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FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ART-059-2009
October 23, 2009
An Article Series on Human Rights and Culture by the Asian Human Rights Commission
HUMAN RIGHTS & CULTURE- Vol. 2, ISSUE NO. 25
Welcome to Vol. 2, Issue No. 25. In this issue we have the poem, The Farmer’s Life by Airyn Lentija. This poem reminds us of how simple and satisfying a farmer’s life can be if he is left in peace to pursue it. Next we continue with our selection of Human Rights Quotations and this is followed by our regular section on Human Rights Defenders. This week we present Mr. F.M. Abdur Razzak from Bangladesh. This is followed by a short essay by a new intern at the Asian Human Rights Commission, My Life in Hong Kong by Ms. Sandamani Munasinghe. Next we have the article, Witchcraft allegations: Refugee protection & human rights - A review of the evidence, a report by the UN Refugee Agency.
Publications -- We are pleased to announce the release of two publications, the latest issue of Article 2 and Ethics in Action. Details of the two magazines may be found in our publications section.
As always, the AHRC is grateful to all our contributors and we would like to remind our readers that your comments on this issue and contributions for future issues may be sent to ahrc@ahrc.asia.
You may view the previous issues at: http://newsletters.ahrchk.net/hrc/ .
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The Farmer's LifeAiryn Lentija
Before the ray of the morning light
kisses the dew on the leaves,
he's awake. A labourer of delight.
Master of the land, the caves
and the fishponds that might
fill your eyes with wonderment,
that lifts you to paradise in a sight.
He's farmer, a knight.
 He plows the field with his carabao
with hands as hard as steel.
Feed his children with milk from cows
and honey from the beehives that still
hang on a huge tree of his in-laws.
Picks the dead leaves and grass that kills
the captivating beauty of his roses;
a perfect present for his wife at sunset.
When the sun hides behind the mountains
he brings his carabao to the river
ties it's rope on a big stone and lets it swim
for an hour, as ants wrestle on his shoulder.
He goes back to the goats, ducks and chickens
A mixture of unexplained smell rustling over
the land, as he checks on his pig pen.
When all things are clean and clear
he returns home with a handsome grin.
Children waiting with a loving smile
and a sweet hugs and kisses from his wife;
that blushes when she gaze at the love in his eyes
and a rose in his hand that gives her a sigh.
He rest his tired self in the chair
and let his mind floats in the mid-air.
A romantic kiss brings him back to sanity
and a sweet voice that say's "Diner is ready."
He takes a deep breath and smiles.....Fulfilled.
 Ms. Airyn Lentija works as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. She has enjoyed reading and writing poetry since her days in elementary school. This is Airyn’s third submission and we look forward to receiving more of her work in the future. Further details of Airyn’s work may be found at: http://poetsforhumanrights.ning.com/profile/airyn?xgs=1
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Human Rights Quotations
"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."
Mohandas Gandhi
"Happy is the house that shelters a friend."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured .....We must, therefore, insist on a global consensus, not only on the need to respect human rights worldwide, but also on the definition of these rights...for it is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for freedom, equality and dignity, and they have an equal right to achieve that."
-The Dalai Lama
"Think for yourself and question authority"
Timothy Leary
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Human Rights Defenders - Mr. F M Abdur Razzak
Human rights defender Abdur Razzak and a colleague, Shankar Kumar Dhali were arrested by five police officers on the morning of 3rd November 2008. They were arrested without warrants, and taken to the Paikgachha police station in Khulna district, south western Bangladesh.
 Born in the south of Bangladesh in 1967, Razzak is a law graduate and is presently working as a lawyer’s assistant. He graduated from Southeast University, Dhaka in 2001. Prior to his arrest he supplemented his income by editing a fortnightly newspaper, Gonomichhil, which has published many stories critical of the police and judges, as well as the bribery prevalent in the country.
After being informed of his arrest, his family members went to the police station, arriving at about 11am. They asked Razzak if he had been tortured by the police while in custody. His swollen face gave them the answer they feared. Also his shirt had been taken and he was made to sit on the floor of the cell.
