What’s
Going On in Asia?
India
Justice
Sunday 2005
Every year, the Catholic Bishop's Conference
of India (CBCI) observes the Sunday after
Independence Day of India as "Justice Sunday."
This year, Justice Sunday fell on 21 August 2005 and
the CBCI Commission for Justice, Peace and
Development (JPDC) chose the theme "Catholic
Education and the Church's Concern for the
Marginalised."
The Justice Sunday message comes in the form of a
booklet to make this day memorable and effective. The
materials have been prepared by Rev. Fr. Cedric
Prakash S.J. and his team at "Prashant"
Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
This booklet is meant to be directional and contains:
- ideas on how
to observe "Justice Sunday"
- a Eucharistic
celebration based on the theme
- some
background materials for the preparation of
talks, handouts, etc.
- further ideas
to ensure that the theme is mainstreamed in
social commitment
The booklet has
been sent to all the diocesan commissions of the 12
Ecclesiastical Regions in the country, and it is
hoped that the faithful will reflect on the theme,
how the Church is empowering the marginalized of the
country and enthuse themselves to do much more.
The JPDC also produced a poster highlighting the
theme to display the message widely on notice boards
or entrances of different Churches/institutions.
Source:
Catholic Bishop's Conference of India Commission for
Justice, Peace and Development (CBCI JPDC)
Japan
CBCJ Peace Message
On the sixtieth anniversary of the end of
the Second World War (WWII), the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan (CBCJ) sent out a statement on
the occasion of Japan Catholic Peace Period, entitled
"Peace Message After 60 Years From the End of
War World II, The Road To Peace Based On Nonviolence
- Now Is The Time To Be Prophetic."
This Peace Message is written in response to the
current situation, urging Catholics to perform their
role as prophets in the shadow of various forms of
violence occurring throughout the world.
The Peace Message reconfirms that, the "premise
of peace" is the dignity of human beings which
is bestowed by God. People linked in a multicultural
world should head towards a relationship of mutual
love, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the Japanese Constitution: that everyone
should have the right to live in peace, free from
fear and poverty. CBCJ calls further for
reconciliation with and solidarity of Asian countries.
Pope John Paul II said in his "Appeal for Peace
at Hiroshima" that, to remember the past is to
commit oneself to the future. The Church has admitted
its fault during the war, and the separation of
Church and State in Japan (Article 20, number 3 of
the Constitution) is a principle born from the
reflection that religion was once used to promote the
war effort. Hence, the CBCJ's peace message asks the
Japanese people to accept their history honestly, as
a promise not to repeat the tragedy and as a sign to
commit oneself to the future. It therefore criticizes
the biased interpretations of history, the Prime
Minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, and the debate
about the revision of the Peace Constitution (Article
9).
Further, the Peace Message points out that, the
expanding disparity and gap between wealthy and
impoverished countries have brought problems such as
migration, separation of families and trafficking of
people. Furthermore, the "911 Incident" and
its subsequent attacks have led to a vicious cycle of
violence. People of faith and civilians are calling
for an end to retaliation and for reconciliation
based on dialogue. The CBCJ urges the faithful to be
coherent with the non-violent spirit that appears in
the Article 9 of Japan Constitution, in the form of
the renunciation of war. Following Pope John Paul
II's teaching, all faithful should build peace
through non-violence and dialogue, so as to overcome
evil by good.
"To
the Heads of state and of Government, to those
who hold political and economic power, I say: let
us pledge ourselves to peace through justice; let
us take a solemn decision, now, that war will
never be tolerated or sought as a means of
resolving differences; let us promise our fellow
human beings that we will work untiringly for
disarmament and the banishing of all nuclear
weapons; let us replace violence and hate with
confidence and caring." (Pope John Paul
II, Appeal for Peace)
Although it is
difficult to break the chain of violence, the CBCJ
urges all people with faith and good will, to spread
the spirit and practice of non-violence, to construct
a new solidarity with people on the common issues,
strive for peace, and join hearts with the new Pope
Benedict XVI in full dedication to peace.
