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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.2
January 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.

11/2/01

2001 -INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MOBILISATION AGAINST RACISM

"United to combat racism equality, justice, dignity." Religious Perspectives on Human Rights

1) CENTRE FOR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL HEALING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIMS

report by Ms.Angelica Choi

On December 16, 2000, the meeting of promoters of Korean Center for Human Rights-KCHR, Medical Treatment, and Welfare, was held in order to make medical and social healing for human rights victims. Because the government didn't show seriously the will to solve the problems  of human rights victims, NGOs felt that they needed to take initiative in this matter. The mandate of KCHR is to investigate and rehabilitate victims of human rights. So far the aim of NGOs has been to reveal the actual situation of human rights. As a result, economical and symbolic compensation was made, but many victims are still suffering both psychologically and physically. For instance, the government povided medical care cards for the injured persons of May.18 Kwangju Up Rising, but they are not treated properly and discriminated in the hospital. There are many mental patients due to the aftermath of torture. But they cannot receive special rehabilitation treatment. In particular, in the case of torture, not only the persons concerned but also their families suffer. When KCHR is established, their families can be medically treated  well. For the past 20 years, 215 persons among the injured persons of 5.18 have died consequent to their being tortured. 60 % of survivers need professional treatment. The number of victims reported, based on the Bill of Democratic Movement Activist Honor-Restoration and Compensation, is reaching 9,000.

2) AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN AMBON / MOLUCCAS ? Report no.119 from Crisis Centre

1. Today the Governor of the Moluccas, Dr. Ir. M. Saleh Latuconsina, meeting with the mass media, expressed his contentment with the situation in the Moluccas during these last few weeks, so that the muslims could undisturbed hold their month of Ramadan and celebrate Idul Fitri, and the christians likewise could prepare and celebrate Christmas. He entreated both sides to carry out intern consolidation and mutual understanding as preparation for universal reconciliation on all social levels in the near future

2. On the same occasion the governor expressed his concern on what is happening at the islands of Kesui and Teor. He confirmed that within short for the fourth and maybe last time a team will be sent to both islands for investigation and (if needed) evacuation. He said very probably he himself would also take part in this mission. Meanwhile the bishop of Amboina, Monseigneur P.C. Mandagi MSC, too, has expressed his intention to join this expedition, together with a Karlomin born catholic priest, Father Gerardus Esserey MSC 

3) KOREA How the Emplyers Take Advantage of the Immigrant Worker's Inability to Obtain Legal Recourse for Substandard Working Conditions. 

An undocumented Immigrant labor couples', forced labor An undocumented immigrant labor couple (from Sri Lanka) that had worked in a farm under very difficult conditions ?14 hours a day, while being paid a combined salary of 1.3 million Won (about a thousand US dollars) threatened with the denial of payment when release from the farm was requested. They were later given the choice of finding substitutes. When the substitutes also refused to work under such harsh conditions, the owner prohibited the couple from leaving and forced them to continue working and extorted 1.2 million Won from them. The owner, accompanied by a police officer, threatened the couple saying, "I will not send you back home (Sri Lanka) unless you continue to work;" while Dong-Ik Lee threatened the couple, the police officer took out his handcuffs to reinforce the threat.

This incident was later confirmed after 'An-Yang Jin-Sang Chun Welfare Center's, a house for immigrant laborer's, chief Kum-Yeo, visited the farm on the 5th of October and took the couple into protective custody. Mr. Priyanta told a prosecuting official in Kyung-Ki province on the 27th of October, "I want to get back my 1.2 million Won which was extorted, my 2 motorcycles, and my wages from the 29th of September to the 5th of October." He added as well,, "I do not want the police to physically harm me."Dong-Ik Lee, admitted to activists at the house of Immigrant Labor on the 26th of October that he brought the police and laid down threats to the couple. He was bewildered by the activists and stated, "why would Koreans take the side of foreigners?"

Jum-Kwan Park, an activist for the house of Immigrant Labor said, "what makes most non-registered laborers terrified, is telling them, or threatening them that they will be sent home." Employers have exploited immigrant laborers through low wages and forced labor by taking advantage of immigrant worker's inability to obtain legal recourse for substandard working conditions. (Bo-sun Shim) SOURCE KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS DAILY NEWS 

4) A "CREDO" FOR MAKING TRADE WORK FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET

- We stand for trade Almost everyone is involved in or affected by trade. Trade is a way of overcoming local, regional and national scarcity, and can generate new livelihood and employment opportunities. Trade can therefore play an important part in contributing to poverty reduction and improving our quality of life. But trade is a 'means to an end', rather than an 'end in itself' to be pursued through export-led growth policies. Trade can damage the environment (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions from trade-related transport) and the costs of adjustment to more open international trade policies frequently fall most heavily on the poor and vulnerable, who are least likely to be able to take advantage of new market opportunities. If the trade system is to benefit all on a long-term basis, governments have to take account of its positive and negative outcomes. 

