What’s
Going On in Asia?
India
National
Training on RBA and Peace Building
The nine-day National Training on Rights
Based Approach to Social Advocacy and Peace Building,
organized by the National Commission for Justice,
Peace and Development (NCJPD), was successfully held
on 22 - 31 August 2004 at the Indian Social
Institute, Bangalore.
There were 37 participants, representing 12 regions
of the National Justice and Peace Commission in the
country. Most of them have a lot of field experience
with the poor and the marginalized, and trained in
law and social work. They comprise of priests,
religious and the laity of both genders.
During the first five days, the training was on the
Rights Based Approach (RBA) to social justice. This
part was facilitated by ACPP with the following
resource persons: Mr. Andre Frankovits of Human
Rights Council of Australia, Mr. Ravi Nair of South
Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, Ms. Ruth
Manorama, and Dr. Vinod Vyasulu, from Bangalore. The
second part was a three-day training on Peace
Building and Reconciliation, facilitated by Rev.
William R. Headley, Counsellor to Catholic Relief
Services.
During the training there were detailed deliberations
on issues like Dalits, Tribals, Food Security,
Discrimination against Women, Ethnic Conflicts and
several other pertinent issues of Human Rights
violations in India.
The participants were brought to consciousness about
the relevance of Human Rights and Peace Building
approaches at the local, regional and national level.
They resolved to continue networking with NGOs, civil
society and strengthen this very network created
during this program.
Source:
CBCI National Commission for Justice, Peace &
Development
Japan
30th Annual
National Convention of JCCJP
The 30th annual Convention of Japan Catholic
Council for Justice & Peace (JCCJP) was held at
the Tokyo Cathedral on 9-11 October. Although the
Catholic Church in Japan is only 0.3% of the 120
million population, this was the largest national
convention held every year in Japan.
This year, the convention was opened by a special
speech made by Sr. Nancy Silvester from the USA on
the theme of "Globalization of Justice and
Peace, task confronting us". More than 500
people attended, including the Msgr. Ambrose De
Paoli, Apostolic Nuncio to Japan.
This was followed by concert of several music groups
actively promoting justice and peace activities
throughout the year. The theme of this evening
concert was "to live together".
On the second day, more than 1,000 people took part
in the Sunday mass at the Tokyo St. Mary Cathedral.
The main celebrant was Msgr. Peter OKADA, archbishop
of Tokyo.
After the mass, participants from all over Japan went
around the Cathedral compound to participate in
forums and view the photo exhibitions, documentary
films, and group performances on the main stage,
where the youth danced and sang local action songs.
On the third day, 13 workshops were held, with input
from experts on the following themes:
- Foreign
residents in Japan from the perspective of
their Human Rights;
- Abolition of
the capital punishment system;
- Domestic
violence in traditionally familiar contexts
of Japanese family; and
- The Catholic
Church's responsibility in the Second World
War.
More than 2,000
participated in these workshops, sharing experiences
in the discussions. It is expected that most of the
themes, whether in national or international levels,
will be brought back to the next national convention’s
workshops to promote the national network. It was
also noted that there were many participants from non-Catholic
groups, Buddhist groups and citizen groups.
Source:
sharing by Fr. Fukamizu, JCCJP
Korea
Struggle
against National Security Law Continues
The Priests' Association for Justice started
an indefinite hunger strike on 18 November, for the
abolition of the National Security Law (NSL). It was
held at the compound of Myong-dong Cathedral, where
migrant workers also commemorated the first year
anniversary of their sit-in.
In their press release, the priests stated that the
abolition of the NSL would liberate the people
spiritually and mentally. Through the prayer
gathering, they re-iterated their solidarity with
those who are suffering from the application of the
NSL and the people who have died as a result of it.
Source:
local sources
Pakistan
Democratic
Education Program
The National Commission for Justice and
Peace (NCJP) organized a “Training of Trainers”
(TOT) on 9-11 September 2004 in Lahore. TOT was the
opening activity of the Democratic Education Program
(DEP), sponsored by Trocaire - Ireland. The aim is to
equip the participants with working tools to
organize, monitor, assess the activities of the DEP
and develop skills for facilitating seminars,
workshops, meetings.
There were 16 participants facilitated by Mr. Samson
Joseph, NCJP Program Coordinator. The 2 resource
persons were Mr. Peter Jacob, the NCJP Executive
Secretary and Mr. Rashid Rehman, Advocate of Human
Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Source: The
Mirror Update - NCJP
Peace Education Pilot Project (PEPP)
The National Commission for Justice and
Peace (NCJP) is also implementing a Peace Education
Pilot Project (PEPP) in Lahore, Gujranwala and
Rawalpindi.
The PEPP is aimed at:
1) Introducing tools of non-violent social action to
potential community leaders and to engage selected
educated individuals in study of the philosophy of
non-violence.