Source:
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan
Women's Active Museum on War and Peace
The Women's Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM)
is a project of the Women's Fund for Peace and Human
Rights. Opened recently on 1 August 2005, it is the
first museum to collect and record women's stories of
suffering under military aggression in times of war.
It was conceived by the late Ms. Yayori Matsui, a
prominent journalist and activist for women's rights,
as a place to preserve records accumulated for the
Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan's
Military Sexual Slavery in 2000.
Documents and testimonies of survivors and lawsuits
filed by support groups, resources and documentaries
on violence against women in armed conflict and
Yayori's own library and writings, can be found in
the WAM. Apart from holding special exhibitions twice
a year, there is a museum which conducts active
research on the oral history of survivors through
fact-finding, tours and seminars on peace education.
The WAM also takes action to bring justice to comfort
women and survivors by initiating action to eliminate
all forms of discrimination against women, and calls
for a worldwide information exchange and support
network.
For more information about the WAM, and how to visit
or support their work, please visit www.wam-peace.org (Japanese only) or contact:
AVACO Bldg. 2/F,
2-3-18 Nishi-Waseda
Shinjuku, Tokyo,
169-0051 JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)3-3202-4633
Fax: +81-(0)3-3202-4634
e-mail: info@wam-peace.org
Pakistan
NCJP Pakistan's Report on Human Rights
Situation
The National Commission for Justice and
Peace (NCJP) - Pakistan has issued its bi-annual
survey on the Human Rights Situation of Religious
Minorities in Pakistan for the first half-year of
2005.
The study describes the overall conditions affecting
the legal, civil, economic and constitutional rights
of minorities. Examples of the government's attitude
towards resolving issues are as follows:
- half-hearted
restoration of Joint Electorate for local
bodies;
- no serious
attempt to repeal the Blasphemy Laws and
Hudood Ordinances;
- catering for
social discrimination and religious
intolerance through the syllabus in schools
and the state-controlled media; and
- involvement in
land grabbing and evictions.
It is hoped that
the report can help the policy makers, people and
groups interested in human rights to enable them to
take necessary action to change the course of human
rights violations before the year comes to an end.
A copy of the report is available upon request.
Source: National Commission
for Justice and Peace (NCJP) Pakistan
Philippines
JPICC-AMRSP's Activities for IDP
Common observance of International Day of
Peace Celebration (IDP) on 21 September, an event
mandated by UN Resolution with the intention of
having the entire world observe a full day of "global
ceasefire and non-violence," was one of the
agreements reached by participants at the JPW meeting
held at Rawalpindi last February.
As a pioneering member of the IDP-Philippines, the
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission
of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in
the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP) together with other
convening organizations, had been actively leading
the IDP celebration in the Philippines for almost 3
years. This year, with the theme, "Moving in
Solidarity towards Peace based on Justice," the
event will be highlighted by an Interfaith Gathering
at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Various Peace
Booths will be showcased, sponsored by different
participating groups and organizations.
JPICC-AMRSP highly recommends that in furtherance of
the agreement in Rawalpindi, similar Interfaith
Gathering or Prayer Service be simultaneously held
and facilitated by the JPW participants in their
respective countries in the afternoon of Wednesday,
21 September 2005.
Source:
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission
of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in
the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP)
Response to WTO
The continuous challenges brought about by
globalization to many developing nations like the
Philippines, particularly through institutions like
the World Trade Organization (WTO), has been one of
the major concerns of the JPICC-AMRSP.
Recognizing the scheduled 6th Ministerial meeting in
Hong Kong this December 2005 and related activities -
such as the ecumenical conference on "Globalizing
Economic Justice and Sustainability" on 9-12
December 2005 - as a possible venue to highlight and
lobby against the negative effects of globalization
policies and the WTO, the JPICC's mother
organization, the Association of Major Religious
Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) had recently
manifested full support not only to the commission's
planned participation in the conference, but also to
the active involvement of all its mission partners in
the said event.
