A silent church ignores a wave of executions in Pakistan

Hundreds put to death since moratorium lifted, but church officials say little.

Activists from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demonstrate against the death penalty in Islamabad on Oct. 10. (Photo by Aamir Qureshi/AFP)

By Zahid Hussain
Karachi:  Pakistan is close to achieving a notorious new milestone of becoming one of the world's top executioners, with almost 300 inmates already put to death this year and thousands more waiting.

According to figures from Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission, 295 people have been hanged in the country — a new record — since December last year.

Amnesty International, however, puts the toll of executed inmates at 299.

Abdul Basit, a paraplegic man who was convicted of murder, could have become the 300th, but his Nov. 25 execution was delayed at the eleventh hour after the Pakistani president intervened.

This was the third time that an execution warrant had been issued for Abdul Basit, who was first scheduled to be hanged on July 29.

Despite being unable to stand and being reliant on a wheelchair, jail authorities are adamant about carrying out his inhuman and unlawful hanging.

"The hanging of a wheelchair-bound prisoner simply cannot be conducted in a humane and dignified manner as required by Pakistani and international law. Proceeding with Abdul Basit’s execution in the circumstances will offend against all norms of civilized justice," the rights group’s chairwoman, Zohra Yusuf, said in a statement.

The outspoken group has taken a principled approach to defending the rights of Pakistan’s death row prisoners. If only the local church would do the same.



Pakistan lifts moratorium

Pakistan’s record on executions this year is all the more astounding given that prior to December 2014, the country had not carried out any executions in six years.

But Islamabad lifted its moratorium on the death penalty shortly after Taliban militants stormed a school in Peshawar, killing 150 people — including 130 schoolchildren.

The horrific attack shocked the nation and triggered countrywide protests and demands to rein in the Taliban’s campaign of terror and violence.

As media and public pressure grew, the Pakistani military and political leadership rushed to restore capital punishment and announced the establishment of controversial military courts to fast-track the trials of terror suspects.

Initially, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif opted to execute only terror convicts, but pressure from Islamist parties and clergy convinced authorities to order executions for all kinds of death row convicts — a move that drew condemnation from the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International and other groups.

Rights watchdogs say the government is ignoring its responsibilities to reform the legal system. They say that the circumstances that prompted the suspension of capital punishment in the first place have not changed after six years, and that the deeply flawed criminal justice system continues to pose the threat of wrongful convictions.

Rights groups also argue that there is no evidence to suggest any correlation between the death penalty and reducing crime rates.

When compared to 2014 statistics, Pakistan’s nearly 300 executions this year would put it near the top of an unfortunate list. This year, Saudi Arabia has executed at least 151 people, while Iran has put to death almost 700, according to Amnesty.



Death row

According to the Justice Project Pakistan, a Lahore-based nonprofit law firm that helps marginalized people in the legal system, more than 8,000 people are currently on death row. Pakistan’s government, on the other hand, says there are 6,000.

Asia Bibi, a Catholic mother of four, is among those who have been handed the death sentence after her disputed conviction for blasphemy. Bibi's final appeal is pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Among those who have already been executed are Aftab Bahadur Masih, a Christian man who was arrested in 1992 in a case involving the murder of a woman and her two sons.

According to the Justice Project Pakistan, Bahadur was only 15 years old at the time of his arrest — too young to face the death penalty. The Catholic Church in Pakistan had made an unsuccessful appeal for clemency to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain.

In August, Pakistan executed Shafqat Hussain, convicted of killing a child in 2004. His lawyers claimed he was 14 when found guilty and his confession was extracted by torture, but officials say there is no proof he was a minor when convicted.



Church response disappointing

In September this year, Pope Francis called for the global abolition of the death penalty in his address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

"The golden rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development," Francis said in his speech to Congress.

"This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred."

Despite Pope Francis' clear and unambiguous stance on capital punishment, the Catholic Church in Pakistan has failed to take a stand against the record numbers of executions in the country this year.

Apart from an appeal for clemency for Bahadur, neither the church nor the human rights arm of its bishops’ conference, the National Commission for Justice and Peace, has issued even a single statement on the death penalty.

In fact, two senior officials from the commission told ucanews.com that they personally supported the government's move to resume capital punishment, reasoning it would help solve the country’s long-standing terrorism woes. The two officials, however, asked not to be named.

Although some clergymen individually opposed the executions in media interviews, there has been a muted and disappointing official response from the church, to say the least.

It is high time that the Catholic Church in Pakistan took a principled stance against capital punishment. It would be in line with international laws, and indeed in line with the views of Pope Francis himself.

Zahid Hussain is a Pakistani journalist covering human rights and issues affecting minorities.

Source: UCAN

Another tribal leader shot dead in Mindanao

Shooting comes as Philippine president meets indigenous groups.

Tribal leaders from Mindanao call on President Benigno Aquino to stop the killings of indigenous people in Mindanao during a protest march on Nov. 13. (Photo by Vincent Go)

Manila:  Another tribal leader fell victim to gunmen in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao earlier this week as Philippine President Benigno Aquino met with leaders of indigenous peoples' groups to discuss their pressing concerns.

Ulas Salanganie, a Manobo tribal leader and an official of the local Parents, Teachers and Community Association, was shot dead in Talaingod, in Davao del Norte province on Nov. 23, according to police.

No motive has been established for the killing, which prompted several local teachers and other tribal leaders to flee the area, said Neri Colmenares, a human rights lawyer and senior minority leader in the Philippines’ House of Representatives.

Classes in tribal schools were also suspended, he said.

A day after the killing, the presidential palace announced that Aquino had met with representatives of indigenous people to discuss their "concerns."

The president issued directives "to come up with concrete action plans to address" tribal issues, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, without giving any details.

Church officials welcomed news of the meeting.

"It's good that the president finally paid attention to the plight of the lumad," said Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs office of the bishops' conference.

Mindanao's tribal people are collectively known as lumad.

Secillano expressed hope the president's order was not meant to wash over the issues of indigenous people.

"If there is a directive to address the concerns of this group, those tasked to do this are morally obligated to execute the order," the priest said.

Colmenares said the meeting between Aquino and the tribal people should have discussed killings and other human rights violations being committed against indigenous people in Mindanao.

He said he hoped the reported meeting would result in the pull-out of the military in affected communities, the disbandment of paramilitary groups and the arrest of those responsible for extrajudicial killings.

The reported meeting between Aquino and the tribal leaders came after hundreds of lumad arrived in Manila last month to protest against the killings of indigenous people in Mindanao.

Many tribal communities have been trapped in the long-running conflict between the government and communist rebels, with government-backed paramilitary groups often labeling civilian villagers as combatants. In September, the killings of two tribal leaders and a school principal forced thousands of indigenous villagers to flee their homes.

Mindanao's archbishop has called the conflict a "protracted war," while Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila has urged the government to withdraw troops from indigenous communities.

Source: UCAN

Arriving in Kenya, pope says tolerance, respect are keys to peace

Colonization left continent divided, Kenyan leader tells pope.

People walk by a billboard welcoming Pope Francis ahead of his visit to Bangui, in the Central African Republic. The pope landed in Kenya on Nov. 25 for his first stop on a Nov. 25-30 visit to Africa. (Photo by Gianluigi Guercia/AFP)

Kenya:  With security concerns looming over his visit, Pope Francis arrived in Kenya Nov. 25 urging tolerance and respect among people of different religions and different ethnic groups.

Pope Francis was greeted at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by a small group of dancers, women ululating and President Uhuru Kenyatta, son of the nation's first president, for whom the airport is named. After the brief arrival ceremony Pope Francis traveled past hundreds of offices and factories where employees came out and lined the road to greet him.

The formal welcoming ceremony took place at Kenya's State House, where the pope met the president, government and civic leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.

In his speech, the pope focused on the values needed to consolidate democracy in Kenya and throughout Africa, starting with building trust and cohesion among members of the different ethnic and religious groups on the continent.

