indirectly responsible for the atrocity, which prompted Sharon to resign. The hearing was postponed until November 28 in order to give Sharon's lawyers more time to study the case (Constant Brand, AP/Nando Times, Oct. 3) Israeli arguments state that Belgium lacked the authority to try Sharon, but the Belgian prosecutor responsible for the case rejected these statements. (Washington Times, Oct. 2)

7) KCTU PRESIDENT NOT RELEASED ON OCTOBER 3, 2001

KCTU President Dan Byung-ho is to be held in prison continuously, instead of being released from prison on October 3, 2001. The government has decided to "re-incarcerated" August 2 for leading KCTO campaigns in June. The KCTU in an emergency meeting stated "we may be small, we may be weak, but, we cannot just stand by as the government snubs us." KCTU calls on all friends to begin action of protest against Korean government to condemn its betrayal of confidence in the jailing of Dan Byung-ho.

8) IN SOLIDARITY WITH YCW INDONESIA

YCW (Young Christian Workers) expresses its thanks for the continued action and support for the original 19 people arrested and detained in Bandung, Indonesia for their legitimate protest against impoverishing labour laws and fuel prices. YCW has recently informed us that 2 of the last 3 prisoners have been released from jail. Normalinda and George Hormat were released and only Fransiskus Black (from the Democracy People Party) remains in jail. Please continue to put pressure on the judges handling the case, the chief of police, and the Indonesian Government. Send letters to:

Mr. Ihza Mahendra YUSRIL
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Uahi Utoyo Usman S.H. Menteri Kehkiman
JI. H.R. Rosuna Said Kav. 6-76-7
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Fax: 62-21-525 3095
SALUTATION: Dear Minister

SEND COPIES TO:

Mrs. Megawati Sukarnoputri
President, Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace, Jakarta
Istana Negara, Indonesia
Fax: (62 21) 345 7782
SALUTATION: Your Excellency

Mr. Asmara Nababan
Secretary General
Komnas HAM
J 1. Lathuharhary No. 4B Menteng
Jakarta Pusat
FAX: (62 21) 392 5227
EMAIL: info@komnas.go.id
SALUTATION: Dear Mr. Nababan

9) AHRC HOME NEWS

1 - Philip Setunga, Basil Fernando, and Tim Gill will be in Solo discussing how to implement the mechanics of the UN Convention Against Torture to lawyers, religious persons, and human rights activists from Indonesia.
2 - AHRC intern, William Laursen, returned from Bangladesh where he was an election observer in Khulna.
3 - Wong Kai Shing recently returned from a UN Preperatory Commission of the ICC in New York.