South Asia

Stiffer fines and longer jail sentences (up to seven years) for those involved in the practice. In 20 years an estimated ten million girls were aborted with the result that India’s population has more males than females. Cardinal Gracias says the Church is committed to providing health care and opposed to violence against women.

The dead are all migrants from Bihar, frequently accused of taking jobs from Assamese. Police suspect two militant organisations: the United Liberation Front of Assam and the Adivasi National Liberation Army.

Father Giuseppe Moretti, leader of the international Catholic community in Afghanistan, reflects on the meaning of Christmas in a country at war and over 99% Islamic: it is time, both in the West and here, to reawaken awareness of our Christian dignity. Only in this way does the feast gain meaning and can our witness in the world contribute to a peace and hope that is not just an illusion.

The archbishop of Lahore and chairman of the Pakistan Catholic bishops Conference talks to AsiaNews about Benedict XVI’s new encyclical, which reminds Christians of their role as messengers of hope and invites them to look up to Christ, symbol of new life.

In Bali 190 countries are trying to lay down guidelines to reach a new pact two years from now. But the European Union wants binding targets for rich countries now; the United States says no. As the United Nations tries to mediate, the International Red Cross warns that climate change is causing an increase in natural disasters.

Fishermen’s rights groups complain about the fate of one of the most marginalised social groups in the country. The government’s development policies favour the tourist industry and prefer agreements with large foreign companies to exploit the country’s waters. This is pushing more and more small scale fishermen into utter poverty. Whilst the government is building highways and hotels, thousands of families are still surviving in temporary shelters.

Members of the Church, believers and places of worship have been victimised. A Christian group has collected the evidence and has slammed the collusion and protection with Hindu nationalists. Now it wants the central government act against the violence which is “worse than terrorist attacks.” The bishop of Vasai calls on believers of every faith to work together for human rights.

Asian Human Rights Commission makes the allegation in a report released on International Human Rights Day. The year 2007 saw continued human rights violations by both Tamil rebels and the government. Corruption is up and freedom of expression is more restricted.

In his message for World Peace Day Benedict XVI says that in the family one can experience and be taught peace. For this reason the “family of peoples” must protect it and be inspired by it so as to be able to manage the “common house.” Mankind, which is more important than nature, must use the natural environment and the international community in non-selfish ways and be concerned about a model of sustainable development, all of which requires a moral norm. The Pope also expresses concerns over the arms race, including the race for atomic weapons.

Pro-family policies are needed for universal peace in China as much as in Italy. The reference to God is not the cause of religious wars, but rather the basis for world coexistence.

After a long period of discrimination since 2002 non-Muslims can vote for both reserved and non reserved seats. But Islamic parties do not want candidates from other religious groups and non-Muslims are reluctant to run against Muslims. For experts this is the crux of Pakistani democracy.

Protests were carried out yesterday in front of the Indian Parliament to mark International Human Rights Day. Tibetans in exile ask for political refugee status and support for “the only example of democracy in the Chinese area”.