Response: April - July 2019

40 years of standing against injustice

April-July 2019

‘They want to wipe us out’: Burma’s identity crisis leads to genocide

Also inside this edition: Get involved: Pakistan campaign breakthrough On the frontlines: CSW at the EU 40 for 40: Your legacy and more...

Feature: Burma

Cover image: CSW

In 2015 Burma elected a new civilian government, and the democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, became the de facto head of government. Many hoped that a new era had arrived – an era of democracy, human rights and peace.

After just three years, those hopes have been dashed.

Instead of democratisation, Burma has witnessed repression, genocide and crimes against humanity; and peace seems further away than ever.

“The peace process is not working” In November 2018 CSW brought six men and women from northern Burma to Europe, to meet politicians, journalists and Christian leaders in London and Brussels. These religious leaders and human rights defenders from the Kachin, Shan and Ta’ang ethnic groups shared their stories of the crisis in their country, and pressed for urgent action.

“They want to wipe us out” Burma’s identity crisis leads to genocide 2

‘We see human-rights violations by the state and the military, and we think they are crimes against humanity,’ said Julia Marip of the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand. ‘There needs to be accountability for these actions. I joined this trip to make the international community aware that the peace process is not working, especially for some ethnic groups.’

Activist Francis Zau Tu explained further: ‘Rape, sexual violence, torture and arbitrary arrest are just some of

Rape, sexual violence, “torture and arbitrary arrest are just some of the human-rights abuses that have been meted out. The military and government make ethnic people seem wicked, and want to wipe them out.

”

the human-rights abuses that have been meted out. The military and government make ethnic people seem wicked, and want to wipe them out.’

Julia, Francis and the others asked the UK to ensure that peace, justice, human rights and accountability are placed at the centre of the UK’s relationship with Burma.

3

Feature: Burma I have never been “confronted by crimes

as horrendous and on such a scale as these.

”

Marzuki Darusman Chair of the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar

Burma’s identity crisis Burma (Myanmar) was ruled for over half a century by a succession of military regimes which consistently committed grave violations of human rights. The country has also endured over 60 years of civil war between the military and many of the ethnic nationalities who seek autonomy.

Religion and ethnicity are deeply intertwined, and Burma’s ethnic and religious minorities have suffered, and continue to experience, severe violations of their human rights including of their right to freedom of religion or belief.

In 2012, just as political reform appeared to be beginning, a campaign against the predominantly Muslim Rohingyas escalated, resulting in horrific violence in Rakhine State. The previous year, the military had broken a 17-year ceasefire with the mainly Christian Kachin armed resistance, unleashing a major new offensive. In 2013 anti-Muslim violence broke out in other parts of the country; then, in 2016 and 2017, renewed brutality against the Rohingyas claimed hundreds of lives.

The chair of the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, Marzuki Darusman, said, ‘The Tatmadaw [military] has At the heart of Burma’s conflict is the systematically targeted civilians, question of its identity. Does Burma including women and children…and wish to be a multi-ethnic, multiestablished a climate of impunity religious society in which diversity for its soldiers…I have never been is celebrated, or does it wish to be a confronted by crimes as horrendous Burman, Buddhist nation which at and on such a scale as these.’ The Factbest tolerates non-Burmans and nonFinding Mission published their report Buddhists, or at worst, seeks to repress, in September 2018, concluding that restrict and drive them out?

4

5 We’re just checking with the advocacy team leader if we can use this photo - will revert this afternoon!

senior generals in the military must be investigated for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The international community is now well aware of the genocide against the Rohingyas. But while their plight is certainly the most egregious, it is by no means the only illustration of religiously-motivated hatred or violence. Throughout Burma, Muslims who are not Rohingyas are the targets of hate speech and violence, and Christians also face restrictions, discrimination and abuse. Buddhists who try to counter militant Buddhist nationalism face dangers too, while discriminatory legislation severely restricts the rights to religious conversion and inter-religious marriage.

The flame of hope There are few signs of hope today, even though Aung San Suu Kyi spoke of her desire to confront religious hatred after winning the 2015 elections.

Yet the men and women who came to Europe to share their stories risked significant personal danger to do so – proof that the flame of hope, while weak, is still alive. Let’s honour their courage by praying for peace and justice for all Burma’s people.

Join us in praying for Burma using p.12 of the Prayer Diary.

5

Country in focus: Eritrea

Photo: Josh Brown/CSW

Why is Eritrea’s president making peace with everyone but his own people?

Eritrea has long been considered one of the most repressive countries in the world; a dictatorship where all independent expression is stifled and thousands of citizens languish indefinitely in jails, enduring appalling conditions. Recent developments in the country – most notably the improved relations with Ethiopia – have been met with great enthusiasm by the international community.

