We continue with our prayer focus on South-east Asian countries in preparation for the 3rd South-east Asia Prayer Consultation which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in October. Representatives from 11 countries will attend to share and pray over their countries.
This issue, we highlight the Philippines (shaded black on the map) and East Timor (located at the bottom). We hope to raise awareness of our neighbours and the urgent issues facing them, and may the increased knowledge enhance our prayers for them. The reports are provided by the NECF Research Department.
PHILIPPINES
Population: 87,857,473 (Est. CIA Factbook, July 2005)
Ethnic groups: Malay 95.5%, Chinese 2%, Others 3% (including 2% of Mestizos – combination of ethnic Malay and other racial groups)
Religions (estimated): Roman Catholics 81%, Evangelicals 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayans 2%, Other Christians 4.5%, Muslim 5%, Buddhists 0.08%, Indigenous & Others 1.7%, None 0.5% (2000 census)
THE apparent lack of political maturity in the Philippines’ political development suggests two characteristics: people power, and an inherently corrupt and uncertain political system. Philippines ranked 102nd in the International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 (out of 146 countries) and scored 2.6 (with 10 as highly clean).
The culture of corruption, entrenched at all levels, contributes greatly to socio-economic inequity and injustice. About 40% of the population lived below the poverty line of USD255 per year.
The Government itself respects human rights and has made efforts to strengthen the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Credible reports, however, show that some security forces, police and local authorities are responsible for arbitrary, unlawful, and, in some cases, extrajudicial killings; disappearances; torture; and arbitrary arrest and detention. The Philippines National Police has been described as the worst abuser of human rights.
Violence against women and abuse of children remain problems. Societal discrimination against Muslims persists. The use of underage workers in domestic service is ongoing. Child prostitution as well as trafficking in women and children continues. Children are also used by insurgent groups as soldiers.
Serious defects in the administration of justice perpetuate human rights violations. There have been reports of judges being assaulted and killed in the line of duty.
There is no state religion although Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion. There are no reports of religious detainees or prisoners, nor reports of forced religious conversion. However, long-term socio-economic disparity between the Christian majority and the Muslim minority contributes to persistent conflicts in certain provinces.
The Abu Sayyaf Group, consisting less than 500 members, engages in violent crimes including bombings assas-sinations, and extortion. Its goal is to promote an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago but it has primarily used terror for financial profit.
The 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines, is said to be responsible for a series of terrorist attacks in 1990s and bombings in recent years. It aims to establish an independent Islamic state in the south. The peace talks with the Government have so far been unsuccessful. Malaysia is presently involved in mediating peace talks.
There is also the long-standing, nation-wide Communist insurgency. The New People’s Army (NPA) aims to overthrow the Government through protracted guerrilla warfare. It is estimated to have 8,600 members.
There are reports of Muslim discrimination against Christians in areas where Muslims are the majority.
Animistic beliefs play a big part in daily living and greatly influence the lives of the majority Catholics. Filipino Christians are seeking an identity of their own.
Pray: For an amicable solution to the present political turmoil and political maturity to handle the Arroyo crisis; For a just and transparent government; For an efficient and corrupt-free judiciary: for honesty and integrity among the ruling officials; For godly and courageous Christians to be placed in positions of influence; and For the relationship between Christians and Muslims, that they will learn to respect and trust each other.
Pray for the Church: To be grounded in biblical values with adequate discipleship and accountability while they are seeking an identity of their own; for godly leaders that will help to bring unity across denominations; To be willing and able to respond to gross inequalities, corruption and moral failures in society; For humility, sensitivity and safety for the foreign missionaries (some have been kidnapped and killed by guerrillas, criminal gangs and religious extremists; For God to intervene in all matters relating to the conflicts between the Government and the insurgent groups; and For protection for civilians, especially women and children.
EAST TIMOR
Population: 857,000 (UN, 2005)
Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority, Mestizos (mixed race people)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (Most citizens retain some practices of animistic beliefs which are regarded as more cultural than religious.)
East Timor, one of only two majority Roman Catholic countries in Asia (besides the Philippines), is the youngest nation of the new millennium. Ir was internationally recognised as an independent state on May 20, 2002.
Today, many in East Timor still feel that justice has not been served, for Indonesia has “failed to give a credible judicial accounting for the 1999 atrocities”.
In July, a UN Commission of Experts was set up, giving the Indonesian government six months to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes against East Timorese in a special tribunal with “a team of international judicial and legal experts, preferably from the Asian region”.
Meanwhile, the governments of Indonesia and East Timor also set up a 10-member Commission of Truth and Friendship to look into the past violence against East Timorese.
In general, the political climate in the country is less than stable. Corruption in the executive and legislative branch is reported as not significant. The provision for an independent judiciary is respected but the system has by far been inefficient and at times inconsistent.
It remains weak, overloaded, with a lack of human resources, training and oversight of official in the legal system. As a result, the rights to due process and fair trial are often denied. The National Police Service is poorly equipped, under-trained and influenced by political pressure. There have been numerous allegation of excessive use of force and corruption.
Although the Constitution guarantees equal rights and responsibilities for men and women, women continue to be marginalised in the social, cultural, economic and political sectors. Gender-based violence is serious and widespread.
The Constitution also provides for freedom of conscience, religion, and worship for all persons and “stipulates that no one shall be persecuted or discriminated against on the basis of his or her religious conviction”. Nonetheless, it has been reported that non-Catholic religious groups are sometimes viewed with suspicion. At times, some Muslim groups and non-Catholic Christian groups have been victims of harassment.
The Catholic Church is the dominant religious institution in the country, and its priests and bishops are highly revered by the locals. Its strong and pervasive influence sometimes affects government decisions. In April, the church has in fact called for protest against the Government and for the prime minister’s resignation after a disagreement over the school curricula. The Church wanted the Catholic faith to be taught in schools while the Government rejected the move based on the country’s constitution that it is a secular state.
East Timor is ranked 158th out of 175 countries in the 2004 Human Development Report in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income. It is said to be the worst performer in East Asia and the Pacific, the world’s poorest nations at independence.
It is still facing “myriad problems caused by the legacy of Indonesia’s brutal occupation” and has yet to rebuild much of what was destroyed. The country is heavily dependent on foreign assistance. Meanwhile unemployment is skyrocketing and poverty remains widespread. 42% of the population live below poverty line.
PRAY: For political stability resulting from an efficient and righteous government; For men and women of integrity and of wisdom to be placed in leadership positions; Against all forms discrimination; For protection and respect for women and those of the minority religious groups; and For policies that will effectively eradicate poverty and improve economic performance.
PRAY FOR Protestant Christians: For unity, perseverance and courage to continue to be salt and light in all areas; and For restoration, reconciliation and healing.
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