"Experience shows that violence, conflict and terrorism feed on fear, mistrust and the despair born of poverty and frustration," he said. "To the extent that our societies experience divisions — whether ethnic, religious or economic — all men and women of good will are called to work for reconciliation and peace, forgiveness and healing."

Kenyatta told the pope that colonization left Africa with artificial borders dividing communities, which has created tensions, but war and violence on the continent also has been fueled by "our own selfish politicization of our ethnic and religious identities."

With the U.N. climate change conference set to begin in Paris on Nov. 30, Pope Francis also spoke of the traditional African value of safeguarding creation and of the need to find "responsible models of economic development" that will not destroy the earth and the future.

"The grave environmental crisis facing our world demands an ever greater sensitivity to the relationship between human beings and nature," the pope said. "We have a responsibility to pass on the beauty of nature in its integrity to future generations, and an obligation to exercise a just stewardship of the gifts we have received."

On a continent where the population is predominantly young, but unemployment among young adults is high, Pope Francis also urged the Kenyan government officials and representatives of other countries to recognize that the young, too, are a gift from God to be assisted with care.

"To protect them, to invest in them and to offer them a helping hand is the best way we can ensure a future worthy of the wisdom and spiritual values dear to their elders, values which are the very heart and soul of a people," the pope said.

Source: CNS

Ban polygamy, Muslim group tells Modi

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) said that Indian Muslims needed to have their own codified personal law.

New Delhi:  Seeking "justice and equality for Muslim women", a Muslim group has demanded a ban on polygamy and compulsory registration of marriages to secure equality and dignity to Muslim women.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) said that Indian Muslims needed to have their own codified personal law "which ensures equality and dignity to Muslim women".

"Almost all Muslim countries world over such as Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and even Bangladesh and Pakistan have codified personal laws governing marriage and family matters," the group said.

"Thanks to the self-appointed conservative leaders, Indian Muslims are denied this opportunity. As a result, we see instances of triple talaq and polygamy in our society," it said.

About three weeks ago, Supreme Court judges Anil Dave and Adarsh Kumar Goel asked the National Legal Services Authority of India to reply by November 23 whether gender discrimination suffered by Muslim women should not be considered a violation of the fundamental rights under articles 14, 15 and 21 of the constitution and international covenants.

The letter to Modi said that from the Shah Bano case in 1985, Muslim women had never been heard in matters concerning their lives "thanks to the politics in our country.

"Certain orthodox and patriarchal males have dominated the debate on rights of Muslim women and have stone-walled any attempt towards reform in Muslim personal law.

"In the process, the Muslim women have been denied their Quranic rights as well as their rights as equal Indian citizens," it said.

It said justice for Indian Muslim women can be enabled through amendments to the Shariat Application Act, 1937, and the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 or a completely new enactment of Muslim personal law.

It said the minimum age of marriage of girl should be 18 years and for boy, 21 years. Consent of both parties must be obtained without force or fraud.

It said polygamy should be declared illegal, and both mother and father must be declared natural guardians of the child.

In property matters, Quranic shares must be applied after making a will and clearing debts, it said, adding that daughters must get equal share as sons.

It also said that the Qazi should be held accountable for violations during 'talaq', polygamy and such other matters

The letter urged Modi "to take into account the constitutional rights of Muslim women as well as their opinions towards equality and justice in any further legal measures that your government may decide to pursue".

Copies of the letter have also been sent to Law Minister Sadananda Gowda, Minister of State for Minorities Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, National Commission for Women chair Lalitha Kumaramangalam and the Law Commission of India.

IANS

Christians, Muslims with good income mulling migration

Many on social media argue that India has gone through several bouts of religious violence and yet its secular character has remained.

Shiv Sena members protest against actor Aamir Khan in Lucknow on Wednesday.

New Delhi:  With incidents of religious persecution of minorities happening across the country and the Indian government’s inaction to control it, a section of people from Muslim and Christian communities with decent incomes have started weighing the option of moving abroad but are not fully convinced to make the move yet.

Rashid Rehman, a 42-year-old footwear importer from East Delhi, said the thought of leaving did occur to him, but he quickly brushes it aside with his unflinching faith in secular India, which strengthens when he sees countless number of Hindus speaking up for the minorities and condemning hate crimes.

“I don’t think we will leave [India]. Until our Hindu friends are talking on our behalf, until we understand that their hearts don’t want us, we are not going anywhere,” he said.

However, the recent violence inflicted on Muslims makes him anxious and then obtuse statements coming from senior ministers who “either tacitly justify the violence or come up with vague statements to ensure accountability”.

“The fear factor is there,” he said.

Rehman said he is not sure what kind of future his children will face if “the Hindu versus Muslim mentality is systematically nurtured”.

Many on social media argue that India has gone through several bouts of religious violence and yet its secular character has remained.

A Delhi-based computer engineer, who is a Christian, said he was contemplating moving out “if the situation remains the same”.

He said that the reason for his migration was not just communal tensions but “other forms of intolerance as well”.

Recently famous actor Aamir Khan reopened a debate about intolerance by saying that his wife recently suggested moving from India.

Though they abhor the idea of leaving, they are still considering it to ensure that their children grow up in a society free from religious prejudice.

The first round of migration among elite Muslim families — those who would hang out with people like the “Ambanis and Tatas” — happened in the early 1990s, after the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the subsequent riots.

It was largely Mumbai-centric with several families moving to Europe and the Gulf. Their children struggled to establish ties with the new world, but as they grew up they began to make peace with their “Non-Resident Indian” (NRI) identity.

Source: The Hindu

Catholics look to encyclical to observe day for dalits

When nature is exploited, so too are former untouchables.

Indian dalit Christians and Muslims sit in the rain during a protest rally in August 2012. (Photo by Raveendran/AFP)

New Delhi:  The Catholic Church in India is taking its cue from Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment in observing its annual Day for the Liberation of Dalits.

"As we take care of nature, we have to take care of the marginalized and oppressed people in our country," Father Devasagaya Raj, secretary of the Indian Catholic bishops’ office for dalits and lower classes, told ucanews.com.

The priest highlighted the importance of the pope’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato si’, which was addressed to every person on the planet.

When nature is exploited, dalits are also exploited and discriminated by society, he said.

"Let us take a vow to protect the rights of these people and give them their due place in the society," Father Raj said, adding that the encyclical, while talking about saving the climate, also includes the “social climate."

In the encyclical, the pope blamed human greed for the planet's critical environmental emergency.

The Catholic Church in India annually celebrates The Day for the Liberation of Dalits on the nearest Sunday following the U.N. Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Hence, Dec. 13 this year is to be observed at the parish level to educate "our own Catholics about the rights of the dalits," said Father Raj.

There will be special prayers in parish churches and liturgies will be centered around the theme of climate, castes and care for the Earth, he explained.

Indian society comprises the high castes — Brahmins (priests, teachers), Kshatriyas (kings, warriors) and Vaishyas (merchants, artisans). The Sudras (laborers, peasants) make up the lowest caste.

Those not born into these four castes were the outcasts, formerly called untouchables, who are now called dalits, a Sanskrit term meaning "trampled upon."

The dalits have long been the target of disempowerment, oppression and persecution even though the Indian Constitution abolished caste discrimination and made "untouchability" because of religious sanction a punishable offence.

It guarantees quotas, for dalits and other underprivileged classes, in government jobs and in educational institutions.

However, Christian and Muslim dalits are denied these benefits on the grounds that their religions do not recognize the caste system.

Christian dalits in India have been fighting for their rights as enjoyed by their Hindu counterparts for more than half a century.

Church leaders estimate that at least half of India's 23 million Christians are of dalit origin.

Source: UCAN

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே - அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்ப...

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே - அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்ப...: இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே - அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்பையில் ஒரு திடீர் ஹீரோவாக உருவாகியிருக்கிறார். மும்பையில் 17 வயது மாணவர். அவர் செய்து ...

இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே - அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்பையில் ஒரு திடீர் ஹீரோவாக உருவாகியிருக்கிறார்.

இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே - அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்பையில் ஒரு திடீர் ஹீரோவாக உருவாகியிருக்கிறார்.

மும்பையில் 17 வயது மாணவர். அவர் செய்து இருக்கும் தனது அட்டகாசமானச் செயலால் வடக்கு மும்பையில் ஒரு திடீர் ஹீரோவாக உருவாகியிருக்கிறார்.

மும்பை “சாதே’ நகரில் ஒதுக்குபுறமாக ஒரு சேரி பகுதி உள்ளது. இங்குள்ள குழந்தைகள் பள்ளிக்கு செல்ல வேண்டுமெனில் சேரிப் பகுதியை ஒட்டியுள்ள 50 அடி நீள சாக்கடையை கடந்து தான் செல்ல வேண்டியிருந்தது.

இதனை சாதே நகரில் அடுக்கு மாடியில் வசிக்கும் 17 வயது இ­ஷான் பல்பாலே என்கிற இளைஞன் தினசரி பார்த்திருக்கிறார். சீருடை அணிந்த குழந்தைகள் சாக்கடையில் இறங்கி பள்ளிக்கு செல்வதை பார்த்து தனது பெற்றோர்களிடமும், நண்பர்களிடமும் சமூக அமைப் பினர்களிடமும் முறையிட்டு இருக்கிறார். உள்ளூர் நகராட்சி களிடமும் இந்த வி­ஷயம் சென்று இருக்கிறது.

ஆனால் ,அவர்கள் கடமையை செய்வதில் தமிழ்நாட்டை விட சிறந்தவர்கள். தப்பித்தவறிக் கூட அந்த சேரி பக்கம் சென்று பார்க்கவில்லை.
வெறுத்துப்போன இஷான் தனது சேமிப்புப்பணம், நண்பர்களின் கடன் என பெரும் பணம் திரட்டி சேரி குழந்தைகள் சாக்கடையை கடக்க 50 அடி நீளம், 5 அடி அகலத்தில் ஒரு பாலத்தையே கட்டிவிட்டார்.

அடிப்படையில் இவர் ஒரு சிவில் பொறியாளர் மாணவன் என்பதால் தனது முதல் புராஜக்டை பட்டம் வாங்காமலேயே செய்து அசத்தி உள்ளார். முழுக்க முழுக்க மரக்கட்டைகள் கொண்டே எட்டே நாட்களில் இந்த பாலத்தை கட்டிவிட்டார். தற்போது பள்ளிக் குழந்தைகள் மட்டுமின்றி சேரிப்பகுதிகளில் குடியிருக்கும் 15,000 மக்களுக்கும் இந்த பாலம் தான் சாக்கடையை கடக்க உதவி செய்கிறது.

பிற்பாடு இதே பாலத்தை பயன்படுத்தியே எம்.எல்.ஏக் களும் எம்.பிக் களும் ஓட்டு கேட்க வரலாம் யார் கண்டது. சரி, இ­­ஷான் பல்பலேவைப் பாராட்டலாம் என தொடர்பு கொண்டால், அவர் அடுத்தப் புராஜெக்ட்டில் பிஸியாக இருக்கிறாராம். அதாவது, சேரி க் குழந்தைகளுக்குக் கழிவறை கட்டும் பணியில். பலே ! பல்பாலே.  Thanks: FB.

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: வீட்டில் internet வேண்டுமா? ஒரு பல்பை போட்டால் போத...

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: வீட்டில் internet வேண்டுமா? ஒரு பல்பை போட்டால் போத...: வீட்டில் internet வேண்டுமா? ஒரு பல்பை போட்டால் போதும் Source: Tamil CNN. இனி இன்டர்நெட் பயன்படுத்த ‘வைபை’ வசதி இல்லையே என்று கவ...

வீட்டில் internet வேண்டுமா? ஒரு பல்பை போட்டால் போதும்

Source: Tamil CNN.

இனி இன்டர்நெட் பயன்படுத்த ‘வைபை’ வசதி இல்லையே என்று கவலைப்பட வேண்டாம். ஒரு பல்பை போட்டால் ‘லைபை’ வசதி கிடைத்து விடும். அதன் மூலம் இன்டர்நெட் பார்க்க முடியும். பாலா காலமாக குழந்தைகளுக்கு டிஜிட்டல் பொம்மை முதல் வீடியோ கேம் வரை, பல்பு முதல் பட்டாசு வரை எல்லாவற்றையும் மலிவு விலை யில் அள்ளிக்குவிக்கும் சீனா தான் இப்போது இந்த ‘பல்ப்’ மூலம் இன்டர்நெட் வசதியையும் கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளது.
ஒரு வாட் பல்பை வாங்கி எரிய விட்டால் போதும், அடுத்த நொடி இன்டர்நெட்டுக்கு உயிர் வந்துவிடும். லைட்டை ஆப் செய்து விட்டால் இன்டர்நெட்டுக்கான ‘லைபை’ போய் விடும். ஒரு பல்பு எரியவிட்டால் நான்கு கம்ப்யூட்டர் வரைக்கும் இன்டர்நெட்டை பயன்படுத்த முடியும்.

விநாடிக்கு 150 மெகாபைட் வேகம் கொண்டதான இந்த ”லைபை” குறித்து இன்னும் ஆராய்ச்சிகள் தொடர்கின்றன. வர்த்தக ரீதியாக பயன்படுத்த முழு அளவில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் என்று இதை கண்டுபிடித்த ஷாங்காய் பல்கலைக்கழக பேராசிரியர் சிநான் கூறினார். லெட் வகை பல்பில் மைக்ரோசிப் பொருத்தப்பட்டிருக்கும். அதன் மூலம் அலைக்கற்றைகள் எழுப்பப்பட்டு, இன்டர்நெட் வசதி ஏற்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. சீனாவில் ஷாங்காயில் நவம்பர் 5 ம் தேதி ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட உள்ள சர்வதேச கண்காட்சியில் இந்த ‘லைபை’ அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படுகிறது.

வழக்கமான ‘வைபை’ வசதி, ரேடியோ அலைகளை கொண்டு ஏற்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. அதன் மூலம் இன்டர்நெட் உயிர்பெறுகிறது. ஆனால், இந்த ஒரு வாட் பல்பை வைத்து சீனா, இன்டர்நெட்டை பயன்படுத்த முடியும் என்று கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளது. மலிவு விலை பொருட்களை கண்டுபிடி த்து உலக நாடுகளில் சந்தையில் பெரும் மாற்றத்தை கொண்டு வந்துள்ள சீனா வின் ‘லைபை’ கண்டுபிடிப் பால் தொழில்நுட்ப புரட்சி ஏற்படும் என்று தெரிகிறது.

சீனாவில் மட்டும் 60 கோடி பேர் இன்டர்நெட் வசதி வைத்துள்ளனர். அவர்கள் எல்லாம் ‘வைபை’யில் இருந்து தங்கள் சொந்த நாட்டு கண்டுபிடிப்பான ‘லைபை’க்கு மாறி விடுவர். மேலும், உலக நாடுகளில் பலவும் இந்த வசதிக்கு மாறினால், ‘வைபை’க்கு டாட்டா காட்டும் காலம் வெகு தூரத்தில் இல்லை என்று கணக்கு போடுகிறது சீனா.

Philippine law fuels conflict

Legislation meant to help indigenous people is often used against them, critics say.

A tribal leader from Mindanao offers a chicken during a protest ritual in Manila on Nov. 3. Some 700 indigenous people from the southern Philippines came to the capital to highlight the situation in Mindanao. (Photo by Vincent Go)

Manila:  Philippine government officials and paramilitary leaders are using a landmark law on self-determination for tribal people to justify the murders of indigenous activists and their supporters, critics say.

On the same day that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila visited displaced tribal people from Mindanao and called for an end to the military occupation of their schools and communities, a pro-government militia leader spoke before the Philippine Congress to defend the murder of a school’s head teacher.