Many saw this as an indication that the plight of the Eritrean people is finally coming to an end. Tragically, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

On the morning of 17 September 2018, 73-year-old Berhane Abrehe was out having breakfast with his son in Asmara, Eritrea’s capital. He was approached by security agents and instructed to accompany them.

Mr Abrehe had just published a book entitled Eritrea Hageray (‘Eritrea My Country’), in which he presented a plan 6

on how to end Eritrea’s dictatorship and prevent it happening again.

Several Eritrean former officials living in exile endorsed the book. It was accompanied by an audio recording in which Mr Abrehe challenged President Afwerki to a public debate.

Since that date Mr Abrehe’s whereabouts have been unknown.

Peace agreement signed Mr Abrehe was arrested just one day after the Eritrean and Ethiopian presidents signed a peace agreement.

The two countries fought a costly war from May 1998 to June 2000 over their common border and, although a peace agreement was signed in 2000, peace was never fully restored as Ethiopia refused to implement a ruling by a border commission.

More poignantly, the day after Mr Abrehe’s arrest marked 17 years since pro-reform officials were forcibly disappeared, independent media outlets shut down and journalists jailed incommunicado.

Many are rumoured to have died in the harsh conditions.

Six prominent Christian leaders who’ve been detained incommunicado for over a decade remain imprisoned.

Mr Abrehe’s arrest provides perhaps the clearest sign that, despite the international enthusiasm surrounding the reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the situation in Eritrea remains dire.

Peace – but no change While the Ethiopian human rights situation improved in the lead up to the peace agreement, the same cannot be said of Eritrea.

7

Country in focus: Eritrea Even before Mr Abrehe was arrested, there were clear indications that nothing had changed. Reports of 400 Christians being released from detention were soon found to be false.

In reality, 35 individuals who had agreed, four years earlier, to renounce their denominations in exchange for their release, were finally set free. Six prominent Christian leaders who’ve been detained incommunicado for over a decade remain imprisoned. It’s estimated that in total there are over 10,000 people of all faiths and none currently detained in a network of detention facilities around the country.

A seat at the table In 2016 an official UN inquiry found reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been systematically taking place in Eritrea since 1991. The government repeatedly refused to cooperate with the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea or with any other mandate holder, and has not actioned any of the recommendations it accepted during two consecutive Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycles. (The UPR is a peer-review process which examines the human rights record of each UN

Pray

Around the world:

Latest news

member state every four years. NGOs such as CSW contribute towards the stakeholders’ report on the country in question, and the country’s record is reviewed by other states which then offer recommendations for areas for improvement.)

Cuba

Yet in spite of all this, in October 2018 Eritrea was elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Council, which requires member countries to have contributed to ‘the promotion and protection of human rights’. During its most recent review in January, Eritrea tried to blame the Special Rapporteur and Commission of Inquiry for its delay in implementing previous recommendations, claiming disingenuously that no one in Eritrea is persecuted because of their religious beliefs, and that pro-democracy officials and journalists jailed since 2001 had committed national security crimes.

On 24 February, Cuba overwhelmingly voted to approve a new constitution which includes provisions that will significantly weaken protections for freedom of religion or belief. This new constitution has garnered widespread criticism from many religious leaders in Cuba, provoking an unprecedented show of unity among Christian denominations.

Now, as a consequence of their opposition, church leaders and human rights defenders are facing intense government harassment.

The international community must continue to press Eritrea to end its severe violations of the human rights of its citizens, and take concrete steps towards a future of peace and justice.

The UN must ensure that states that are elected to the Council fully cooperate with its Special Procedures mandate holders, and that their domestic policies reflect its aims and objectives.

China

The people of Eritrea need your prayers now more than ever.

Join us in praying for the nation of Eritrea, using p.8 of the Prayer Diary.

8

Latest news updates

In December police shut down three mosques in Yunnan Province, claiming that they had conducted ‘illegal religious education’. Clips from social media have shown police attacking protestors and confronting Hui Muslim worshippers. While the Hui have, so far, escaped the kind of intense crackdown currently being experienced by the Uyghur Muslims (over one million Uyghurs and others are now estimated to be detained without charge in ‘re-education’ camps), these events show a worrying trend in the same direction.

Egypt CSW has learned that Egyptian police have arrested a number of people in connection with an attack on pilgrims in November 2018, in which seven Christians were killed and 18 injured.

The Christian community has seen some improvements in regards to freedom of religion or belief in the past few years under President Sisi, but still continues to be the target of attacks and the few advances that it enjoys are yet to be extended to other religious minorities.

