Church leaders join to mourn death of Jayalalithaa

Jayaram Jayalalithaa celebrated Christmas with church leaders and supported Christians going for pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Photo courtesy: larazonsanluis

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu, the south Indian state with a high Christian population, is mourning the death of Jayaram Jayalalithaa, the popular state chief minister who died Dec. 5 following months of hospitalization.

The actress-turned-politician, 68, was hospitalized since September and her health condition kept secret until her death by cardiac arrest was announced.

While her Anna Dravidian Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) party government announced an official mourning for seven days, declaring three days of holiday for educational institutions and offices in the state, shops and business establishments also remained shut.

People in the state have a history of turning violent during the death of their leaders.

Inter-state buses plying to the state have stopped at the border fearing party supporters could turn violent for conducting business on a day when they mourn the death of their leader.

"It is imperative the people of the state remain calm and avoid violence during this troubled time," said Archbishop Anthony Pappusamy, president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council.

Jayalalitha headed the ADMK party since 1991 and has come to power for four terms, despite being accused by rivals of corruption, nepotism and sycophancy. She was voted back to power in a historic consecutive second term in May 2016.

She was also convicted of corruption and was facing a final appeal against her acquittal at the Supreme Court.

Despite her convent education, Jayalalitha's relations with religious minorities was initially frosty as she enacted an anti-conversion law in 2003 that made religious conversions without informing the state a crime. As Christians and Muslims opposed the controversial law, she withdrew it in 2005 before the general elections.

The state has some 4.4 million Christians among its 72 million people. The number of Christians in the state is more than double the national average of 2.3 percent.

During her 2001-2016 administration, she made attempts for a rapprochement with Christians and celebrated Christmas publicly with church leaders and later announced her government's support for Christians going for pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Father Joe Anthony, editor of the Jesuit magazine Jivan, told ucanews.com that she was "an extraordinary politician" as she was "richly blessed by God with beauty, intelligence, talent and fluency in many languages."

"An extremely capable administrator, she had total control over the state administration and her party" and was "accompanied by populist welfare schemes that appealed to the poor," he said.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, federal ministers have also issued statements expressing their condolences.

Source: UCAN

Priests, nuns to join fast for release of political prisoners

Activists mount hunger strike protest following death of elderly detainee.

Philippine human rights activists announce on Dec. 2 the holding of protest fasts to call for the immediate release of political prisoners in the coming days. (Photo by Cynthia Espiritu)

Manila:  Priests, seminarians, and religious in the Philippines are expected to join a fast to highlight calls for the release of political prisoners.

"We expect a big group of seminarians, priests and pastors, nuns and the laity to join the protest fast," said Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan.

Masses and other activities, like prayer rallies, singing of Christmas carols, and candle-lighting activities, will also be held starting Dec. 4 until Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.

This year's observance of Human Rights Day will be spearheaded by church groups and rights activists that have expressed alarm over the rising death toll in the government's anti-narcotics war and the hero's burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Leaders of church groups contacted by ucanews.com refused to announce details of the protests pending the finalization of the schedule.

The protest actions will be held in the wake of the death of a Bernabe Ocasla, 66, a political prisoner on Nov. 28.

At least 12 political prisoners have died in prison in the past six years.

Ocasla, a consultant of the rebel National Democratic Front of the Philippines, was among the more than 400 political prisoners who were recommended by the rebel group for release during recent peace talks.



Harsh jail conditions

Palabay of Karapatan said "harsh jail conditions" contributed to Ocasla's death.

She said at least 130 political prisoners are suffering from various illnesses, many are life-threatening.

"This is the reason why their immediate release was crucial, for they could have better medical treatment outside jail," said Palabay.

Freed political prisoner Gloria Almonte, whose husband Dionisio, remains behind bars, said families of those in prison will hold a hunger strike outside the gates of the presidential palace in Manila starting this week.

"How many more political prisoners should die before the government act on their commitments in the peace negotiations," said Palabay.

She said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for the "continuing incarceration and sufferings of political prisoners, as well as the threats to kill human rights activists."

