Religious Intolerance Highlighted by WCC at Human Rights Meeting
Episcopal News Service. March 20, 2003 [2003-062-6]
Increasing religious intolerance in India, Indonesia and Pakistan is being highlighted by the World Council of Churches at a meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). The denial of economic and cultural rights to the people of West Papua, as well as human rights violations committed under the Israeli military occupation of Palestine will also be addressed by the WCC.
The WCC called on the Commission on Human Rights to 'urge the governments of these countries to seek means by which dialogue may be promoted between religious communities and their governments, as well as between religious communities themselves.'
In West Papua, the Indonesian government 'over the years has followed policies that have been unjust, unfair and exploitative of the Papuan people.' The WCC is asking the government to make serious efforts to 'implement the autonomy law in consultation with the representatives of the Papuan people,' and to take steps to make sure that they get a 'a just share of the proceeds raised from the exploitation of its abundant natural resources.'
The WCC's Commission of Churches of International Affairs will also make a presentation on the human rights implications of a wall under construction between Israel and the West Bank, providing eyewitness accounts by participants in a WCC-sponsored Ecumenical Accompaniment Program. The commission has arranged a photo exhibit of the wall and will show a video produced by the WCC, 'Ending Occupation: Voices for Just Peace.'
In addition, the WCC commission will monitor developments related to justice, security legislation and terrorism, racism, indigenous people, and situations in the Sudan, Nigeria, Colombia, Guatemala and Iraq. Representatives from church-related partners in Pakistan, Nigeria and Argentina will be attending the session, which began March 17 and runs through April 24.