On Nov. 11, Cardinal Tagle called for peace and an end to human rights violations linked to resource conflicts when he visited a protest camp in Manila for displaced lumad, Mindanao’s indigenous peoples.

Meanwhile, the congressional Committee on Indigenous People was meeting to discuss the Sept. 1 murders of a teacher and two tribal community leaders. Effectively, the committee heard support for the actions of militia and paramilitary leaders accused of the same rights violations Cardinal Tagle had condemned.



'They applaud his murderous logic'

No law in the Philippines allows the rationale for murder. Yet legislators, including the controversial chairwoman of the congressional committee, used the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 — intended to support tribal communities — to defend actions against lumad schools.

Emerito Samarca, head teacher of a school for lumad children in remote Surigao del Sur province, was gunned down on Sept. 1, allegedly by a militia group backed by the Philippine army and paramilitary groups.

"He poisoned the minds of the people," Datu Jumar Bucales told the congressional committee when asked why militia would have killed Samarca.

Bucales, called as an expert witness in the congressional hearings, is no ordinary village elder. The governor of the province previously named him as one of the paramilitary leaders.

Congresswoman Nancy Catamco, head of the committee, asked if Samarca’s death was punishment for teaching "an alien ideology" that went against tribal culture.

Yes, Bucales replied. The tribal school, he claimed, specialized in training militants.

Michelle Campos, the school’s last valedictorian, wept with rage as she listened to news broadcasts of the congressional proceedings.

Her father, Dionel Campos, was killed along with Samarca. He was chairman of an organization that covered 22 lumad communities.

"They applaud his murderous logic in Congress," she told ucanews.com. "What kind of country do we have, where lawmakers applaud murder?"

Witnesses to Campos’ murder say his killers said Bucales was their leader. Witnesses to the 2014 execution of Campos’ predecessor also identified Bucales among his assailants.

Resource conflict

Advocacy groups say there have been at least 400 attacks on lumad schools since 2010.

It’s part of longstanding pressure on Mindanao’s indigenous communities, who say they face unwanted attention for their resource-rich traditional lands. Many tribal communities are also caught up in the conflict between the government and communist rebels, with paramilitary groups often labeling civilian villagers as combatants.

It is a tragic turn of events for the first country in Asia to recognize indigenous people through a legal instrument.

The Philippines was lauded for passing the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, which recognized the "historical marginalization" of Philippine tribal people and provided them with means of redress.

The legislation sought to protect indigenous communities. However, it can also be used against them, such as in cases where members of tribal communities align with paramilitary groups.

For example, the act stipulates that outsiders coming to indigenous lands require prior consent from tribal leaders. This can mean that lumad schools, which are often supported by outsiders like Catholic nuns, are accused by militias of being "alien" entities on ancestral lands — effectively the same argument Bucales used to justify Samarca’s killing before Congress.

Less than two decades after the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, government policies have upended its intentions, according to Arnold Alamon of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in northern Mindanao.

"Redress mechanisms have become instruments for continued … marginalization and, in many cases, provide the imperative for the spate of extrajudicial killings and forced evacuations of indigenous leaders and their communities."

Alamon cited the 2012 killing in Bukidnon province of anti-mining Matigsalog tribal leader Jimmy Liguyon.

A paramilitary leader — who had an ancestral claim to 52,000 hectares of indigenous land — shot Liguyon dead in front of his children.

Fuel for madness

Under President Benigno Aquino, military and militia offensives have killed at least 60 lumad people and displaced more than 40,000 others, according to activists.

"What provides motive and fuels this madness in Mindanao is the lucrative potential for mining," Alamon said.

Cardinal Tagle also hinted at the cause of the problems during his Nov. 11 visit to the lumad protest camp.

"Some of them have been killed. Many have been forced to leave their homes and the lands of their ancestors," the cardinal said in a statement.

"They have lost their livelihood. The children have stopped their schooling. The old people, the sick, children and women are suffering. The environment is being destroyed. What rules is strife and violence; their communities know no peace nor justice."

In the same congressional hearing where Bucales offered his excuse for the indigenous teacher’s death, former military officers-turned-lawmakers urged the closure of alternative schools and the filing of charges against administrators and staff, alleging that they challenge traditional lumad institutions.

"They forget we, the lumad, built those schools," the orphaned Michelle Campos pointed out. "My father said he cried on my first day of school. He had never gone to school. There were no schools before."

"We, the lumad, sought help from the churches and other groups because the government ignored us," she added. "A government that sees the teaching of human rights and love for the environment as crimes is a government that wants the death of our people."

Source: UCAN

Pope Francis appoints new Vatican Bank chief

The IOR's former director Paolo Cipriani and his deputy Massimo Tulli resigned in 2013 over a financial scandal.

Vatican city:  Pope Francis named banker Gian Franco Mammi the new director of the Vatican Bank, which is currently at the centre of a leaks scandal over which five people have gone on trial.

Pope Francis on Tuesday held a 20-minute meeting with Mammi and members of the governing council of the Vatican Bank (IOR), which is trying to clean up its murky image and get onto the international white list against money laundering.

IOR and the Vatican's financial machinery have come under fresh scrutiny after two ex-members of a commission set up by the Pope in 2013 to study economic and administrative reforms allegedly stole confidential documents and leaked these to two Italian journalists.

The journalists and the two former commission members -- a Vatican prelate and a laywoman -- as well as the prelate's aide went on trial on Tuesday over the leaked stolen documents.

The IOR's former director Paolo Cipriani and his deputy Massimo Tulli resigned in 2013 over a financial scandal.

Cipriani and Tulli were indicted in a separate case a year ago on money laundering charges after a probe that in 2010 led to the freezing of 23 million euros from a Vatican account at a Rome bank. The trial continues.

IANS

Indonesian women push for anti-sexual violence law

Active deterrent needed to combat rising number of cases, activists say.

National Commission on Violence against Women chief, Azriana, center, speaks in Jakarta on Nov. 24 at the launch of a 16-day campaign on violence against women. (Photo by Katharina R. Lestari)

Jakarta:  Indonesian authorities should institute a new law that severely punishes perpetrators of sexual violence in order to counter a troubling increase in violence against women, activists say.

Women's rights activists in the country began a 16-day campaign on Nov. 25 against gender-based violence by calling for a law that clamps down on sexual violence.

The National Commission on Violence against Women has conducted the campaign since 2001. This year, the group has chosen the theme "Sexual violence is a crime against humanity."

The campaign's start coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on Dec. 10 — Human Rights Day.

"The main effort in this year's campaign is to push the government into introducing a law aimed at combatting sexual violence in Indonesia," said Azriana, the commission chairwoman on Nov. 24.

She said the government currently has a draft bill on its legislation list. A decision on whether to include the draft bill in its legislative program could be made in early December.

"We hope the government will take concrete steps to ensuring that sexual violence in Indonesia is severely punished," she said.

Violence against women, particularly cases of sexual violence, increase every year, she told ucanews.com.

The commission says there were 293,220 cases of violence against women in 2014, up from 279,760 cases recorded in 2013.

This is probably the tip of the iceberg, Azriana said.

"This is because many victims and their families are not willing to report cases."

"On average, every year, about one-quarter of the cases concern sexual violence," Azriana said.

This is a serious and common problem and the government needs to make cracking down on violence against women a priority, she added.

During its 16-day campaign, the commission says it will provide students from five junior and senior high schools in Jakarta with sex education.

Seminars, dialogues and cultural performances will also be staged in association with several nongovernmental organizations and religious groups such as the Secretariat of Gender and Women Empowerment of the Indonesian bishops' conference.

Notre Dame Sister Maria Resa from the bishops' secretariat said a law providing a significant deterrent against violence against women is only part of the solution.

"Such a regulation can at least reduce the number of cases of violence against women," she told ucanews.com.

However, greater support needs to be provided for victims, she said.

"This is important. Not everyone has the courage to deal with the legal process. A counseling program should be provided to get them through this ordeal and help them recover," she said.