The government's failure to release political detainees and the continuing arrests and killings of activists despite the resumption of peace talks have become sore points in the negotiations.



Release in 'due time'

The government peace panel announced on Dec. 1 that more than 400 political prisoners would be released in "due time."

Silvestre Bello, government peace panel chairman, said what happened to Ocasla "was a sad development."

"It was unfortunate that [Ocasla’s death] happened just as we are working for the release of the elderly, sick and long detained [rebels] on humanitarian grounds," he said.

Bello said the death should not affect the peace talks because the release of political prisoners is a "work in progress."

"There will be a release of a substantial number of political prisoners based on humanitarian grounds, particularly the women, sickly and senior citizens in the coming days," he said.

But there are legal and judicial issues that need to be addressed, said Bello.

The release of political prisoners is part of signed agreements between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines during the resumption of formal peace negotiations in Norway last August.

The planned release is part of continuing efforts to accelerate the peace negotiations.

Source: UCAN

Sri Lankan president praises Asian bishops for service to poor

The meeting occurred during the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences assembly in Colombo.

Colombo:  Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena met with a delegation of bishops visiting Colombo for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) plenary assembly and praised their devotion to service.

The president met the bishops at his official residence in Colombo on Nov. 30. He took the opportunity to praise the Catholic Church and highlight the work done in Sri Lanka, a war-ridden land of past decades.

"It is very significant that you have selected Sri Lanka to hold this conference," he told FABC delegation. "I appreciate the work accomplished by the Catholic Church for the poor, in fact, a few weeks ago, I declared 2017 as 'poverty eradication year' in Sri Lanka."

Over 140 bishops, archbishops, cardinals and priests gathered to discuss Asian family values, the church of the poor and the mission of mercy from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4. It was the 11th plenary assembly of the FABC and was the first to be held in Sri Lanka.

President Sirisena presented a memento to FABC representatives and they watched a number of cultural performances together. While in Colombo, FABC delegates also visited Buddhist and Christian shrines and several other places of interest.

A number of ministers were present at the meeting with the president including John Amaratunga, the tourism, Christian affairs and lands minister.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that his government welcomes suggestions from the FABC.

"The government promotes peace, reconciliation and recovery from decades of civil war," said Wickremesinghe addressing FABC members on Nov. 29.

"The government waits for the support of Catholic bishops and other religious leaders to promote family values," he added.

The FABC is a voluntary association of episcopal conferences from all over Asia, established with the approval of the Holy See. The conference is to foster solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of the church and society, and to promote and defend whatever is for the greater good.

Source: UCAN

Kofi Annan meets religious leaders on Rakhine crisis

Catholic and Buddhist leaders have expressed their concern for the ongoing persecution.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon (fourth from left), Kofi Annan (fifth from left) meet together with Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu leaders in Yangon on Dec 1. (Photo courtesy of Yangon Archdiocese)

Mandalay:  Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon told Kofi Anan that religious leaders are there to help end the persecution of the Rohingya in Rakhine as well as the renewed ethnic fighting in Shan state.

The prelate met with the former U.N. chief and other faith leaders during an hour-long meeting lead by the Rakhine Advisory Commission in Yangon on Dec. 1.

"Cardinal Bo talked about the important role of religious leaders to bring about peace and reconciliation amid the Rakhine crisis and wars in northern Shan state," Father Dominic Zarbinus, the cardinal's secretary told ucanews.com.

It's business as usual for the outspoken cardinal who has long been urging the authorities to bring justice to Myanmar.

"We cannot be silent on the oppression of our people either by the government or any other armed groups," Cardinal Bo said in a letter, circulated in June, adding that religious leaders need to believe in a "peaceful solution" to problems.

U Myint Swe, a Buddhist and president of Ratana Metta Organization, a Yangon-based NGO, attended the Dec. 1 meeting and said that Annan asked for suggestions from religious leaders regarding the Rakhine persecution.