- We stand for rules 

We support having international agreements on trade. International trade rules are required to regulate the actions of governments and companies. They must also reflect the different levels of development of WTO member countries and provide greater policy flexibility to the poorest. However, international trade rules must not prevent national regulation in the public interest. The principle of special and differentiated treatment for developing countries should be fully incorporated into trade agreements. Governments must also develop binding international regulations for companies. 

- We stand for democracy

For international trade policy to be legitimate, all countries must have equal access to trade negotiations and have their concerns reflected in decision-making. This process must also be underpinned with effective public scrutiny over government policy and the actions of transnational corporations.

- We stand for co-operation

Competition can spur innovation, wealth creation and greater efficiency. But it can also encourage a 'race to the bottom', 'policy chill' and short-term decision making with the worst affected often being the poorest. The ideological pursuit of competition for its own sake threatens to increase existing problems of poverty, inequality and unsustainability. Competition imposed on an 'unlevel playing field' with unequal players tends to exacerbate current inequalities.

It is crucial that governments prioritise greater research and co-operation through a range of international processes/institutions to manage trade in the public interest. 

- We stand for fairness

Too often, Northern governments have failed to practice what they preach on trade issues. They argue for free trade, yet erect barriers against imports from developing countries. They argue for rules, yet abuse anti-dumping or health and safety legislation to unfairly restrict imports. They support development, but then deter countries from processing their own products by tariff escalation. A new and pro-poor trade regime requires a change of mentality among the rich and powerful.

- We stand for action to eradicate poverty

A stated objective of trade policy is to improve standards of living. Yet the income gap between rich and poor both between and within countries has reached record levels and continues to widen. Governments have signed up to the goal of halving income poverty by 2015, but this target will be missed unless the poor derive a greater share of the benefits from trade. Improving equity must be central to future trade policy formulation.

International rules must take account of the needs of poor countries and people, and allow for protection and intervention, where necessary, in order to build strong domestic economies and to promote important national development objectives such as food security, regional development, resource conservation or support for the livelihoods of poor communities.

- We stand for sustainability and environmental protection

The language of sustainable development is widely used in relation to trade policy but is not being actively implemented. Trade agreements need to be focused on achieving this objective (of which poverty eradication is an integral part) and should respect the Rio Principles such as common but differentiated responsibility, the polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle.

- We stand for diversity

Free trade should not be pursued at the expense of economic, social, biological or cultural diversity. A one-size-fits-all approach to international trade policy is not compatible with the need for nations to democratically establish their own standards and norms and to protect the public interest. 

- We stand for negotiations

Inter-governmental negotiation is vital to addressing the current problems with the trade system. However, such negotiations have to be significantly different from what has gone before in terms of the objectives, format and content of international trade policy talks. This statement is supported by the following members of the UK Trade Network This statement is supported by the following non-members of the UK Trade Network For more information please contact Steve Alston "Steve Alston" <salston@c... >

5) THE INDONESIAN PEACE FORUM to Prevent Extension of Inter-Group

Conflict and Violence,(Forum Indonesia Damai) from Mr.Iskandar Following a series of bomb explosions a group religious leaders, other prominent figures and concerned individuals met at the Hotel Indonesia to formulate an even stronger commitment and to take a position aimed at refuting the message being sent by the perpetrators of terror. This meeting saw the formation of the Indonesian Peace Forum (Forum Indonesia Damai or FID) and was followed within hours by a nation-wide movement of NGOs with the same objectives, avoiding national disintegration through closing ranks among the major religions and members of civil society. FID in the short term aaims at mitigating reaction to acts of terror and through this to prevent extension of inter-group conflict and violence. In the medium term ?to institutionalize inter-group dialogue and understanding as a means of preventing conflict. In the long term ?to investigate sources of violence and conflict and to eliminate their influence in Indonesian life. In fact, FID takes the view that these bombings are not religious in nature. Rather, religious sensitivities are being used to ferment social unrest for largely political objectives that are against the interests of the Indonesian people, whatever their religious orientation may be.

6) NEWS IN BRIEF

- A COMMENT ON SRI LANKA by Ms.Mieko Nishimizu, Vice President, South Asia Region, The Wolrd Bank The nation faces a deep crisis; Public institutions are politicised; Politicians are not accountable; People are not heard, and they are isolated; and Give us opportunities, not handouts. My colleagues thus heard a singular message, that the nation suffers from a weakened capacity of the state to exercise its power judiciously and effectively, for the purpose of growth with equity and social harmony. 

- BURMA

Books and sermons urging the monks to get involved in polirics and to crust the Muslim faithful have been distributed at the monasteries in Mandalay division. According to some monks and abbots, the distribution is by the SPDC military intelligence to create religious conflict between the Buddhist monks and the Muslim brethren (sourceDemocratic voice of Burma, Oslo) 

- www.thehungersite You may visit "TheHungersite"www.thehungersite to see how your clicks can contribute to ease hunger, or donate forest  or safeguard lives and limbs... .