Pakistan Pakistan’s Supreme Court has upheld Asia Bibi’s acquittal, dismissing a review petition filed by those who were dissatisfied with last October’s verdict that quashed the blasphemy charges against her. The Christian mother of five was originally charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death in 2010.

9

Get involved: Campaigns

Breakthrough on our Pakistan textbook campaign This time last year, as part of our Faith and a Future campaign, we asked you to campaign with us on the issue of religious discrimination in Pakistan textbooks. Well, we’re delighted to share some very pleasing results. We asked Joanne Collins, our Parliamentary Officer, to tell us more…

What’s the issue CSW has been campaigning on?

Many textbooks in Pakistan include discrimination against religious minorities (for example, Hindus are described as ‘enemies of Pakistan’) which fuels intolerance and extremism.

What’s more, the contributions of religious minorities to Pakistan’s history

have been removed, which means that minority children grow up with the feeling that they’ve done nothing for their country and do not belong.

Our campaign calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) to ensure that UK aid isn’t used to fund biased textbooks that promote prejudice.

What is the breakthrough?

Over the last year our team steadily built pressure with the UK Parliament on this issue – through meetings with parliamentarians, parliamentary questions, a joint letter signed by 20 MPs, and of course our petition, which over 5,000 of you signed. This culminated in a meeting on the issue this January, between Siobhain McDonagh MP and Preet Gill MP, Lord Ahmad, Minister of State at the FCO and the Rt Hon Lord Bates, Minister of State at DfID. DfID representatives agreed to re-examine their position in light of the evidence brought to them by the Faith and a Future campaign, to ensure that no taxpayer money goes on funding discrimination or religious hatred. Over the next few months we’ll work with MPs, DfID and the FCO to achieve this aim.

Why is this important?

DfID representatives agreed to re-examine their position to ensure that no taxpayer money goes on funding discrimination or religious hatred.

Siobhain McDonagh MP presents CSW’s petition to the Rt Hon Lord Bates, DfID

We rejoice when we see a prisoner freed as a result of our campaigning – and rightly so! But when we effect policy change, we can potentially change the lives of millions. It’s a big step in our vision of a Pakistan where future generations are taught about our common humanity, rather than taught to hate.

How should this change our thinking about campaigning?

It’s an inspiring reminder that effecting real change takes time and concerted pressure from advocacy and campaigning. It’s all about the power of combining ‘people power’ (5,657 of you signed the petition and asked your friends to sign and write letters), with lobbying by CSW’s specialist advocates.

If anyone asks you ‘What’s the point in petitions?’ remember this story!

Join Find out how you can join the campaign and also get your Sunday school class involved at faithandafuture.com

Now join us in campaigning for change in Mexico In Mexico, children from religious minority communities are often excluded from school because of their faith or the faith of their parents. On 30 April 2019, Children’s Day in Mexico, we’ll be campaigning with affected communities there. At the same time, we’re inviting churches throughout Latin America and all over the world to join us in ‘solidarity parties’. Here young people can enjoy traditional Children’s Day festivities and also write letters to their local Mexican embassy, campaigning for all children in Mexico to receive an education, regardless of their religious beliefs.

11

Feature: 40 stories

When God takes you to unexpected places During 2019, we’ll be featuring stories from CSW’s 40-year history as a reflection on how God has blessed us in the past, and looking to where he will take us in the future. You’ll hear from many familiar faces and be introduced to some new ones! There’s no better way to begin than by telling some of the story of our Founder and Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas.

Forty years ago I would never have dreamed that I’d be standing in Speaker’s House in Parliament with the Speaker of the House making a speech about my human rights work – but then again, a lot of the story of CSW has been of God taking us to places we never thought we’d go! From CSW’s very earliest visits to Romania under Ceaușescu’s brutal dictatorship, to our work in Egypt, Nigeria, China and all 12

over the world, I’ve seen God time and again place us (and me!) exactly where we need to be.

An unexpected calling My own journey with CSW began in the 1970s, when a Swiss organisation held an event in Parliament that inspired an MP friend of mine to invite me along to one of their meetings.

I’d never really considered getting involved in advocating for religious freedom before, but I strongly felt God calling me to set up something that to me looked like a Christian version of Amnesty International, in response to the things I was hearing about the persecution of Christians in Eastern Europe. Once set up, we began reaching out to Christians around the UK to let them know how they could help stand for religious freedom.

Criss-crossing the country, I sometimes felt like I was at a different church every weekend!

From the UK to the world I chaired the board of this new charity until 1999 when I left my ‘day job’ at Sweet’n’Low to become Chief Executive.