"Under Aung San Suu Kyi's government, the Rakhine crisis, ethnic conflict in northern Shan state, crime and child rape cases have erupted thanks to a group of opportunists who are attempting to undermine the reputation of the government," Myint Swe told ucanews.com.

The government established the Rakhine Advisory Commission, comprised of six local and three international experts to investigate problems in the state which the U.N. have said amount to ethnic cleansing.

The killing of nine police officers at three border posts in northern Rakhine on Oct. 9 resulted in a surge of violence by Myanmar's military, which operates separately from the civilian government led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

International rights groups have accused the military of burning homes, arbitrary arrests, torture and rape but the government has continuously denied the allegations, claiming that the military has been hunting militants within legal limits.

Suu Kyi's government established the commission to investigate the allegations bowing to weeks of international pressure. The commission chair is Vice President Myint Swe, who was the feared head of military intelligence under former leader General Than Shwe.

Source: UCAN

US House to hold hearing on curbs on Christian NGO in India

This change has directly impacted nearly 145,000 children registered in Compassion’s program within the country, the NGO claimed.

Washington:  A powerful Congressional committee will this week hold a hearing on restrictions imposed by the Indian government on an American NGO.

The announcement for a Congressional hearing by the House Foreign Relations Committee came as the Colorado-based Compassion International launched a national campaign against the Indian Government’s decision which it alleged is preventing it from sending funds to its more than 500 local child development projects throughout the country.

“In three weeks, Compassion International – which provides critical tutoring, nutrition and medical services to children in India – could be shut down…” Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said. “It is my hope that by bringing attention to this issue, 145,000 children will not be tragically denied services they desperately need. And then, relations between the two countries will be even stronger,” said Royce, who is known as one of the best friends of India in the Congress.

He was one of the founders of the House Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and is its previous co-chairs. Titled ‘American Compassion in India: Government Obstacles’, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has invited three experts for the hearing. They are Stephen Oakley from Compassion International, John Sifton from Human Rights Watch and Irfan Nooruddin from Georgetown University.

“Since the start of its humanitarian work in India in 1968, more than a quarter-million Indian children and their families have benefited from Compassion’s programmes,” said Compassion president and CEO, Santiago Jimmy Mellado.

“Our desire to continue serving these children has led us to encourage our supporters to request the help of their congressional representatives. We want nothing more than to comply with Indian law and find favour in the eyes of those with the power to authorise our ongoing care to these children who are suffering in extreme poverty,” Mellado said.

Compassion International on Dec 3 launched a nationwide campaign to protect its holistic child development work in India, where the organisation has operated since 1968. Due to recent changes to the Indian government’s interpretation and application of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), Compassion has not been allowed to send funds to its more than 500 local child development projects throughout India, it said.

This change has directly impacted nearly 145,000 children registered in Compassion’s program within the country, the NGO claimed. The new rules required each of Compassion’s 580 child development centers to submit an application to the Indian government by October 31, 2016, it said adding that 63 of Compassion’s partners were denied FCRA approval.

“Despite repeated requests, the Indian government has not provided an explanation for these denials,” the media release said.

Source: Indian Express

Help families meet Christ: Cardinal Alencherry

The Churches in Asia are wondering how to make Catholic families a tool to announce the Gospel of mercy.

Colombo:  The Church in Asia has the mission to help families discover Christ: said Cardinal George Alencherry, president of the Syro-Malabar Bishops' Council, during the plenary assembly of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).

"We all need to find Christ in ourselves, to help others to discover him in the lives of our families and of our peoples: this is evangelization", stressed the Cardinal, who is the major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly.

More than 140 Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops from about 40 Asian countries, as well as some representatives as theologians and lay people involved in the Church in Asia are present at the FABC assembly, being held in Colombo from November 28 to December 4.

The assembly, which is held every four years, is centered on the theme "The Asian Catholic family: The local Church of the poor in the mission of mercy”. The Churches in Asia are wondering how to make Catholic families a tool to announce the Gospel of mercy.