2) Initiating a wider debate in the society to
explore the rational basis of non-violence, conflict
resolution and peace building.
3) Interacting with Church and secular organizations
in India and Pakistan, and encourage peace building
between the two nations at grass root level.
Source: The
Mirror Update - NCJP
Philippines
Efforts
against the Death Penalty
Following the re-instatement of death
penalty in December 2003, and a moratorium on
executions until the end of 2004, the Justice, Peace
& Integrity of Creation, Association of Major
Religious Superiors Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP) has
organized a nationwide campaign aimed at moving
towards the abolition of the death penalty in the
country.
The JPICC-AMRSP are currently approaching lawyers for
their legal opinion on the issue of the abolition of
the death penalty law campaign, as there are talks
again about passing a bill against the death penalty
and some more prison reforms.
As part of the campaign, they are planning to call
the international community to help in advocacy on
the issue.
Source:
JPICC-AMRSP
International
Day of Peace Activities
On 7 September 2001, the United Nations
General Assembly declared 21 September to be a day of
global ceasefire and non-violence. All organizations
were invited to commemorate it through education and
public awareness, and to cooperate with the UN in
lobbying for and establishing a global ceasefire.
In this connection, the Justice, Peace &
Integrity of Creation, Association of Major Religious
Superiors Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP) organized the
“IDP-Philippines 24-hours for Peace”.
Activities include the “Candles for Peace”
campaign, Peace Film Festival, Peace Postcard and
“Pilgrimage and Candlelight Vigil for Peace”.
The event aims to demonstrate the power of the
Filipino people united in prayer and struggle for
peace and non-violence. For 24 hours, everyone within
each person’s home, community and street is
encouraged to make an effort to stop every thought
and act that is unkind, hostile, violent and evil,
and be aware of all the violent conflict that is
already present throughout the world.
Source:
JPICC-AMRSP
Sri
Lanka
Right to
Religious Freedom Challenged
Two separate attempts were made recently to
challenge religious freedom in the country. In the
first attempt, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)
forwarded a bill: "Prohibition of Forcible
Religious Conversions Bill" which was gazetted
on 28 May 2004. The second attempt was a draft Act:
"Act for the protection of Religious Freedom"
presented to the cabinet by Minister Hon. Rathnasiri
Wickramanayake in June 2004.
In response, 21 petitions were presented to the
Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of
the JHU Bill. Among those who petitioned were Civil
Rights groups, individuals, and His Lordship Bishop
Frank Marcus Fernando of Chilaw.
One of the concerns over the bill is the unclear
distinction over acts of benevolence and charity in
obedience to the gospel command. This may be
misinterpreted as acts of enticement, and falling
within the definition of “allurement” in
the bill, making it an offence.
The Supreme Court concluded that some clauses were
inconsistent with certain articles of the Sri Lanka
Constitution, as well as the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and International Covenant of Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR), on which the Constitution
is based.
While the right to freedom of religion guaranteed in
the international covenants and the constitution
includes the right to adopt the religion or belief
and entails the right to change one’s religion,
the proposed Bill seeks to prohibit conversions from
one religion to another by the use of force or
allurement.
Subsequent to the Supreme Court decision, the JHU is
considering to either remove the controversial
clauses in the bill, or attempt to present it without
amendment and try for a majority vote in the
Parliament.
Meanwhile, the draft Act presented by the Minister
has been put on hold.
Source: Caritas
Sri Lanka – SEDEC, Human Rights Unit
Thailand
Inter-faith
Activities with CCJP
Since the beginning of the year, the
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
Thailand has co-ordinated several activities with
Buddhist and Islamic religious organisations. They
discussed on the current situation, possibilities of
collaboration, and a common action plan. The
following are some seminars that were held.
A seminar entitiled, "DO NOT ALLOW VIOLENCE
IN THE SOUTH TO BE RELIGIOUS CONFLICT" was
held on 28 January at the “14 October 73
Monument.” It focused on preventing the violence
in the South from becoming a religious conflict. The
panel discussion was led by representatives of 3
religions.
Venerable Kittisak Kittisopano, a Buddhist monk from
Sekiya Dharma, warned that if the violence in the
South is not handled properly, it can ignite
interreligious conflict. Instead of using brute power
and violence, as done by the government to resolve
the issue, he advised followers of different
religions to come together and use their religious
teachings to avoid crisis.
Fr. Vichai Phokthavi, secretary of the Commission for
Justice and Peace, representing Christianity, warned
that instigators of the violence are aiming to use
religion as a tool to achieve their objectives. He
advised that to keep the pain and violence from
spreading, there is a need for healing. The
government must deal decisively with the perpetrators
and bring them to justice.
