05-18-2005, 05:18 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>UN Backs Missionaries in Lanka:</b> Opposes Religious Freedom Bill <!--emo&
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COLOMBO
The Star Online, Malaysia
Friday May 13, 2005
Sri Lanka's efforts to legally <b>ban induced or forced religious conversions may
result in the persecution of minorities</b>, a visiting United Nations official
warned yesterday.
Sri Lanka has a Buddhist majority, and monks here complain that Christian
missionaries offer money and jobs to entice poor Buddhists to change their
religion.
The Buddhist monks have been pressing the government to stop such practices, and the government is already discussing two draft laws.
However, a UN official balked at such a step.
âIn my opinion, <b>the provisions of both draft bills could result in the
persecution of religious minorities rather than protection and promotion of
religious tolerance</b>,â UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion Asma Jahangir said at a news conference in Colombo.
Jahangir said the proposed legislation might contravene human rights laws and
the right to freedom of religion, and that people might use the laws for
personal revenge in disputes. <b>She did not elaborate</b>.
Jahangir said the government failed to act against those responsible for attacks
on <b>Christian churches since the death in 2003 of prominent Buddhist cleric
Gangodawila Soma, who worked against religious conversions.</b>
Some Buddhists claim <b>Christian missionaries were responsible for Soma's death,</b> which occurred while he was touring Russia.
Jahangir also said, however, that <b>some religious groups </b>helping thousands of Sri Lankan victims of the Dec 26 Indian Ocean tsunami had been<b> âexploiting the vulnerability of the population.â</b>
She urged non-governmental and religious charity organisations to respect a UN
resolution calling such groups to provide aid without asking recipients to
espouse particular religious opinions.
âI have noted that in most cases perpetrators (of church attacks) have not been
brought to justice,â she said.
âMoreover, in many cases, the police and other competent authorities appear to
have been reluctant to take appropriate actions despite the identification of
perpetrators.â
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> COLOMBO
The Star Online, Malaysia
Friday May 13, 2005
Sri Lanka's efforts to legally <b>ban induced or forced religious conversions may
result in the persecution of minorities</b>, a visiting United Nations official
warned yesterday.
Sri Lanka has a Buddhist majority, and monks here complain that Christian
missionaries offer money and jobs to entice poor Buddhists to change their
religion.
The Buddhist monks have been pressing the government to stop such practices, and the government is already discussing two draft laws.
However, a UN official balked at such a step.
âIn my opinion, <b>the provisions of both draft bills could result in the
persecution of religious minorities rather than protection and promotion of
religious tolerance</b>,â UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion Asma Jahangir said at a news conference in Colombo.
Jahangir said the proposed legislation might contravene human rights laws and
the right to freedom of religion, and that people might use the laws for
personal revenge in disputes. <b>She did not elaborate</b>.
Jahangir said the government failed to act against those responsible for attacks
on <b>Christian churches since the death in 2003 of prominent Buddhist cleric
Gangodawila Soma, who worked against religious conversions.</b>
Some Buddhists claim <b>Christian missionaries were responsible for Soma's death,</b> which occurred while he was touring Russia.
Jahangir also said, however, that <b>some religious groups </b>helping thousands of Sri Lankan victims of the Dec 26 Indian Ocean tsunami had been<b> âexploiting the vulnerability of the population.â</b>
She urged non-governmental and religious charity organisations to respect a UN
resolution calling such groups to provide aid without asking recipients to
espouse particular religious opinions.
âI have noted that in most cases perpetrators (of church attacks) have not been
brought to justice,â she said.
âMoreover, in many cases, the police and other competent authorities appear to
have been reluctant to take appropriate actions despite the identification of
perpetrators.â
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->