Source: UCAN

Attackers stab interfaith group leader in Bangladesh

Some Christians believe assault on Alok Sen was reprisal for Islamist's execution.

Bangladeshi police stand guard during a strike called by hard-line Islamists in Dhaka on Nov. 23. Some Christians believe a recent attack on a prominent member of an interfaith group could be linked to the execution of an Islamist leader. (Photo by Munir Uz Zaman/AFP)

Dhaka:  A leading figure in of one of Bangladesh's major interreligious forums has been critically wounded in a knife attack, police say.

Religious minority groups believe the attack could be in retaliation to the execution of an Islamist leader earlier this week.

Two masked knife-wielding assailants attacked Alok Sen, 58, a Hindu and secretary of the local unit of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, outside his house in Faridpur district, outside the capital, Dhaka, on Nov. 24.

"Two people knocked on his door at about 3:30 pm and started stabbing him when he came outside," said Nazimuddin Ahmed, officer in-charge at Kotwali police station in Faridpur.

"The attackers fled when neighbors came to rescue [Sen] after hearing his screams," he said.

Police have yet to determine a motive for the attack.

Sen's injuries are serious, said Dr. Asit Ranjan Das, chief government medical officer in Faridpur. He has been transferred to a hospital in Dhaka, the doctor added.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council later condemned the attack and called for the quick arrest of the assailants.

"We don't want to speculate about who carried out the attack. But we want to the government to conduct a proper investigation and find the culprits and punish them," said Rana Dasgupta, the council's secretary-general.

The forum is considered a backer of the ruling Awami League party.

Rumors are circulating among religious minority groups that the attack could be linked to the recent execution of Islamist leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, who was hanged on Nov. 22 for war crimes committed during the 1971 Bangladesh war of independence from Pakistan.

Mujaheed was former secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami, a hard-line Islamist party, who hailed from Faridpur. He was buried in his home village soon after his execution.

"Those opposed to the war crime trials carried out the attack. It is because minorities were victims of abuse during the war, and have testified in cases resulting in the death penalty for war criminals," said Nirmol Rozario, a Catholic and secretary of the Bangladesh Christian Association.

Considered a moderate Muslim-majority nation, Bangladesh has seen a recent spike in violence linked to religion.

Four secular bloggers and a publishers were murdered and three injured in machete attacks by alleged Islamic extremists this year.

An Italian aid worker and a Japanese man were shot dead, while a Protestant pastor and an Italian Catholic priest narrowly escaped death in attacks, also this year.

Source: UCAN

In Sri Lanka, a monk's death unites Catholics and Buddhists

Outspoken monk advocated for political change, interfaith harmony.

Sri Lankan Army personnel keep vigil at the coffin of Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, who died in November. Church leaders have also paid tribute to the monk, calling him a beacon of interfaith harmony. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP)

Colombo:  Sri Lankan church officials paid a rare tribute to an influential Buddhist monk who died in November, calling him an inspirational figure who promoted religious harmony in an often divided country.

Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, who supporters say played a key role in changing Sri Lanka’s political landscape, died Nov. 8 in Singapore, where he was receiving treatment after heart surgery. He was 73.

On Nov. 23, Catholics in Sri Lanka paid tribute to Venerable Sobitha with a Mass at St. Thomas’ Church in Kotte, Colombo. It was a rare tribute in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka, which has lived through a 26-year civil war and seen attacks on churches and mosques.

However, Catholics who knew Venerable Sobitha spoke of a man who transcended the faith divide. The Buddhist monk worked closely with the local church and priests in his neighborhood.

"[He] talked straight despite political or color differences," said Father Leo Perera, a priest who attended the Nov. 23 service. "The monk showed how we can be involved in social and political activities without getting involved in politics or being carried away by political parties."

Asked why Catholic priests have traditionally been reluctant to play such an outspoken role, he replied: "We have a minority complex."

Venerable Sobitha was known for speaking out against corruption and for challenging his country’s leaders at at time when Sri Lankan presidents wielded significant power.

In the lead-up to the country’s January presidential elections, Venerable Sobitha and his organization, the National Movement for a Just Society, took a risk by backing an alternative candidate against Mahinda Rajapaksa, the powerful incumbent. Rajapaksa lost his seat in a surprise defeat, beaten by his challenger, Maithripala Sirisena, seen as a reformer who ran on a campaign promoting ethnic reconciliation. Observers saw Venerable Sobitha’s support as a crucial part of the victory.

Buddhists also attended the Nov. 23 church tribute to the monk. Venerable Aluthnuwara Anuruddha, the head monk at Rajamaha Vihara, one of Sri Lanka’s main Buddhist temples, stressed the need to continue Venerable Sobitha’s legacy of promoting interreligious dialogue and cooperation.

Offering an example of how the monk worked closely with the church, Venerable Anuruddha said that the temple willingly provided parking spaces for churchgoers during major events, while the church reciprocated the gesture as well.

The Nov. 23 Mass itself was an example of two faiths coming together — a fact noted in mainstream Sri Lankan society.

The Daily Mirror, a leading English-language newspaper, spotlighted the service in an Nov. 24 editorial, calling it "a major step toward interreligious dialogue and unity."

"One of the priority goals in Venerable Sobitha’s vision and mission for a new Sri Lanka was multiracial, multireligious and multicultural unity in diversity," the editorial stated. "He spoke out sincerely and strongly for people of all races and religions to respect, promote and even celebrate diversity."

Source: UCAN

Journalists claim freedom of press at 'VatiLeaks' trial

Vatican says confidential information was acquired illegally.

The dome of the Vatican is seen through the gate of Perugino entrance, during the first day of a trial for the publication of classified documents, on Nov. 24. (Photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP)

Vatican city:  Italian journalists standing trial in a Vatican court defended their right to freedom of the press, while the Vatican prosecution said the way they acquired confidential information was illegal.

All five people accused of involvement in leaking and publishing confidential documents about Vatican finances were present at the opening of the criminal trial in a Vatican courtroom Nov. 24.

The accused are: Spanish Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See; Francesca Chaouqui, a member of the former Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See; Nicola Maio, who served as personal assistant to Msgr. Vallejo Balda when he worked on the commission; and the journalists, Gianluigi Nuzzi, author of "Merchants in the Temple," and Emiliano Fittipaldi, author of "Avarice."

Msgr. Vallejo Balda, Chaouqui and Maio were accused of "committing several illegal acts of divulging news and documents concerning fundamental interests of the Holy See and [Vatican City] State." Nuzzi and Fittipaldi were accused of "soliciting and exercising pressure, especially on [Msgr.] Vallejo Balda, in order to obtain confidential documents and news."

The Vatican court granted Fittipaldi's request to address the courtroom at the trial's opening session. He expressed his "disbelief" at finding himself being tried by a non-Italian court system when he wrote and published a book in Italy.

He said the charges against him were not "for publishing false or defamatory news, but simply for publishing news, an act protected by the Italian Constitution," as well as European and universal human rights conventions.

Article 10 of the Vatican criminal code states that whoever "illegitimately obtains or reveals news or documents" that are confidential can face a fine between 1,000 and 5,000 euros and possible imprisonment from six months to two years. Classified information dealing with diplomatic relations or "fundamental interests" of the Holy See or Vatican City State carry more severe penalties, including a maximum eight-year prison sentence.

The Vatican criminalized the release of "news and documents" in July 2013. The move came in the wake of the first so-called "VatiLeaks" trial in 2012 when Pope Benedict XVI's butler was charged with "aggravated theft" for giving Vatican documents and papal correspondence to Nuzzi.

The updated criminal laws were approved by Pope Francis.

At the first session of the trial, Emanuela Bellardini, Msgr. Vallejo Balda's court-appointed attorney, objected that there was not enough time to examine and prepare a proper defense.

Fittipaldi and his Vatican-appointed defense lawyer argued that the court summons did not specify the documents he stands accused of releasing and therefore makes his defense impossible.

The Vatican's assistant prosecutor, Roberto Zannotti, responded to Fittipaldi's objection, arguing that the trial is not meant to infringe on freedom of the press and is not about the publication of documents, but that he was to "be held accountable" for the illegal way he allegedly obtained the documents published in his book "Avarice."

