Dear
friends,
Christmas greetings from ACPP-Hotline Asia!
This Advent and Christmas season, we reflect on
the birth of Jesus Christ as a concrete
expression of God’s love for humanity,
and a reminder of His gift of human dignity to
all. As justice and peace workers, we
see Jesus’ coming as redemption of the human
dignity that is being destroyed by widespread
human rights violations around us.
Celebration of Christmas, therefore, means
recognizing His love, reciprocating it to Him, as
well as our neighbours and the society,
especially political prisoners, migrants,
refugees, and victims of violence, who have been
robbed of their rights. He calls us to work
with Him to restore dignity to all.
In ACPP, we strive year after year, to
work for advocacy of human rights in Asia,
as our contribution to His work of restoration of
human dignity. Without your committed
support and generous contribution to our work,
though, we would be unable to participate in this
mission effectively.
Your support enabled us to respond to 12 cases
of injustices in 5 countries this year,
through Urgent Appeals. Due to your
concrete actions, we got response from
diplomatic representatives who revealed their
concern that foreigners are complaining about
their countries. Although this can only be
described as “baby steps” when compared
to the on-going human rights violations today,
and a lot of work still needs to be done, your
contribution has made possible a step towards
change, and we hope this can continue.
Actually, your support is especially significant
this year, as it is also the 60th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) – the first international
human rights document that proclaims the nation
states’ recognition and commitment to
respect, protect and fulfill human rights of
their people. At this milestone in the
history of human rights, ACPP is happy to be able
to contribute something in the promotion of human
rights in Asia, especially in holding the
authorities accountable for their obligations.
Your continued support will help carry it on
to further steps ahead.
Urgent Appeals need solid ground work in fact-finding
and documentation, as well as coordination and
strategic planning. The cases also need
to be continuously monitored until they are
resolved. We rely on Extension
Workers, committed volunteers and personnel
to achieve this effectively. Communication
expenses, as well as postage and stationery are
also needed to ensure information can reach us to
be disseminated to justice and peace
groups, Church institutions, religious and lay
associations, as well as individual supporters,
including those who are based at remote areas
where internet access is not easily available.
Your financial contribution towards these
costs will help us a long way.
Apart from Urgent Appeals, we also provide
supplementary materials such as background
on issues and tools for advocacy, as well as training
workshops. If you are interested in the
work of ACPP and would like to participate
in the work for justice and peace in Asia, or
see how you can help, please visit our web site
at [www.acpp.org].
Behind the scene…
In the middle of the year, one of the staff in
Hong Kong, Fong, decided to change to another
field of work after 8 months with Hotline Asia
(HL). A new Project Assistant, Debby,
joined us in July; her previous experience and
involvement in civic education in Hong Kong,
human rights campaigns and exposure with NGOs in
Thailand contributed much in the new team
composition. Later in the year, Jen
completed her 5 years with HL will leave
us in January 2009. Meanwhile, in Pakistan,
our Extension Worker, Kiran, left HL
for another assignment in November, while in
South India, Fr. Stephen handed his
responsibilities as Extension Worker to
Rejimon, who started to work full-time at Hotline
India- Kerala since September to take up more
responsibilities in the expanding Adivasi
network. We thank Fong, Jen, Kiran and Fr.
Stephen for their contribution to HL and
wish them success in their new mission and
responsibilities. Of course, Debby and to
Reji, welcome to the team!
The ACPP office has also undergone some renovation
work. We now have a new set of sockets and
electricity meter, as well as a smaller pantry
and meeting area. Although we gave up 3
of our smaller rooms, our former library has now
become our office area, which is bigger
than the previous space we used. To
those who are based in Hong Kong or passing by,
you are welcome to visit us and our “new”
office.
The recent happenings in Asia this year, such as
the response to the cyclone in Burma, violence in
Orissa (India), cover up of tainted milk in
China, effects of financial “tsunami”
on those already marginalized, the bomb attacks
in Mumbai (India), make us wonder about the
values behind these actions. We are
prompted even more to continuously reflect
why these are happening, and what is our role in
responding to the root cause. What should
be the nature of our collaboration with
other justice and peace workers in Asia to
counter this trend? From the meetings
attended and activities during the year, we found
that going back to the basic, simple lifestyle,
and re-visiting and understanding the basic
teaching and moral values such as respect for
human rights and common good, justice and peace,
might be one answer. These values are what ACPP
is trying to protect and promote by mobilizing
solidarity action against human rights violations.
Of course, another on-going challenge is raising funds
for the HL project so
that we can continue to play a part in
contributing to justice and peace and human
rights in the coming years. We rely on your
contributions to enable us to respond to God’s
love and gift of human dignity.
Thank you for your continued support.
May the Peace of Christ be with you during this
season and throughout the New Year 2009!
In solidarity for justice and peace,
Linda, Jen, Debby, Fanny, Mrs. Cheuk
ACPP-Hotline Asia staff
December 2008
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I
want to support ACPP’s justice and peace
work and contribute to the promotion of human
rights in Asia!!!
Please accept my gift of ________________
(Cheque payable to the Asian Center for the
Progress of Peoples Ltd.)
(donation of HK$100 or more is tax deductible
in Hong Kong, under Section 88 of HKSAR Inland
Revenue Ordinance.)
My information:
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Address:
(Please send your gift to ACPP office’s
postal address: 1/F, 52 Princess Margaret
Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.)
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