Since then, CSW has been my full time job and it’s taken me to so many amazing, challenging and inspiring places. I remember a particularly heartbreaking visit to Iraq where I met a young Christian man named Sargon. He was 11 when ISIS overran his hometown of Mosul in August 2014. Though he and his disabled mother tried to hide in their house until the danger had passed, they were found by ISIS fighters and told that they had to convert or be killed. Sargon, on the advice of his mother, pretended to convert to save their lives. Though they were allowed to live, Sargon was

Forty years ago I “would never have

dreamed that I’d be standing in Speaker’s House in Parliament with the Speaker of the House making a speech about my human rights work.

”

forcibly recruited as an ISIS fighter and had to watch the execution of many of his fellow Christians. Though he’s free from ISIS now, neither he nor his mother can return to their hometown, as nobody trusts them. Their story strengthened my resolve to continue working to help heal the wounds left by religious intolerance in Iraq.

Being Chief Executive of CSW has been an enormous challenge but at the same time an incredible blessing. I have met some of the closest friends of my life through this work, and I have had my faith repeatedly challenged and strengthened by my experiences.

The last 40 years have been a true blessing, and I am so excited to see where God will take us in the decades to come.

Read the full story of Mervyn’s work with CSW in his new book,

Standing Up, Speaking Out: 40 Years of Fighting Injustice. Order your copy at csw.org.uk/standingup for £10.49 inc. p&p, or call the office on 020 8329 0010.

13

On the frontlines: CSW at the EU

CSW at the EU:

What happens now?

As we go to press the British parliament is debating how to implement the results of the 2016 referendum in which the UK voted to leave the European Union. Alessandro Pecorari, our Europe Liaison Officer, who is based at CSW’s office in Brussels, shares his thoughts and predictions on what Brexit will mean for CSW’s work at the EU going forward.

Why does CSW work with the EU? The European Union offers CSW and other NGOs an open forum to address worldwide human rights issues.

With the current political discourse surrounding Brexit, it’s easy to forget that the EU has played an important role in developing legislation that

CSW remains “committed to engaging with EU institutions as we advocate for freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

”

14

has strengthened the global human rights system. The right to freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed under Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. CSW views the EU as an essential platform for raising awareness about religious freedom violations around the world and promoting this right internationally, using instruments such as the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief.

On top of this, the EU is the world’s largest trading power and humanitarian donor. It can engage in meaningful deals by requesting that countries protect human rights as a precondition for trade. This offers hope to many of CSW’s partners who are based in countries with weaker human rights records.

Pray

for the upcoming European elections in May. Pray that the new MEPs and parliament officials who are elected would be committed to seeking justice and religious freedom for all, and that they would actively engage with CSW.

Have there been any practical changes to CSW’s work at the EU since the referendum in 2016?

The short answer is no.

Since CSW’s Brussels office is registered in an EU member state, CSW’s legal presence is not challenged. We’ve maintained excellent working relationships with our many contacts in Brussels, including the European External Action Service (EEAS), various permanent representations who promote the interests of their individual member countries at the EU, non-British parliamentary officials, non-British MEPs, and other human rights organisations.

The Special Envoy for Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Jan Figel, visited our London office in May 2017 and continues to have strong relations with CSW.

Now that the UK is leaving the EU, do you envisage any other changes to CSW’s work in Brussels?

Although Brexit will certainly pose some challenges – particularly as we will no longer be able to rely on our

strategic links with British MEPs – on a practical level CSW’s advocacy work is expected to continue largely unchanged. CSW remains committed to engaging with EU institutions as we advocate for freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

However, and contrary to what some may believe, in leaving the EU, the UK may not necessarily be leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The Court is not an EU body, but is an organ of the Council of Europe, which the UK founded in 1949 along with nine other European nations.

We are very much in unchartered territory. Nevertheless, regardless of the final outcome of Brexit, CSW will continue to promote freedom of religion or belief for all at the EU.

15

Feature: Profits vs. People

Profits vs. People?

The dangers of putting trade before human rights Shopping for a bargain is part of our everyday lives – nothing beats getting that big discount on the weekly shop.

The sad fact is that that bargain might come at the cost of human rights, especially when it concerns cut-price products from countries with some of the worst human rights records – China, India and Bangladesh to name just a few.

So how do we ensure that profits don’t triumph over people?

You may not realise it, but the very trade agreements that bring us those cut-price products are our best bet.

They provide an effective lever for encouraging governments to protect human rights, so the way they negotiate these agreements is a very tangible indication of how dedicated they are to advancing human rights.

