What’s
Going On in Asia?
AUSTRALIA
ACSJC at
the Commission on Human Rights
In a first for the
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, its
National Executive Officer, John Fergeson and Council
Member Chris Keating, attended the 59th Session of
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Like others at the
session they were disappointed that a vote of the
member states of the Commission defeated a proposal
to hold a special sitting to discuss the war in Iraq
and its likely implications for ordinary Iraqis. They
felt that it was ironic that, weeks latter, the UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed the Human
Rights Commission with the following words:
"The decision
to go to war without specific authorization of the
Security Council has created deep divisions that will
need to be bridged if we are to deal effectively, not
just with the aftermath in Iraq, but with other major
challenges on the international agenda...
"This is a
time when your mission to protect and promote human
rights in the widest sense is more important than
ever, your responsibility to act more urgent. And
yet, divisions and disputes in recent months have
made your voice not stronger, but weaker; your voice
in the great debates about human rights more muffled,
not clearer.
"This must
change, if you are to play the role intended for this
Commission, and if the cause for human rights is to
be advanced in the broad and universal manner that we
all desire. Inaction is not an option. The Commission
must take an active approach if the wider agenda for
human rights is to be realised, everywhere."
Meeting
with the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace
While at the Human
Rights Commission meeting, ACSJC representatives were
able to organise a meeting in Rome with Archbishop
Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace. During that meeting they
discussed a range of social issues experienced in
Australia. The Archbishop noted the great work of the
Religious, Diocesan, and national justice networks in
Australia for justice, development and peace.
While they were in
Rome, the Church commemorated the 40th Anniversary of
Pope John XXIII's encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace
on Earth). Pope John Paul II has often spoken of
how this encyclical is as relevant today as when it
was promulgated in 1963 - at the height of the cold
war.
HONG
KONG
Bishop Zen
Opposses National Security Bill
On 3 May Bishop Zen
addressed the Commission of the Legislative Council
for the Examination of the Draft Legislation on State
Security. He criticized the process by which the
legislation is being pushed through Parliament,
saying:
"People in
Hong Kong are profoundly worried about the SARS
epidemic which is still not under control. Many of
our citizens have suddenly been cast into extreme
economic difficulty. Yet, in recent months, pro-government
members have pushed a financial budget through the
Legislative Council which gives priority to deficit
and very little attention to economic recovery as if
nothing else was happening. The subsequent "once
off provisions" can only be seen as a meager
consolation and described as "too little, too
late". This cannot but make us indignant.
The Government is
also taking advantage of the fact that people's
attention is distracted from the usual day-to-day
matters by this current calamity, to quietly push the
legislative process on Article 23. I ask you, is this
honest or decent? Is this what "making the
worries of the people the priority of the Government"
means?
Look at the
disgusting and shameful manner in which the pro-government
party is manipulating the process. Because they have
a majority in the commission they think they can gain
an easy victory in the present climate. They use
public hearing sessions like a political side show.
We know what they are up to, but this type of
political circus is becoming a thing of the past even
in other places. I find it sad that they think they
can offend people's intelligence in such a shameless
way.
In the face of the
SARS problem the Government deserves our
understanding. We willingly promised and have worked
hard to abstain from criticism and to be cooperative
during this time, and on different occasions we have
offered our resources to assist the Government's
initiatives. They could use the present situation as
an opportunity to build cohesion in the community,
but obviously this is not their priority and we have
already been classified as an enemy. The sixty
thousand people who took to the streets at the
December rally and the many more people who support
them are being ignored. They will remain peaceful
citizens, but in the end they may well be forced to
alienate themselves from the Government in which they
can have no more hope.
The Catholic Church
exists both here and on the Mainland. The proposed:
"mechanism to proscribe organization" is a
serious issue for us. At the last moment the
Government has even introduced a clause to legitimize
an "appeal hearing with the forced absence of
the defendant party". This I find amazing, and
it has shocked legal experts in our community. We can
hardly resist the temptation to believe that this is
another trick intended to divert our attention from
the main point, and is designed to make the probable
abandonment of this newly introduced absurdity appear
to be a conciliatory gesture of concession.
