Oral intervention on religious into

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

>From: ALTSEAN-BURMA <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Oral intervention on religious intolerance
>
>Oral Intervention on Items 16 & 18 (clustered)
>(Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
>linguistic minorities/ Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination
>of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or
Belief)
>
>
>Delivered by Ms Debbie Stothard
>on behalf of Aliran Kesedaran Negara - National Consciousness Movement
>
>March 27, 1998
>
>Mr Chairman,
>
>We note with concern the contents of the report presented by the Special
>Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance.
>
>It is always a cause for great concern when individuals and communities are
>denied their civil, political, economic, cultural and social rights because
>of their religious beliefs; more so when such practices are being
>perpetrated by governments and their agents.
>
>It is heartening to note that some governments have attempted to respond
>positively to the concerns raised by the Special Rapporteur. We hope those
>governments will continue in their efforts to establish societies which are
>genuinely tolerant.
>
>We are disappointed that some governments persist in denying the existence
>of  problems concerning religious intolerance, and more importantly,
>persist in denying their population their rights as human beings. We would
>like to encourage these governments to understand that a population where
>all people enjoy all their rights, is a prerequisite to genuine peace and
>development.
>
>We note, with growing alarm that religion continues to be used widely as
>an excuse to inflict human rights violations which include criminal
>behavior, such as murder, assault, rape, and robbery, upon vast
>numbers of people across the world.
>
>In countries notorious for their human rights abuses upon the general
>population, religious minorities seem to be targeted for "extra special"
>abuse and harassment.
>
>It is important to note that in such situations of systematic and
>widespread human rights violations, even the clergy of the majority
>religion is subjected to attack, threats and harassment.
>
>An example of how such violations and harassment is perpetrated is Burma.
>The military regime of Burma has been systematically targeting
>religious minorities for harassment and/or violation. This is especially
>true in the case of Muslims in Arakan State and Karen State as well as
>Christians in Chin State, Sagaing Division and Karen State. It is
>understood that such persecution is imposed upon Muslims and Christians in
>other parts of the country as well.
>
>Those who are Muslim or Christian are targeted to do extra days of forced
>labor, in some areas, Buddhists are given less or no forced labor tasks.
>Religious structures have been destroyed or closed down, and religious
>celebrations prohibited or tightly controlled.
>
>Many Muslims have had their citizenship denied or revoked, even refugees
>from the Thai-Burmese border wishing to return to Burma are reportedly not
>welcomed back unless they convert to Buddhism [see attachment 1 and 2].
>
>The destruction of mosques and religious schools has become common [as
>outlined in attachment 3 and 4], as has harassments by officials against
>Muslims and denial of access to health, education and government employment.
>
>A special strategy targeting Muslims who arrive at the jetty in the town of
>Akyab has been the notorious "ASEAN gate" - only Muslims are supposed to
>wait at the ASEAN gate; during this time they are often physically
>humiliated and extorted of money by officials before being allowed to
>proceed into the town [see attachment 5].
>
>[Documentation received has revealed that] in Chin State and Sagaing Division
>where most of the civilians are Christian, soldiers have been desecrating
>churches and graveyards by turning them into army camps, disturbing
>religious ceremonies and preventing evangelists from preaching to their
>parish [see attachment 6].
>
>The military has also been arresting people upon leaving a church service,
>forcing Christian villagers to build Buddhist pagodas and coercing people
>to convert to Buddhism.
>
>Those who become Buddhists are exempt from forced labor and may receive
>extra food supply. In Chin State, education has also been used as a means
>to separate Christian parents from their children, who are then taken away
>to be forcibly "educated" as Buddhists.
>
>The clergy of the majority religion, Buddhism, has been subject to
>harassment, threats and imprisonment. Recent examples include: the January
>arrest of a monk named Sanda Thiri and 18 students who demanded the release
>of other imprisoned monks, the barring of a Sangha [Buddhist clergy]
>meeting in December to discuss military interference in their work, and the
>forced disrobing of 8 monks who were subsequently imprisoned in November.
>
>Clearly, these examples document how people are dehumanized and denied
>their rights to assert themselves as whole persons in their choice and
>practice of religion. Such behavior by authorities fracture the society and
> have severe consequences on the long term peace and stability of the world.
>
>Therefore, we respectfully call upon all member and observer states of the
>United Nations Commission on Human Rights to commit themselves to the noble
>aim of eliminating ALL forms of intolerance and discrimination, including
>that based on religion or belief.
>
>Thank you.
>
>Note: Attachments presented as supporting evidence included:
>Attachment 1: BKK POST: BURMA SAYS NO TO RETURN OF MUSLIMS, August 11, 1997
>Attachment 2: BKK POST: REFUGEES FORCED TO CONVERT TO BUDDHISM, July 19, 1997
>Attachment 3: INDEPENDENT REPORT: LIST OF MSQUES DESTROYED, July 31, 1997
>Attachment 4: ARAKAN BURMA: SITUATION IN ARAKAN, August 9. 1997
>Attachment 5: A letter to BURMA DEBATE, Nov/Dec 1997
>Attachment 6: excerpts from ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT? Published by
>Images Asia, January 1998
>
>Ataachments 1 - 5 were excerpted from the Burmanet
>
>
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