Source:
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission
of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in
the Philippines (JPICC-AMRSP)
Singapore
Campaign Against Death Penalty Continues
Following the execution of Mr. Shanmugan
Murugesu on 13 May 2005, an independent group of
sound artists and individuals organized a concert on
5 and 18 August called "HUNG AT DAWN" to
remember Shanmugam Murugesu, or "Sam." It
marked the start of an on-going series of regional
concerts against the death penalty in Southeast Asia.
A CD with music against the death penalty is being
compiled with input from regional bands and is
expected to be released at the end of the year.
 Poster of
the concert with the photo of Mr. Shanmugam
Murugesu or"Sam" - banned by police.
(Source: Think Centre)
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However, human rights groups are
disappointed that the police banned the use
of Mr. Shanmugam's photo in all publicity and
information material regarding the concert.
They are worried that because a person has
been executed, the authorities appear to be
claiming ownership or copyright over his
image. Meanwhile, Think Centre is currently
campaigning to save the lives of 2 Africans
who are on death row drug trafficking. Mr.
Iwuchuku Amara Tochi (19) and Okele Nelson
Malachy, were arrested on 27 November 2004 at
Changi Airport in Singapore, and given the
death sentence after concluding a 13-day
trial.
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Singapore is
one of many countries in Asia which have not yet
abolished or repealed capital punishment in their
justice system. It imposes a mandatory death sentence
on drug trafficking, which is inconsistent with the
criteria of absolute necessity and proportionality.
Various human rights organizations, including the
Think Centre, have been asking for jail terms and
rehabilitation instead. There are number of
prisoners, including foreign nationals, facing death
sentences in Singapore. However, the government has
continued carrying out the capital punishment instead
of addressing the root problem.
Think Centre has started an online petition calling
on the government to declare an immediate moratorium
on the death penalty, to save the lives of those on
the death-row. It states that the death penalty is
being used inconsistently with the criteria of
absolute necessity, and requests to remove the
mandatory capital punishment for simple drug
possession. It further states that overcoming social
problems and bringing criminal masterminds to justice
is much more effective than hanging those presumed to
be traffickers for simple possession of drugs.
The petition will continue as long as the Singapore
government continues to implement death penalty. To
support, please go to:
http://www.petitiononline.com/TCAction/petition.html
For more information, please go to the related
articles at the Think Centre web site:
SINGAPORE: Two Africans sentenced to death:
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2625
HUNG AT DAWN: Police Ban Sam's Face:
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2621
HUNG AT DAWN: Concert Against Death Penalty:
http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2616
Sri Lanka
Bill Threatens Practice of Religion
The controversial anti-conversion law, "Bill on
The Prohibition of Forcible Conversions" was
partly adopted by the Parliament in May 2005. Now the
bill must be vetted by a standing committee which
will study any amendments before it goes through
final reading and is voted by parliament. Five
members of the committee are Catholic.
According to the proposed bill, individuals have to
inform local authorities of their conversion within a
prescribed period of time. It also states that no
person shall convert or attempt to convert other
people from one religion to another by the use of
force or any "fraudulent means." One of the
concerns was the severe penalty applied if the
convert is a minor, woman, prisoner, person under
rehabilitation, physically or mentally disabled,
student, a patient or a refugee - those at high risk
of "forced conversion." The penalty is 7
years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 rupees (5.027
dollars). As it is noted that these groups of people
are most in need of humane and financial attention,
the legislation will deter the much needed generous
assistance that many groups offer out of their
religion's teachings.
Monsignor Joseph Vianney Fernando, President of the
Sri Lankan Bishop's Conferrece, has expressed much
concern on this anti-conversion bill and is engaged
in the campaign against the law that threatens
religious freedom. In July, the Bishops have asked
the faithful to spend 3 July as a day of prayer for
the country's religious freedom and to sustain this
intercession for the whole month.
Source:
Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC; AsiaNews.it