But why should even
the main point of this "mechanism" be
retained? It is not required by Article 23 of the
Basic Law, even Mr. Tsang Yuk Shing said it could be
superseded. Doesn't the security branch already have
sufficient power to initiate an investigation and
proscribe "as endangering the state" any
association in Hong Kong? Why do we need a mechanism
which will destroy the principle of "one
country, two systems"? Does the Government
already have a specific association in mind that it
wishes to proscribe with this new mechanism?
According to the Wen Wai Pao someone said that this
mechanism is the bottom line for the Beijing
Government. We beg our comrades in the Liaison Office
to please give us some word of confirmation on this,
so we can at least know where to address our
petitions. We are appealing to our new leaders in
Beijing; please take time to look at Hong Kong where
self-styled patriots are doing serious damage to the
principle of "one country, two systems". A
principle that is so important both for Hong Kong and
for our whole country."
For the full text
of Bishop Zen's address see www.catholic.org.hk/zen23_e.html . Other submissions to the
Commission, are available at www.article23.org.hk .
INDIA
Peace
Action in Vasai
Justice & Peace
Commission of the Diocese of Vasai in India organized
meetings to protest about war against Iraq and to
pray for world peace on Friday 20th and Monday 24th
March.
About 400 activists
participated in this meeting. Speaking on the
occassion, Fr.Francis D'Britto- Chairperson of the
Commission said," All disputes should be
resolved in the spirit of dialogue. War leads to
untold misery to innocent people especially the
civilians,women & children. It never solves any
problems but aggravates them. For international
peace, all countries should abide by the resolution
of the United Nation. Unfortunately the resolution of
the United Nations about war on Iraq was not
respected. However the worldwide protests against war
demonstrate that people want to live in harmony &
peace".
Peace
Workshop in Dadar
A workshop on peace
for the Justice and Peace Commission representatives
of all the parishes of Mumbai Diocese was organised
by the Justice and Peace Commission on 26th April,
2003 at Salvation Kendra, Dadar.
The workshop was
attended by 38 people from different parishes. The
objective of the workshop was to train the animators
on issues such as: human rights; prejudices;
fundamentalism; fascism; and non-violence, using the
Peace Kit developed by the Justice and Peace
Commission. The animators will now conduct similar
workshops with parishioners.
Fr. Felix D'Souza,
Secretary Justice and Peace Commission and Ms. Leni
from the Documentation, Research and Training Centre
(DRTC) conducted the session.
Women's
Rights Training Programme Held in Jogeshwari
This training
program consists of weekly sessions organised by the
Legal Aid Cell of the DRTC. Topics covered include:
women and law; marriage and divorce;violence against
women; women and property rights; and basic concepts
of criminal law. The program provides women with
detailed information about their legal rights and how
to use the legal system to protect them.
Public
Meeting On the Police & the People
On 15th February,
2003, a public meeting was organised on 'Police and
the People'. The meeting was conducted at St. Pius
College. Altogether 50 participants attended people
from community organisations, and mahila mandals,
doctors, lawyers, and activists. This program was
organised by Goregaon and Mahim Legal Aid Cell. The
Chief Guest for this program was Ms. Sridevi Goel,
who is a Special Inspector General of Police. The
objective of this meeting was to help participants to
understand the role and powers of the police.
Seminar on
the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion
Act
A seminar was
organized on Sunday, March 2nd , 2003 by : DRTC (JPC),
CHANGE and Bombay Catholic Sabha at St. Pius X
College, Aarey Rd, Goregaon.
The speakers were:
Dr. Ram Punyani (an analysis of Religion, Society
& Politics); Dr. Lionel Fernandes (Freedom of
Religion as a Human right and status under the
Constitution of India, Issue of Forcible Conversion
& the Realities); Adocate. Irfan Engineer (Anti-
forcible religion conversion laws- a comparative
analysis & Implications). Forty-five participants
attended the seminar.