As the UK prepares to leave the European Union it will be signing new trade agreements with countries all over the world, and while the world’s eyes are on the outcome of Brexit negotiations, this is also the perfect opportunity for the UK to demonstrate its commitment to human rights, by rejecting low prices for food and other products if that means compromising on fundamental rights and freedoms.

Human rights are in the UK’s moral interest Last September the House of Commons published a report entitled ‘Global Britain: Human rights and the rule of law’, examining the UK’s international human rights diplomacy.

The report commented that following withdrawal from the EU, ‘The [UK] Government will face conflicting priorities between human rights and other Government policies, especially trade deals. This may create short term conflicts, but the prioritisation of human rights is in the UK’s long-term commercial, as well moral, interest.’

16

This report could not be clearer in setting out how vital it is for the UK not to sideline human rights when striking new trade deals. The report goes on to say, ‘The Government should commit to including human rights clauses within future trade agreements.’

Human rights are key for business Time and again research shows that protection of freedom of religion or belief and other human rights creates a favourable environment for business. A society where human rights are consistently respected and upheld is a stable society, and stability is vital for business operations.

It’s in every government’s interests to create a favourable business environment, which will lead to greater foreign investment, greater growth and, ultimately, better conditions for their citizens. This is why it’s possible to make a strong argument for human rights improvements to feature prominently in trade agreements.

A society where human rights are consistently respected and upheld is a stable society, and stability is vital for business operations.

17

Feature: Profits vs. People Case study: Egypt In 2016 the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) highlighted Egypt as a country of concern due to its human rights abuses. CSW’s own research shows that human rights have worsened progressively, against a background of rising terror attacks by the local branch of Islamic State (IS, Daesh).

UK exports to Egypt dropped a little in 2017, but Egypt continued to import UK arms – £6.5m worth in that year alone. Some evidence suggests that UK-supplied military equipment was used in the past to violate human rights; however, the UK continues to export military hardware to Egypt despite weapons sale restrictions imposed by the EU. In 2018 the UK began trade talks with Egypt in preparation for Brexit, despite the country remaining on the FCO’s list of human rights abusers.

What happens now?

Unfortunately, the ‘Global Britain’ report paints a dismal picture of what we can expect from the UK’s future trade partnerships: ‘In preparation for Brexit, the UK is seeking to roll over existing trade agreements, and to strike new deals with other countries.

However, there is concern that this may be used as an opportunity to 18

Get involved:

40 for 40

remove the human rights components of the deals. Lord Ahmad [Minister of State at the FCO and the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief] said that he could not give assurances on “what clauses, in what way, in what nature” future trade deals would include human rights.’

CSW believes the UK must seize this opportunity to do the right thing, morally as well as commercially. We believe human rights are critical to enabling societies and countries to flourish, and that world leaders have a duty to protect freedom of religion or belief. We agree with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who said in her opening statement at the 40th Human Rights Council session that ‘human rights-based policies…deliver better outcomes for people – people across the social and economic spectrum, and beyond borders’ and ‘also help to develop stronger economies.’

The UK must therefore press for human rights improvements to be included in its trade agreements wherever necessary. It must not be seduced by the promise of low prices at the expense of people’s rights and freedoms.

And we continue to work towards a world where everyone can peacefully practise a religion or belief of their choice; a world of freedom and justice for people of all faiths or none.

Your legacy:

a freer, fairer world The world has changed dramatically since we began in 1979, but our mission hasn’t. By leaving a gift to CSW in your will, you’ll be a part of that forever, ensuring that more communities will be able to live and worship in peace for decades to come.

Simon George is a passionate supporter of CSW’s work – he sees his legacy gift to CSW as part of his commitment to a world where everyone is free to believe: “CSW is the only Christian organisation that’s working with national governments and the UN to create a freer, fairer world, not just

for Christians but for people of all different faiths and none.”

“That kind of world is the best legacy I can imagine, and that’s why I have left a gift in my will to CSW. I hope others will join me in this. It is a simple way to ensure CSW will continue to work for freedom of religion for many generations to come.”

Give. A legacy of freedom.

Support the next 40 years of CSW’s work by leaving us a legacy in your will. Call Bill Lowe on 020 8329 0010 or email admin@csw.org.uk to find out more.

19

Our manifesto #7

We believe world leaders have a duty to protect freedom of religion or belief.

CSW is a human rights organisation advocating for freedom of religion or belief. As Christians we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief.

T +44 (0)20 8329 0010 @CSW_UK /CSWUK csw.org.uk Registered Charity No. 281836

PO Box 99 New Malden Surrey, KT3 3YF United Kingdom