It became evident that Razzak had upset someone with his critical reporting when his wife, Rahima, was told by the Officer-in-Charge of the station that he was under pressure from the court to arrest him. One month earlier a Magistrate had announced in an open court that if anyone were to arrest Abdur Razzak he would issue a warrant of arrest without any delay or hesitation.
The families of Razzak and his companion canvassed anyone they thought might help them to convince the police to release the men. Their rationale was simple; if the police had no case against them they should be released. But more importantly, if there was, in fact, a case against the men they should not be ill-treated or tortured. With Razzak being the only breadwinner, Rahima had to borrow money from her relatives. She also sent her three young children to stay with her sister, so that she was free to visit the police station and other places as necessary. When she was not running other errands, Rahima spent her time outside the police station in fear that something would happen to her husband. Even visiting her husband required the payment of a bribe to the officers.
It transpired that Razzak had been arrested due to his alleged involvement in an abduction case. The police were ordered to conduct inquiries on the 22nd October but even 10 days later, nothing had been done. While in custody Razzak was beaten and publicly humiliated (he was made to walk to and from court in handcuffs with his arms held out in front on him). Huge sums of money were repeatedly demanded from Rahima and other members of the family which they had no choice but to pay in order to protect him from further torture. She also had to prepare his meals, as the police would not provide any food, and then bribe the officers to allow him to eat.
Finally the police investigation in the abduction case started moving and it was found that the young girl who had supposedly been abducted had, in fact, run away from home. Rahima then had to pay for the police to take the girls statement. The payments included transportation costs and food for the officers. She was able to raise the money by selling the little jewelry she had left. Eventually, after a final bribe to a Senior Inspector the abduction case was deemed to be false and after several court appearances was withdrawn in January 2009. At that time Razzak was suffering from a water-borne disease contracted in jail. Rahima was also sick, due to prolonged stress and fatigue. Later, in February 2009, the court dismissed the case as the charge of abduction was proven false.
It says a great deal for Abdur Razzak that despite his ordeal he continues to work on human rights issues. In Bangladesh the tarnishing of individual’s reputation is another problem. In Razzak’s case, his reputation as an honest human rights defender was affected by the many unfounded rumours regarding the causes and circumstances of his arrest and detention. F.M. Abdur Razzak is the Director of the Human Rights Development Centre (HRDC) based in Khulna and is now the editor of the Pakhik Ganomisil Newspaper. He is currently undergoing an internship with the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong.
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A new intern at the AHRC shares some thoughts
My Life in Hong KongSandamani Munasinghe
When I was a small girl I always thought about my future. I wanted to be a good person and clever. My dream was to be a lawyer and finally that dream came true.
Having attained my dream I once again thought to the future. I wanted to obtain an LLM degree but, how to do that?
I applied to the University of Hong Kong but unfortunately that chance was not to be mine as there was a problem with my English. Now I realise that my command of English is very important and might be a barrier to obtaining a higher education; more so than my command of English is my confidence in the language.
So now I live in Hong Kong and this is obviously not my native country. However, I have a chance to improve my knowledge of English.
Life here is complicated and very new to me. But, I consider this a starting point in my life. Why do I say this? I know my dream will come true in the not too distant future. The people in Hong Kong are far more competitive than in my home country of Sri Lanka so I have to adjust; gain more experience everyday; adjust to their way of thinking and their day to day activities. All the things that I considered normal in Sri Lanka are very different here.
This is going to be a valuable period. And I am sure that whatever happens, it will be memorable.
Hong Kong 21st October, 2009
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WITCHCRAFT ALLEGATIONS: REFUGEE PROTECTION & HUMAN RIGHTS - A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE
(Halloween is today very much a western commercial invention. Originally it was known as Walpurgisnacht and held on the night from the 30th April to the 1st May. In Germany, Walpurgisnacht is the night when the witches hold a large celebration on the Blocksberg and await the arrival of Spring.
While today Halloween is an evening of fun and games for children the world over, the historical and present day actualities of witch hunting is anything but amusing. Witch hunting continues today in many African and South Asian countries. – Ed).