Mr. Somdej Muslae of the Council of Muslim
Organizations of Thailand also urged the government
to move decisively and justly to prevent the violence
from escalating into interreligious conflict. He
cautioned people not to fall prey to the aim of the
instigators in such conflicts.
After the seminar, a press conference was held to
condemn the violence and to call for solidarity and a
solution based on religious teachings.
A seminar on "ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX FROM
BUDDHIST, CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM PERSPECTIVES"
was co-organized with Sekiya Dharma Group, Metta
Dharma Raksa Foundation, Komol Keamthong Foundation
and the Senate Commission on Social Development and
Human Security on 8 February, at the Thammasat
University.
Panelists included Maha Jerm Suwajo from Metta Dharma
Raksa Foundation; Professor Jermasak Pinthong of the
Senate Commission Social Development and Human
Security, and Fr. Vichai Phokthavi of the CCJP. They
shared ideas on the impact of the government’s
initiative to liberalise casinos on society from the
Buddhist, Christian and Muslim perspectives.
They also shared their concern that liberalization
would create social problems. They feared that
gambling would attract people to be addicted and
suggested that the state should not only look at pure
economic interest when formulating such policies.
A seminar on "CURBING SOUTHERN FIRE FROM
MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE" was held at the “14
October 73 Monument” on 22 April, to help people
understand better the current situation in the 3
Muslim provinces, from the perspective of politicians
and academics.
The following recommendations were proposed:
- Southern state
agencies need to learn and understand
differences in faith, culture and religions
with respect, before going to work there.
- State agencies
should cooperate with local politicians in
order to mutually solve the problems.
- The Faithful
should work together to solve the crisis.
There were 80
participants, including priests, nuns, and lay
Christians, Buddhists and Muslims, and the media.
INTER-FAITH EXPOSURE PROGRAMS ON THE SOUTHERN
VIOLENCE
Representatives of the Catholic Commission for
Justice and Peace (CCJP), and Sekiya Dharma (group of
Buddhist monks engaged in social and environmental
concerns), joined Muslim scholars and community
leaders from Pattani for an inter-religious dialogue
on 26 July. It was held at the Islamic college of
Songkla Nakarin University in Pattani, 770 km south
of Bangkok.
They also visited the local Kruese Mosque, where Thai
soldiers killed 32 men on 28 April, in pursuit of
alleged Islamic militants after attacks that morning
on army and police posts. The visitors talked to
villagers living around the mosque.
After the visit, the participants agreed that
religious leaders and workers could learn much about
a particular religion by living for a period of time
in a community with followers of that religion. Such
exposure programs could also help religious leaders
experience other religions and how their followers
apply religion in their daily life, in order to help
ease misunderstanding and increase collaboration for
peace among religions.
Source:
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
Human
Rights Education in Catholic Schools
A seminar on Human Rights Education was held
on 20 February at the Chantaburi Diocesan Centre. It
was organized by the CCJP for school administrators,
teachers, the education desk, pastoral and student
affairs desk from various diocesan organizations. It
aimed to help participants understand and be aware of
a need for human rights education, and play a role in
promoting human rights education in educational
institutions. Topics presented by Asst. Professor Dr.
Walai Na Pompetch included human rights concept,
human rights education and practice of human rights
in educational institutions.
Another Human Rights Education workshop was held on
17-20 March, at the Santi Vitthaya School, Chiangrai.
There were 88 participants. The first part of the
training providing understanding on basic rights, was
given by Mr. Pairote Polpetch and Mr. Sarawut
Pratoomrat. This part included topics on human rights
in our life, human dignity, the principle of
equality, women’s rights and rights of the child.
The second part, on integration of human rights into
the teaching plan, given by Asst. Professor Dr. Walai
Na Pompetch, included topics on human rights in
educational institutions, integration of human rights
into the teaching plan, development of teaching
plans, as well as presenting and improving teaching
plans for application.
On 21 April, the CCJP gave a presentation on “Human
Rights in Catholic Educational Institutions” at
the St. Joseph Uppatham School, at the invitation of
the school’s non-formal and leisure education
desk. The objective was to support teachers to
understand principles on organisation of educational
direction along new theories, so that they could
provide learning process for children on “human
rights in Catholic educational institutions”
properly, correctly and effectively. There were 27
participants, who are members of non-formal education
organising committee, teachers in student affairs
desk and interested people from Education Department
of Archdiocese of Bangkok.
The CCJP also co-organised public discussions on
“Free Trade Agreement: Trend and Impacts on
Catholic Schools” with the Social Ongoing
Formation Centre and the Catholic Commission for
Human Development on 28 June. The aim was to share
ideas on the role and function of education in
Catholic schools and the impact of free trade
agreements on various sectors. The seminar also
wanted to identify a common stand to reaffirm the
Christian spirit in Catholic educational system.
Source:
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)