In the wake of the Jubilee Year which has just concluded, "we are exploring what could be the mission of mercy of the Catholic family in Asia. It seems to me that our path is the same as that of the Apostles: to help every man encounter Christ in his life and help our families to discover the presence of Christ within and outside the family unit". "This is the common mission of the Church, it is the mission of Bishops, priests, consecrated, families", he added.

The Cardinal explained: "Families in Asia, who live in a multi-religious context are influenced by family models of other religious beliefs. Religions in Asia are a way of searching God. For us Christians, Christ is at the center of our testimony of faith. It is this uniqueness of Christ, the gift of Christ to the world that saves and marks our life. God is mercy and Jesus Christ manifests the face of God’s mercy for us".

In the past, added the Cardinal, Pastors appeared to have forgotten him, pointing out only the observance of the law, forgetting God's mercy.

"Christians are called to grasp the presence and action of Christ in man and in all creation, as St. Francis of Assisi did", he recalled.

"Having seen, heard and touched Christ, we must not give up the blessings that come from following Christ. Our families meet Jesus in their lives and receive his blessing. Let all this turn into good for the Church and for the Asian societies", he concluded.

Source: Vatican Radio

Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa dies

She suffered cardiac arrest on Sunday and the death was declared on Monday close to midnight.

Chennai:  Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, one of India's most charismatic political leaders, died here on Monday night after a bitter 74-day battle for life, ending an era in Tamil Nadu politics and plunging the state in deep grief. She was 68.

Jayalalithaa, a spinster, breathed her last at the Apollo Hospitals just before midnight, over 24 hours after she suffered a cardiac arrest that derailed the halting progress she had been making on the health front.

"It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma at 11.30 p.m.," the hospital said in a statement.

As Jayalalithaa's death became known, a loud wail rent the air outside the Apollo hospital where thousands had gathered since her cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, hoping against hope that she would survive.

Her body was taken to her residence at Poes Garden, where hundreds of AIADMK cadre were present. Police used batons to keep inconsolable mourners away who tried to break the security barricades outside their leader's house.

The body will be kept at the Rajaji Hall for people to pay their respects, said the AIADMK, which the actor-turned-politician headed for nearly three decades after the death of her mentor and Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran or MGR.

The last rites will be held at the Marina Beach later on Tuesday.

As national leaders expressed grief, the Tamil Nadu government declared a seven-day mourning. Schools and colleges in the sprawling state will be closed for three days.

In no time, the AIADMK legislators elected Finance Minister and long-time Jayalalithaa loyalist O. Panneerselvam to succeed the departed leader.

Shortly after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Panneerselvam took the oath of office and secrecy. Thirty-one ministers were also sworn-in with him.

A veteran actor, the self-made Jayalalithaa, who was five times Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was admitted to the Apollo hospital on September 22 with fever and dehydration, just four months after she led the AIADMK to triumphantly retain power in assembly elections.

At one time it seemed she was on the road to recovery but that proved to be an illusion.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying homage to Jayalalithaa, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha at the start of her political career.

In his lengthy message, Mukherjee described Jayalalithaa as "one of India's most charismatic and popular leaders ... a visionary and (an) able administrator...

"She was progressive in her thought and pro-active in pursuing the issues that were close to her heart, such as the empowerment of women and welfare of children.

"Her life was dedicated to the socio-economic transformation of Tamil Nadu and its people. Her contribution to the progress and development of Tamil Nadu will be long remembered."

Modi, who enjoyed a personal rapport with Jayalalithaa, said her demise had left a huge void in Indian politics.

Defining her as a mass leader, Modi said: "Jayalalithaaji's connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalised will always be a source of inspiration."

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who too had counted the AIADMK leader as an ally for years, said Jayalalithaa lived the entire life with the same "indomitable courage with which she battled her last illness".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called her "popular, strong, bold, efficient, people-friendly, charismatic leader".

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described her death as "very saddening". He announced a day's mourning in his state.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: "Very sad to hear the demise of Amma. A very very popular leader. Aam Aadmi's leader. May her soul rest in peace."

IANS