All five defendants were represented by Vatican court-appointed attorneys. Msgr. Vallejo Balda, Chaouqui, and Nuzzi requested the Vatican's appellate court to allow them to be represented by their own lawyers. However, shortly after the proceedings, Nuzzi tweeted that the appellate court denied his request.

Nuzzi told the pool reporters present in the courtroom, "We are not martyrs, we are journalists," who were just doing their job and that certain principles needed to be upheld.

Giuseppe Dalla Torre, head of the tribunal for the Vatican City State, along with three Vatican judges deliberated about the introductory motions privately for 45 minutes. The judges overruled Fittipaldi and Bellardini's objections and scheduled the next trial date for Nov. 30.

The Vatican judges said Msgr. Vallejo Balda would be the first to take the stand, followed by Chaouqui and the other defendants over the course of a week.

Contributing to this story was Carol Glatz at the Vatican.

Source: CNS

Former IAS officer moots pressure group of Indian Muslims

He believes security and identity and educational and economic backwardness are the primary problems of the community.

Hyderabad:  A group of educated Muslims is planning to float a pressure group which will subsequently lead to a pan-India political party to take care of the community's interests in a country where it constitutes 14 percent of the 1.2 billion population.

A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer has sought opinion from members of the community, including NRIs, on the proposed group.

Mohammad Shafiquzzaman, who retired as special chief secretary in the undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2013, has mooted the idea of the group to take care of the interests of Muslims in particular and to have a complete agenda of welfare governance in general.

In a letter seeking opinion from the community, he said the problems of Muslims cannot be solved without political empowerment.

"As proved by recent Bihar elections, the battle cannot be won alone and requires the support of all liberal and sensible sections of society to make India a livable place for all," he wrote.

The proposed group will work on the basis of "right, not charity". Its policy will be "non-confrontational but it will not shy away from fighting against any injustice or discrimination, through all legal means available to the citizens of this country".

The need for a separate group was felt as existing parties are limited to small geographic areas catering to localised emotional/administrative needs. "These parties either do not have or have not been able to spell out their vision to resolve larger Muslim issues, not even policies to address issues of general governance."

He believes security and identity and educational and economic backwardness are the primary problems of the community.

Stating that Muslim youth were being targeted on false charges of terrorism, he added that the fact that things were no better under Congress or the so-called secular governments indicates that the problem of security is primarily because of bureaucracy and not politicians.

The group will influence, agitate and take legal recourse to ensure that the bureaucracy is de-communalised, both through training and punishment.

It will initiate a debate on the definition and causes of terrorism so that the disease is addressed and not the symptoms.

The group proposes to supplement governmental efforts by community efforts to remove educational backwardness.

He feels the need to make efforts at the level of primary, secondary and intermediate education rather in the field of opening commercial higher educational institutions.

He believed that an educated work force will be able to make its own place in the job market. The group will strive to supplement it by securing job reservations for Muslims in different states and at the Centre.

The civil bureaucracy also needs to be trained as to the true meaning and spirit of secularism and made to understand that secularism means the state maintaining either equal distance from all religions or equal proximity to all religions.

The group is of the view that the best government is the one that governs least. It feels that threshold level bar on "offences" must be upped particularly in those fields where violations are rampant so that the harassing potential of lower level bureaucracy is reduced.

It also feels the need for large-scale reforms in curtailing the discretionary powers of bureaucracy.

A 1977-batch IAS officer, Shafiquzzaman had a clean image as a bureaucrat. He fought many legal battles against the government over service issues.

In one such case filed by him, the Hyderabad High Court last week issued a contempt notice to a former chief secretary for his alleged role in according unlawful promotions to certain IAS officers.

IANS

Nirbhaya's parents move NHRC on juvenile’s release

"The parents also stated that the rate of (his) recidivism (tendency to commit crimes again) is fairly high," it added.

New Delhi:  Nirbhaya's parents have moved the National Human Rights Commission saying that the juvenile offender in the rape and murder of their daughter, who will be released on December 15, continues to be a threat to society. NHRC has issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government on the complaint.

In their petition, the parents said the juvenile should be kept under watch. "They have submitted that such persons are a threat to the life and liberty of the common man. There should be a mechanism to keep a strict check on them," an NHRC statement said.

"The parents also stated that the rate of (his) recidivism (tendency to commit crimes again) is fairly high," it added.

Perturbed over the juvenile's imminent release, the parents asked the commission to recommend that the government prepares a plan to protect citizens from such delinquent juveniles after their release and also strengthen laws on the subject.

They said laws such as SORNA (Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act), which require states to monitor and track convicted sex offenders following their release and operates in countries such as the US and Canada and others, should be implemented in India.

"There is no doubt that the complainants (parents) have undergone extreme agony and pain after the incident of rape and murder of their daughter. The fears expressed by them need to be looked into," the NHRC said.

The parents also made a representation to home minister Rajnath Singh and submitted a copy of the representation to the NHRC along with their complaint.

The commission issued notices with a copy of the complaint to the Delhi chief secretary, Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi and Union home ministry and sought reports within two weeks.

It asked the Delhi government to inform them whether any pre-release and post-release plan, as per Rule 17(3) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007, had been prepared in this case.

Information was also sought from the Delhi government on whether the juvenile was recently subjected to psychological or psychiatric assessment of his condition. The commission asked the home ministry to state if any action had been taken on the representation by the complainants.

Source: Times of India

Children bear brunt of climate change: UNICEF

The report pointed out that "of those living in high drought severity areas, 50 million are in countries where more than half the population lives in poverty".

United States:  More than half a billion children live in areas with extremely high flood occurrence and 160 million in high drought zones, leaving them exposed to the impacts of climate change, UNICEF has said.

Of the 530 million children in the flood-prone zones, some 300 million live in countries where more than half the population lives in poverty -- on less than $3.10 a day, Xinhua cited the UNICEF report on Tuesday.

The report pointed out that "of those living in high drought severity areas, 50 million are in countries where more than half the population lives in poverty".

"The sheer numbers underline the urgency of acting now," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said.

"Today's children are the least responsible for climate change, but they, and their children, are the ones who will live with its consequences. And, as is so often the case, disadvantaged communities face the gravest threat," he said.

Climate change means more droughts, floods, heatwaves and other severe weather conditions.

These events can cause death and devastation, and can also contribute to the increased spread of major killers of children, such as malnutrition, malaria and diarrhoea, according to the report.

The vast majority of the children living in areas at extremely high risk of floods are in Asia, and the majority of those in areas at risk of drought are in Africa, said the report.

In the upcoming 21st UN climate change conference, known as COP21, world leaders gathering in Paris from November 30 to December 11 will seek to reach agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, which is critical to limiting potentially catastrophic rises in temperature.

"We know what has to be done to prevent the devastation climate change can inflict. Failing to act would be unconscionable," said Lake.

"We owe it to our children -- and to the planet -- to make the right decisions at COP21."

IANS

Supreme Court: Gods, religious texts can’t be trademarked

A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N V Ramana also said that allowing such a thing could offend people’s sensibilities.

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court has ruled that names of gods or holy books cannot be trademarked to sell goods and services. A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N V Ramana also said that allowing such a thing could offend people’s sensibilities.

“There are many holy and religious books like Quran, Bible, Guru Granth Sahib, Ramayan, etc. The answer to the question as to whether any person can claim the name of a holy or religious book as a trademark for goods or services marketed by him is clearly ‘no’,” said the bench. The bench said as per the law, one cannot take advantage of gods and goddesses to sell products.

The bench was hearing an appeal by Lal Babu Priyadarshi from Patna, who sought to trademark the word ‘Ramayan’ to sell incense sticks and perfumes.

Priyadarshi appealed against the Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s decision in favour of one Amritpal Singh, who contended that ‘Ramayan’ can’t be registered as a trademark as the name of a religious book can’t be monopolised by an individual.