MALAYSIA
ISA
Detainees Assaulted
According to
Suaram, two Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees at
the Kamunting detention camp were assaulted on 9th
May 2003. A regular visit by family members the next
day was met with shock when they learnt of physical
attacks by prison personnel on Tian Chua and
Hishamuddin Rais. Tian was found with bruises on his
neck, arms and on his back.
Apparently, the
assault was part of a series of provocative and
intimidating actions taken against the reformasi ISA
detainees since early May. For details of the
incident, and Suaram's urgent appeal action contact:
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) Email: suaram@suaram.org or visit http://www.suaram.org .
PAKISTAN
Action at
the Commission on Human Rights
The National
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission was active at
the United Nations Commission on Human Rights again
this year. Togther with the Dominicans for Justice
and Peace, Franciscans International, Commission of
Churches on International Affairs of the World
Council of Churches and Pax Christi International
they made a written statement to the Commission on
religious intolerance.
The statement said
that "In some countries, religious
discrimination is inscribed in laws and imbedded in
societal structures. This form of religious
intolerance remains as one of the root causes of a
number of conflicts, war and ongoing violence in the
world. Furthermore, it is often a major motivation
for attacks by extremists against the minority
religion in a region. The absence of political will
on the part of some governments to end this
discrimination and the lack of prosecution in cases
further encourages groups to victimize individuals
and organizations".
The example of
Pakistan was highlighted. The statement said:
"The Blasphemy Laws in their present form are a
source of victimization and persecution of the
minorities in Pakistan. Minorities suffer all forms
of humiliation through false accusations under the
Blasphemy Laws. The definition of the term blasphemy
is vague yet it carries a mandatory death sentence.
Also there are serious problems with the mechanisms
to implement this Law. Further, in the present
climate of hate, intolerance and violence in
Pakistan, Blasphemy Laws are major tool in the hands
of extremist elements to settle personal scores
against religious minorities. Since a mandatory death
sentence was introduced as a result of the Amendment
Act No. III of 1986 to Section 295-C, many accused
were killed, in some cases, even before they were
brought to trial. Those few who are acquitted by the
Courts have to seek asylum in foreign countries for
fear of being killed by Islamic extremists.
In the prevalent
environment of intolerance and in view of threats and
intimidation, and the pressure brought on the
judiciary, it has become virtually impossible to get
a fair hearing in Pakistan for those charged under
the Blasphemy Laws. In these circumstances, the lower
judiciary has often been constrained to convict the
accused without proper scrutiny of the evidence
placed before it.
Furthermore, we
believe that the application of the death penalty
under any circumstances is an extreme form of cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment and a violation of
the right to life, as proclaimed in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other international
human rights instruments. In countries where the
death penalty is still in force, human rights
standards require the restriction of the application
of the death penalty to the most limited possible set
of crimes, with stringent legal protections, which do
not appear to be present in cases under the Blasphemy
Laws of Pakistan".
The statement also
urged the Government of Palkistan to take the
following actions:
- Repeal all
discriminatory laws, including the Blasphemy
Laws section 295B and 295C of the Pakistan
Penal Code.
- Ratify the
human rights treaties that it has not yet
ratified, including the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
its Optional Protocol, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, the Convention against Torture, and
the Convention on the Protection of the
Rights of All Migrant Workers. It should also
cooperate with the existing Treaty Bodies and
other UN mechanisms and special procedures.
- Invite the
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and
Belief to visit Pakistan and guarantee him
full and unrestricted access to religious
minorities' communities and individuals.
- Recommend that
the Government of Pakistan take even stronger
measures to protect the lives, property,
respect and honour of minorities.
For the full text
of the statement see www.franciscansinternational.org/docs/statement.php?id=178 .
PHILIPPINES
Bishops
Call for Cease Fire in Mindanao
The Permanent
Council of the Bishops Conference of the Phillippines
appealled to President Arroyo and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front leader Hashim Salamat in the wake of
an attack on the town of Siocon, in Zamboanga. Twenty-two
people, including eight civilians, are reported to
have died during the attack and some civilians were
taken as hostages by the MILF.