Witches in the 21st Century - Accusations, Persecutions - Women & Girls
UNHCR - UN Refugee Agency
Witches in the 21st Century
24 August 2009
Throughout history, people described as witches have been persecuted, tortured and murdered and the practice continues today. Statistics are not easy to come by but it is known that every year, thousands of people, mostly older women and children are accused as witches, often abused, cast out of their families and communities and in many cases murdered.
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston, in his most recent report to the Human Rights Council, says: “In too many settings, being classified as a witch is tantamount to receiving a death sentence.”
Shockingly, it is children that are increasingly targeted. A report for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees published in January 2009, “Witchcraft Allegations, Refugee Protection and Human Rights”, says the abuse of children accused of witchcraft is common in countries that have suffered years of conflict where traditional social structures have disappeared and where child soldiers have often emerged as a threat. And in countries where sudden deaths from diseases like AIDS are common, where there are few if any prospects of a better life, and where revivalist churches confirm signs of witchcraft, children are often accused of supernatural powers and persecuted.
Alston concludes: “The persecution and killing of individuals accused of practicing so-called “witchcraft” – the vast majority of whom are women and children – is a significant phenomenon in many parts of the world.” The response to witchcraft “frequently involves serious and systematic forms of discrimination,” he says, “especially on the grounds of gender, age and disability.” The families of the witches are also “often subjected to serious human rights violations.”
In his report, Alston offers an insight into the size of the problem and its geographical spread;
Reports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) suggest that most of the 25,000 – 50,000 children living on the streets of the capital, Kinshasa are there because they have been accused of witchcraft and rejected by their families. In 2009 The Committee on the Rights of the Child noted that in the DRC “violence against children accused of witchcraft is increasing, and that children are being kept as prisoners in religious buildings where they are exposed to torture and ill-treatment or even killed under the pretext of exorcism.”
The Special Rapporteur on violence against women has highlighted the problem of witch hunts in India, Nepal and South Africa.
In Ghana it is thought as many as 2,000 accused witches and their dependents are confined in five different camps. Most of the camp inmates are destitute, elderly women and some have been forced to live there for decades.
The murder and persecution of people accused of witchcraft in Tanzania is better documented than in most countries. The figures vary widely but it is estimated as many as a thousand, mostly elderly Tanzanian women are targeted and killed annually.
In Angola, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has called for “immediate action to eliminate the mistreatment of children accused of witchcraft”.
In Papua New Guinea, provincial police commanders reportedly said there were more than 50 sorcery-related killings in 2008. Other sources have suggested much higher figures. (As an appendix to this article please see the following excerpt from the AHRC Urgent Appeal INDONESIA: Nine women labeled as witches are subjected to ill-treatment in West Papua).
In Nigeria, the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network reports an increasing number of children abandoned or persecuted on the grounds they are witches or wizards.
In Nepal, elderly women and widows are often singled out and abused in exorcism ceremonies.
In considering how to address the problem, the Special Rapporteur has said that making it illegal to believe in witchcraft is not a solution. Respect for customary beliefs, however does not allow for persecution and murder. Alston recommends in his report that all killings of alleged witches be treated as murder and investigated, prosecuted and punished. And governments, he says, must play their part, taking all available steps to prevent such crimes and prosecute and punish perpetrators.
Alston also recommends that the problems surrounding the persecution and killings be reflected in the guidelines and programs of development agencies operating in countries where there is a significant level of belief in witches and witchcraft. Alston wants more than awareness-raising programmes. He believes protection should be offered to those whose lives are endangered by accusations of witchcraft.
For a Direct Link to 44-Page 2009 Document:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900sid/RWST-7RAL7E/$file/unhcr-jan2009.pdf?openelement
Further information may be found at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Witches21stCentury.aspx
Human Rights & Culture wishes to thank WUNRN for forwarding this report. Further information on WUNRN may be found at: http://www.wunrn.com
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-242-2008 - 31 October 2008
INDONESIA: Nine women labeled as witches are subjected to ill-treatment in West Papua
According to information received, on June 14, 2008 nine women were subjected to a sacred ceremony by local religious people who accused them of being witches in Seya village, sub- district of Mare, West Papua, Indonesia. During the ceremony, they were given poisoned water to drink which gave them stomach pains which was interpreted as proof that they were in fact witches.