Priyadarshi argued that the law does not bar using the name of a religious book as a trademark, and that there is no evidence on record to show that feelings of any section of Hindus have been hurt by doing so. But the bench found favour with Singh’s arguments that no individual can be given an exclusive right over gods and holy books, especially to make a profit.

“The word ‘Ramayan’ represents the title of a book written by Maharishi Valmiki and is considered a religious book of the Hindus. Thus, using exclusive name of the book ‘Ramayan’ as a trademark for any commodity cannot be permissible under the (Trade and Merchandise Marks) Act,” held the bench. It also objected to pictures used by Priyadarshi on packets of incense sticks. “…the photographs of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman are also shown on the label, which is a clear indication that he is taking advantage of gods and goddesses, which is otherwise not permitted,” it said.

The bench took note of the Eighth Report on the Trade Marks Bill, 1993, submitted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which said any symbol relating to gods or places of worship should not ordinarily be registered as a trademark. The court added that an entity, wanting to register the ‘Ramayan’ as a trademark, would have to add another word or symbol as suffix or prefix.

Source: Indian express

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Global summit brings more misery to Philippine tribal people

In Manila, indigenous voices go unheard while world leaders meet.

A tribesman attends a protest rally on Nov. 18 as world economic leaders meet in Manila for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. (Photo by Joe Torres)

Manila:  The mayor of Manila wanted the 700 indigenous protesters out of a public park, where they had set up camp last month.

The reason: "Important people" were coming to the city for a global economic meeting.

Datu Isidro Indao, leader of the Matigsalug tribe of Kitawtaw, Bukidnon province, said he understood.

"They will evict us. We have no place in this city, neither as residents nor as visitors. We are not important people," he said.

The tribal people have to go or police will come with batons and water canons. The city has to be clean for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit delegates.

Indao smiled at the contradiction. He said the Philippines has little to offer to the economic meeting but the country’s natural resources. Unfortunately, those who will be most affected are the tribal people like him.

"They have been selling our lands. In Bukidnon, they want the lumad out of their villages to make way to mining companies. They are coercing us to convert our lands into industrial plantations," said the tribal leader.

In recent years, the indigenous people of the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, collectively known as the lumad, have been on the receiving end of threats and intimidation — pressured, they believe, to give in to the government's development plans.

"They use the military to frighten us," said Indao, adding that many tribal figures have already become victims of human rights violations and killings.

Data from the tribal group Katribu show more than 60 people have been victims of alleged extrajudicial killings since 2010.

Not going home yet

Datu Mentroso Malibato, a Manobo tribesman, was packing his things when ucanews.com chanced upon him inside his makeshift shelter.

"We are getting ready, but we are not leaving yet," said Malibato.

He said his tribesmen will continue to try and convince people in Manila that what indigenous people are fighting for is not just for people living in remote mountains.

"The environment is at risk," Malibato said. "People who are taking care of nature are at risk.”

He said policies being discussed by APEC leaders this week would only benefit big business. "We are not stupid, we understand that," he said.

"[APEC] will bring more investors and create more profit ... but the benefits will not trickle down to poor people. We will not earn from it. Instead they will take the only thing we have: our ancestral lands," said Datu Malibato.

The tribal leader worries about his home back in the Pantaro mountain range in Davao del Norte province.

"This is one of the mountain ranges in Mindanao that is still untouched," he said.

Unfortunately for Malibato and his kinsmen, the Philippine government has already given a mining and plantation permit to Australia-based gold and copper miner Indophil Resources Ltd., to exploit the area.



Long way to go

Malibato and Indao, along with some 700 others, came to the capital in a caravan called Manilakbayan, or "Journey to Manila," hoping to raise their concerns with the central government.

A few days ago, they still believed the government would listen to them. Then the APEC rolled into town, prompting the eviction of protesters from the public park.

"We are being sold out. [The government] does not care about us," said Indao.

Rius Valle, coordinator of the Save Our Schools Network, a group lobbying for the education of indigenous children, lamented that the APEC meeting in Manila did not even listen to the "caretakers" of the environment.

"Nobody seems to care about tribal people who are continuously being displaced because of so-called development projects," Valle said.

As the protesters started leaving their camp, Datu Indao said: "We must ask ourselves, are we providing a better future for our people with the APEC meeting here?"

It was getting late on Friday, Nov. 13, but the march was just about to start. The lumads were going to the presidential palace.

"We will not stop. We want the nation to know that we are not after anything but the welfare of all people. We just want to protect our lands. APEC can’t make us stop," Indao told the marchers.

Then the police came and stopped them.



Church offers refuge

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as the Redemptorist Church in Manila's Baclaran district, is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines.

Since 1958, the Holy See has authorized the shrine to remain open 24 hours a day throughout the year. This week, the shrine has become a refuge for homeless tribesmen.

Redemptorist Brother Ciriaco Santiago said the shrine served as a sanctuary to people who lost their homes during World War II and during the years of martial law in the 1970s.

"There is nothing wrong if we offer a home to our lumad brothers and sisters," said Santiago.

He said that during a relief operation in Mindanao a few years ago, tribesmen gave shelter to church people who were caught in a storm.

"We are returning the favor," he said.

"There is no need to ask the church why it is helping the lumads," Santiago explained.

"It is our duty to accommodate all people, Catholic or not. It is our duty to fight for their rights and provide assistance if they need it," added the religious brother.

Outside the convent, the tribal men started to build makeshift shelters. The women were seen preparing something for dinner, while the children started to sing songs.

Source: UCAN

Indians view religious freedom more important than polls: survey

Freedom of religion emerge as an especially significant principle.

Washington:  While more than eight in ten Indians consider religious freedom as very important, surprisingly fewer than half deem honest competitive elections as important in the world's largest democracy, according to a new survey.

There is broad support around the world for many of the basic tenets of democracy, according to the Washington based think tank Pew Research Centre's survey of 40,786 adults in 38 countries from April 5 to May 21, 2015.

Majorities in nearly all the countries polled say it is at least somewhat important to live in a country with free speech, a free press and freedom on the internet. And across the 38 countries, global medians of 50 percent or more consider these freedoms very important.

In all 38 nations surveyed, majorities say it is at least somewhat important to live in a country with religious freedom, a free press, free speech and competitive elections.

Freedom of religion emerge as an especially significant principle. Across the countries polled, a median of 74 percent say it is very important for people to be free to practice their religion.

Americans are also among the most supportive of religious freedom with 84 percent in the US saying it is very important.

"Overall, this right is highly valued in the Asia-Pacific region as well," the survey noted, "with more than eight-in-ten Pakistanis, Indians and Indonesians describing religious freedom as very important, compared with just 24 percent in Japan, the lowest share among the countries surveyed."

Elections are clearly considered a central component of democracy, and across the 38 nations in the study, a median of 61 percent think it is very important to have honest, competitive elections with the choice of at least two political parties.

"However, there are five nations where fewer than half deem this very important: India, Tanzania, Pakistan, Indonesia and Vietnam," the survey found.

In terms of broad support for fundamental democratic principles, 83 percent Indians consider it very important that people can practice their religion freely as against a global median of 74 per cent.

Nearly three in four Indians (71 percent) believe women have the same rights as men as against a global median of 65 percent.

Half (49 percent) think honest elections are held regularly with choice of at least two parties compared to a global median of 61 percent.

About 44 percent Indians believe people can say what they want without censorship as against a global median of 56 percent, while 41 percent think media can report news without censorship compared with a global median of 55 percent.

About 38 percent Indians believe people can use the internet without censorship as against a global median of 50 percent.

Overall, global attitudes toward freedom of speech and freedom of the press are quite similar.

A 38-nation median of 56 percent believe it is very important to live in a country where people can say what they want without government censorship.

And 55 percent think it is very important that the media can report the news without being censored.

Opposition to internet censorship is also common around the world. A global median of 50 percent say an uncensored internet is very important.

IANS

Indian Salesian addresses Vatican education congress

As part of these celebrations, the Congregation aims to re-energize the Church’s commitment to education, by means of this World Congress.