Zenit reports the
Bishops as saying: "Cease-fire in these
circumstances is the demand of sheer logic, the
demand of wisdom, the demand of compassion."
"War is hell
for all people. The sooner we end it, the better for
combatants and civilians alike. Then a just and
lasting peace could be pursued rationally and
determinedly at the negotiating table."
The conflict in
central and southern Mindanao has resulted in the
displacement of thousands of civilians who are taking
refuge in evacuation camps.
"They seethe
with inner rage, their human dignity shredded to
pieces by a life of total dependency," the
bishops said in their statement. "They lack
food, medicines, shelter and clothes. Many of their
children have died."
Meanwhile,
Initiatives for International Dialogue reports that
major Mindanao peace and grassroots networks -
Mindanao Peace Advocates Conference/TACDRUP; Mindanao
Peoples' Caucus; Peace Advocates Zamboanga; Marawi
Women/Al Mujadillah Development Foundation; Mindanao
People's Peace Summit; Bishops-Ulama Conference;
Consortium of Bangsamoro Peoples' Assembly and
Panagtagbo are convening a conference along with the
Manila-based Coalition for Peace to identify a common
action agenda for peace advocates addressing the
worsening peace situation in Mindanao. The estimated
fifty participants - which includes evacuees from
Central Mindanao and residents of war-affected
Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga and Lanao - will also
develop strategies to engage government on peace
issues in Mindanao. They will propose action plans
based on workshops on the Role of a Third Party in
the GRP and MILF peace talks; Interpositioning;
Advocates Balitaan; Peace Watch; Peace Vote; and
Mechanisms for Collaboration Among Peace Networks.
THAILAND
Human
Rights Commissioner Threatened
The Asian Forum for
Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is gravely
concerned that Dr. Pradit Chareonthaitawee,
Thailand's National Human Rights Commissioner, has
been under serious physical and political threat
after publicly expressing his concern about the high
number of killings in the war on drugs.
Dr. Pradit received
death threats on 5 and 6 March from an anonymous
telephone caller to his private residence. He was
told by the caller to stop talking to the United
Nations or he would die. At the same time, Thai Rak
Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has
warned that it might begin proceedings in the
Parliament to gather signatures of MPs and senators
in support of the dismissal of Dr. Pradit as National
Human Rights Commissioner.
Somchai Homlaor,
FORUM-ASIA Secretary General, urges the Thai
Government to investigate this incident promptly and
to provide protection to Dr. Pradit and his family.
"What happens to Dr. Pradit has seriously
worsened the already disturbing human rights
situation in the context of Prime Minister Thaksin's
war on drugs," he added.
On 1 February Prime
Minister Thaksin declared an all-out war on drugs,
set to last for three months. From 1 to 28 February,
the Interior Ministry reported that 1,140 drugs
suspects were killed. FORUM-ASIA as well as the
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial
Executions, Amnesty International and other human
rights organizations issued statements about the
large number of deaths. At present, the Interior
Ministry has banned the release of statistics on drug-related
deaths, which have further raised concerns about
extrajudicial execution and human rights violations.
FORUM-ASIA is
concerned by the increasing pressure the Thai
Government has placed on authorities throughout the
country to produce quick results at any cost. By
making the removal of 50 percent of suspects from the
"blacklist" by the end of March as an
indicator of success, the Thai Government has in
effect forced the police and local officials to
sidestep judicial procedure and due process of law.
FORUM-ASIA reminds
the Thai Government that all drugs suppression
operations must be in strict compliance with national
and international human rights standards. The Thai
Government must conform to its international human
rights obligations by protecting the right to life,
the right to a fair trial and the presumption of
innocence guaranteed by the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Thai
Government ratified in 1996.
FORUM-ASIA
maintains that the Thai Government should invite the
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights on Extra-Judicial Killings, Summary
or Arbitrary Executions, Ms. Asma Jahangir, and the
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights for Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Hina
Jilani, to Thailand to examine the situation.