*EPF103 03/26/01
Text: Siv Statement to Human Rights Commission on Taliban
(Strong condemnation of destruction of Buddhist relics) (700)
In a statement to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva March 26, the United States has expressed strong condemnation of the destruction of Buddhist relics by the Taliban.
Sichan Siv, a public member of the U.S. Delegation to the Commission on Human Rights, noted that the world's religious communities made repeated appeals to the Taliban to spare irreplaceable Buddhist statues in Afghanistan.
"Yet, despite the outcry, the Taliban carried its policy of destruction," Siv said. "We condemn this in the strongest terms."
Siv, who was once ordained a Buddhist monk in Thailand, spoke at a special session of the Commission dedicated to a debate on tolerance and respect. He noted that the U.S. delegation to the Commission is this year headed by a Muslim and also includes Christian, Jewish and agnostic members.
"Our strong belief in freedom on religion helps bind us together as a delegation in support of tolerance and respect," he said. "Regardless of our religious affiliations, the Taliban's willful destruction of precious Buddhist statues has offended all of us."
Following is the text of Siv's remarks:
(begin text)
The Honorable Sichan Siv U.S. Delegate to the UN Commission on Human Rights Special Debate on Tolerance and Respect: Tolerance and Respect from the Point of View of Religion March 26, 2001
The United States is pleased to take part in this Special Debate on tolerance and respect. These concepts are the fundamental bases for peace and for the implementation of all human rights for all people in the world.
The U. S. Constitution firmly establishes the concept of freedom of religion into our laws and customs, as does Article 18 of the Universal Declaration. Virtually every religion in the world is practiced in America. Individuals are free to worship and change their beliefs as they see fit.
Just as nations need to sustain a commitment to universal human rights, tolerance and respect are necessary if religious freedom is to flourish. As President George W. Bush once said, "We propose our principles; we must not impose our cultures. Yet the basic principles of human freedom and dignity are universal. People should be able to say what they think. Worship as they wish. Elect those who govern them."
One of the great challenges facing us today is how to nurture respect for individual religious beliefs when groups and cultures are being brought into contact with each other at an increasing pace. Such contact must not imply conflict. Indeed, it can prove enriching for all concerned. But there is no escaping the fact that serious human rights violations are often linked to some combination of racial, ethnic and religious intolerance.
A clear case in point is the destruction of irreplaceable Buddhist relics by the Taliban leaders of Afghanistan. The concepts of tolerance and respect are fundamental to universal human rights, and we call on the Taliban to acknowledge their responsibilities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Mr. Chairman, the head of our delegation is Muslim. I am a Buddhist, and was once ordained a Buddhist monk in Thailand. Others in our delegation are Christian, Jewish or Agnostic. Our strong belief in freedom on religion helps bind us together as a delegation in support of tolerance and respect. Regardless of our religious affiliations, the Taliban's willful destruction of precious Buddhist statues has offended all of us. The world's religious communities have made repeated appeals to the Taliban to spare these precious pieces of world heritage. Yet, despite the outcry, the Taliban carried its policy of destruction. We condemn this in the strongest terms.
Mr. Chairman, our increasingly diverse societies bring us into contact with followers of many different cultures and religions. Our responsibility is to actively fight stereotypes of every kind and embrace a culture of tolerance for those whose views may differ from our own. Only this way can our nations make the progress that our new century and our new millennium will demand from us. Thank you.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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