Vatican city:  Salesian Father Stephen Mavely was the only Indian to present a paper at the Vatican organized World Congress on Education that started in the Vatican Nov.18.

Father Mavely, Vice-Chancellor of Assam Don Bosco University presented the paper Nov. 19 on “Educating Today and Tomorrow: Renewing A Passion” at the evening session held for Universities at Centro Mariapoli, Castelgandolfo outside Rome.

The Nov. 18-21 aims to “to re-energize the Church’s commitment to education,” according to the Secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education Archbishop A. Vincenzo Zani.

With this Congress, the Congregation for Catholic Education is celebrating 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education - 1965) and 25th anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae (Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Higher Education).

As part of these celebrations, the Congregation aims to re-energize the Church’s commitment to education, by means of this World Congress.

“These documents really set the Church’s expectations of Catholic education,” says Dr Stephen Mavely who is also a Board Member of the International Salesian Universities.

Explaining the timeliness of the congress Dr Mavely states, “I think that Catholic educational institutions may often lose sight of the ultimate mission of the educative community - students, teachers and family members -journeying together.”

“The above two documents,” Dr Mavely says, “are like two pillars of Catholic Education, highlighting the grave nature of education and the serious responsibility educators have in the faith formation of their students.”

There are over 214,000 Catholic Schools with some 59 to 60 million students, 1,365 Catholic Colleges and Universities and another 500 plus Pontifical Institutes of Higher Learning across the globe.

Source: Assam times

Christians fight local government rules on priests

Some villages in Chhattisgarh state have barred Christian priests from entering.

Bhopal:  Church leaders in Chhattisgarh are struggling against a local law that helps Hindu hard-liners stop Christian priests from setting foot in certain villages.

"The atmosphere in the state is not very conducive for Christians anymore," said Father Abraham Kannampala, vicar general of Jagdalpur Diocese. "We feel threatened as we are a small minority."

In the latest incident, a Pentecostal gathering in Kohkameta village of Baster district was attacked on Nov. 15. Assailants dragged worshippers from the church, beat them with sticks and demanded that they reconvert to Hinduism, witnesses reported.

Baster district has faced increasing anti-Christian violence for almost a year, after some Hindu groups sought to ban Christian priests from entering villages by passing resolutions in village bodies.

They attach legitimacy to such resolutions by saying that state legislation for village-level governments has banned "non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches in villages."

The Chhattisgarh Christian Forum last year challenged the clause in the state High Court, asking that it be struck down because it violates the Indian Constitution, which allows citizens the freedom to believe and propagate a religion of choice.

The High Court, while awaiting the state response, said Oct. 6 that the law should not interfere with the fundamental rights of any citizen to "preach and propagate" his or her faith.

Despite the court order, villages continue to ban priests, Arun Pannalal, the Christian forum president told ucanews.com.

The court’s interim order granted three weeks more for the state to respond to the challenge. A final verdict on the validity of the clause can come only after hearing from the state.

The state government, run by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party, is offering tacit support to hard-line Hindu groups to enact laws to restrain the entry of Christians to these villages, according to Pannalal.

Bishop Patras Minj of Ambikapur told ucanews.com that the peaceful environment in the state is damaged by the growing attacks on Christians. Missionaries are working under "tremendous fear" after the right-wing Hindu groups began to unleash a reign of terror.

Two priests from his diocese are in jail on fabricated sexual offences against children, he said. In Raipur diocese, a nun was gang raped in June.

Christians number less than 1 percent of the population in the Hindu-dominated state.

Source: UCAN

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
O.D.M. pinxit Religious parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to God, His divine service and love, both before and after their birth. Some among the Jews, not content with this general consecration of their children, offered them to God in their infancy, by the hands of the priests in the Temple, to be brought up in quarters attached to the Temple, attending the priests and Levites in their sacred ministry. There were special divisions in these lodgings for the women and children dedicated to the divine service. (III Kings6:5-9) We have examples of this special consecration of children in the person of Samuel, for example. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple of Jerusalem. It is very probable that the holy prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna, who witnessed the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, as we read in the second chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke (verses 25 ff.) had known His Mother as a little girl in the Temple and observed her truly unique sanctity.
It is an ancient and very trustworthy tradition that the Blessed Virgin was thus solemnly offered in the Temple to God at the age of three by Her parents, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim. The Gospel tells us nothing of the childhood of Mary; Her title Mother of God, eclipses all the rest. Where, better than in the Temple, could Mary be prepared for Her mission? Twelve years of recollection and prayer, contemplation and sufferings, were the preparation of the chosen one of God. The tender soul of Mary was adorned with the most precious graces and became an object of astonishment and praise for the holy Angels, as well as of the highest complacency for the adorable Trinity. The Father looked upon Her as His beloved Daughter, the Son as One set apart and prepared to become His Mother, and the Holy Ghost as His undefiled Spouse.
Here is how Mary's day in the Temple was apportioned, according to Saint Jerome. From dawn until nine in the morning, She prayed; from 9:00 until 3:00 She applied Herself to manual work; then She turned again to prayer. She was always the first to undertake night watches, the One most applied to study, the most fervent in the chanting of Psalms, the most zealous in works of charity, the purest among the virgins, Her companions, the most perfect in the practice of every virtue. On this day She appears as the standard-bearer for Christian virginity: after Her will come countless legions of virgins consecrated to the Lord, both in the shadow of the altars or engaged in the charitable occupations of the Church in the world. Mary will be their eternal Model, their dedicated Patroness, their sure guide on the paths of perfection.

Saint Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury († 1240)

Saint Edmund

Archbishop of Canterbury
(† 1240)

Saint Edmund Saint Edmund, Edmundus, or Edme, was born at Abingdon in England towards the end of the twelfth century, the son of very virtuous Christians. His father withdrew from the world before many years passed, and entered a monastery, where he later died; and his pious spouse raised her children in the love and fear of God, accustoming them to an austere life, and by means of little presents, encouraging them to practice mortification and penance.
Edmund, the oldest, with his brother Robert, left his home at Abingdon as a boy of twelve to study in Paris. There he protected himself against many grievous temptations by a vow of chastity, and by consecrating himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary for life. While he was still a schoolboy there, he one day saw the Child Jesus, who told him He was always at his side in school, and accompanied him everywhere he went. He said he should inscribe His Name deeply in his heart, and at night print it on his forehead, and it would preserve him and all who would do likewise, from a sudden death.
His mother fell seriously ill while he was still studying in Paris; he returned home for her final benediction, and she recommended that he provide for his brother and his sisters. When the latter were all received by the Superior of a nearby convent, Edmund was able to return to Paris to complete his studies. He began to profess the liberal arts there and acquired an excellent reputation, striving also to teach virtue to his students and to aid them in all their difficulties. After six years, he was advised by his mother in a dream to abandon the teaching of secular disciplines, and devote himself to learning to know God better. He then became a Doctor of sacred learning, and many who heard him teach left their former occupations to embrace religious life. When ordained a priest, he was the treasurer of the Church of the diocese of Salisbury. There he manifested such charity to the poor that the dean said he was rather the treasure than the treasurer of their church.
The Pope, having heard of his sanctity and his zeal, charged him to preach the Crusade against the Saracens. He was raised in 1234 to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. There he fearlessly defended the rights of Church and State against the avarice and greed of Henry III. The complacent ecclesiastics and lords persecuted him in various ways, but could not alter his patience. Finding himself unable, however, to force the monarch to relinquish the benefices which he kept vacant on behalf of the royal coffers, Edmund retired into exile at the Cistercian monastery of Pontigny, rather than appear as an accomplice to so flagrant a wrong. After two years spent in solitude and prayer, he went to his reward. The miracles wrought at his tomb at Pontigny were so numerous that he was canonized in 1247, only a few years after his death. His body was found incorrupt in that year, when it was translated in the presence of Saint Louis IX and his court to Pontigny, from its former resting place in the church of Soisy.