After the traditional ritual, all of them were labeled as 'sinful women' or 'devil women', and were then brought out to an isolated location in the surroundings of Seya village. They were forcibly segregated from their husbands and children, and forced to reside in the jungle where they lacked basic facilities for day-to-day living. Many of the women have reportedly suffered from malnutrition and are in urgent need of help.
The people who refer to themselves as Mare People speak Mare and come from the Northern part of the South Sorong Regencies. The Mare sub-district has a population of around 700 people, speaking several dialects of the Mare language. Many of them retain traditional beliefs, including the belief in witches, devil women and black magic. Usually, when misfortune strikes in the guise of disease or death, women are usually targeted as responsible for this. They are in effect labeled witches by local religious leaders through their traditional rituals. Older women with few family members are the ones who are most frequently accused of being witches.
When a woman is believed to be a witch she is alleged to have plotted against someone whose soul she is going to steal and whose entrails she is going to eat at night. Witches are seen as Satan's most dangerous associates, and are often condemned in sermons by local religious leaders. It is reported that opening the abdomens and examining the internal organs of the accused is a method used to confirm the status of witch. Another example is making the alleged witch drink water infused with alcohol or poison and then invoking the woman's insobriety or vomiting as a proof that she is in fact a witch. Accused women endure severe physical and mental violence.
Having established, through one of these methods, that the woman in question is a witch, she is then punished to relieve the rest of society from these much feared 'suanggis'. It is reported that deportation from the community, cuttings and homicide had been used as punishments.
The Mare people reside in the villages of Seya, Suswa, Seni, Sire and Kuber which are located in the lush green range of the Karst hills of the Northern part of the South Sorong Regency. It is a remote area in West Papua province. They have remained unyielding in keeping to their traditions. Once a disease breaks out in the community and because they lack knowledge of the action of bacteria and viruses, the practice of 'witch hunting' is used to eradicate it.
To see the complete Urgent Appeal please see: http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/3053/
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Publications
 Article 2, Vol.8. No.3 is now available.
Article 2 is a quarterly publication of the Asian Legal Resource Centre
This issue covers selected articles on politics, human rights & the rule of law in South Asia such as Sri Lankan politics, from primary school to kindergarten Basil Fernando, Executive Director, Asian Human Rights Commission & Asian Legal Resource Centre, Hong Kong,
White elephants for India's low caste millions, Bijo Francis, Programme Officer, Asian Legal Resource Centre, Hong Kong, A law to protect only one Bangladeshi family Rater Zonaki, Human Rights Defender, Bangladesh and Thankless tasks: Rights defenders in Sri Lanka & Pakistan Jo Baker, Journalist & Programme Coordinator, Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
Further information on Article 2 may be found at: www.article2.org
 We are also pleased to announce that the next issue of Ethics in Action is now available. In this issue, Vol. 3 No. 5, we have an article on the appeal to help flood victims in the Philippines; there is a report on the abuse and humiliation of three Pakistani women and how the case casts shame on the country's justice system; and also in Pakistan the issue of love marriages - women and the rule of law. The continuation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka is a crime against the country's children and the terrible situation in the Philippines that makes it necessary for the Police to offer guns to journalists at risk are just some of the articles included in this issue.
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The Asian Human Rights Commission is regularly issuing this article series on Human Rights and Culture in which various cultural expressions, poems, stories, pictures and other forms of cultural expression that are based on the theme of justice, will be published. A pivotal issue in modern literature is justice, particularly the enormous unleashing of injustice under fascist, communist and other authoritarian regime including those that pursue an unbridled market economy have generated responses from created writers. This search for justice is at the very essence of being human. Human beings are part of nature and part of each other. Perhaps the lines of John Donne are most relevant: “... any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde;”
Contemporary mass culture promotes violence and destruction. There are those who are opposed to mass culture and want to reclaim the best traditions of human culture within which justice remains a core issue. This column will provide space for those who wish to share their creative initiatives.
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Posted on 2009-10-23
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