wfn.org | LWI 2009-018 Solidarity with Oppressed Groups A Christian Responsibility

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Solidarity with Oppressed Groups A Christian Responsibility
Churches Urged to Advocate for Dalit Rights 

BANGKOK/GENEVA, 27 March 2009 (LWI) - Church representatives at
the recent "Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits"
in Bangkok have underlined the need for consistent implementation
of comprehensive affirmative action policies in order to protect
marginalized groups from discrimination. 

The conference workshop "Affirmative Action and Advocacy in
Affected Countries" determined that members of ostracized groups
such as Dalits remain social, economic and political outcasts,
even in countries with laws targeting prejudicial practices. 

>Politicized Divide in India

In India, affirmative action policies exist to address specific
issues such as bonded and child labor, manual scavenging and
jogni (ritual prostitution). However, Mr. Paul Divakar, a Dalit
activist representing the National Campaign for Dalit Human
Rights, noted that "Dalit reality in India is not a mark of
national pride. It is in fact a shame." 

He indicated that, despite the existence of different schemes
and programs to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the poor
and marginalized, the plight of the Dalits still remains largely
unchanged. It is reported that 80 percent of Dalits live in rural
areas, 86 percent are landless, 60 percent are dependent on
occasional employment and only 30 percent are literate. 

As a Dalit social activist, Divakar feels that the divide in the
name of caste is politicized. When not enforced, he contended,
constitutional laws in India - in particular those intended to
integrate women and other marginalized groups - become a farce
and a mockery of the political structure, and cited the example
of affirmative action "reservation policies." 

In theory these policies allocate a proportionate percentage of
places in education, employment and politics to the Dalit
populace. However, as Divakar pointed out, many prestigious
educational institutions such as the Indian Institute of
Technology or the Indian Institute of Management do not abide by
the reservation policies. 

Divakar emphasized that this discriminatory situation prevails
not only in education but also in employment and politics, with
the tacit knowledge of the government. As a result, large numbers
of Dalits are "simmering with resentment" about the opportunities
denied to them. 

"What pains me," lamented Divakar, "is that the few Dalits who
are in the legislative assembly of the government, whom the
Dalits count on to be their spokespersons to bring about changes
in their lives, are under vested interests, hijacked to the power
games of politics." 

>Not a Uniquely Indian Problem

Participants learned that similar dynamics can be found in other
countries. While Nepal also has anti-discriminatory laws in
place, Dalits there, who constitute 20 percent of the population,
share the same predicament of the Dalits in India, according to
Ms. Indira Ghale of the Feminist Dalit Organization in Nepal.
"Though reservation policies [are in place] in Nepal, Dalits are
deprived of their right to education, employment and politics.
They, without other options, are pushed [into] menial jobs." 

Other South Asian countries where caste is a defining reality,
such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have yet to enact
affirmative action legislature. Rev. Vincent Manoharan,
international advocacy secretary of the National Campaign for
Dalit Human Rights in Pakistan, stated that all Pakistani Dalits,
whether Muslim, Hindu or Christian, face discrimination from the
government. “The Islamic state does not recognize the Dalit
issue,” he commented. Studies among Hindu Dalits reveal that
they are mostly bonded laborers, and Dalit Christians are doubly
marginalized. 

Manoharan pointed out that Dalits' primary form of employment in
Bangladesh is as "sweepers" cleaning streets and collecting
garbage. 

In Sri Lanka, despite ethnic struggle having a stronger impact,
caste-based thinking is prevalent even among Buddhists. Though
not given the name "Dalit", Dalits of Indian origin who are
citizens of Sri Lanka do not have the right to vote. 

The workshop revealed the need for anti-discriminatory policies
outside the region as well, even if the concept of "caste" is not
expressed as such. 

In the Philippines, for example, there is no caste system,
according to Rev. David Tabo-oy, dean of the Episcopal Cathedral
of the Resurrection in Baguio City. However, "the society is
divided [into] majorities and minorities. The minorities are
[the] indigenous people similar to the Aborigines of Australia."
He noted that there is legislature in place to protect indigenous
people, but at the same time other laws such as the Mining Act
actually deprive indigenous people of their rights, in this case
to land.

Countries such as the United States of America, Ireland and
Malaysia have enacted affirmative action policies in order to
protect excluded groups. 

>Churches Called to Solidarity

The church representatives at the workshop called on the global
ecumenical community to be more proactive in ensuring that their
respective governments enact and implement policies targeting
discrimination.

In the eyes of Lutheran World Federation vice president Bishop
Dr Zephania Kameeta of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the
Republic of Namibia, a universal human rights issue is at stake
and, as such, advocacy is not optional for the church:
"Discrimination and oppression is a scandal on humanity. Our
solidarity with Dalits is not a favor; it is our Christian
calling and responsibility to be involved in the global Dalit
solidarity process." 

(A contribution by Timothy Melvyn, communication officer for the
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India) 

Over 100 representatives and leaders of various churches and
organizations worldwide attended the "Global Ecumenical
Conference on Justice for Dalits: A Call for Solidarity from the
Global Church" on 21-24 March in Bangkok, Thailand. The
conference was organized by the LWF and the World Council of
Churches in partnership with the Christian Conference of Asia.

More information on the conference is available at 
http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OIahr/OIAHR-Dalit_Justice.html

>*        *          *

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