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ANTI
CONVERSION BILL FACES OPPOSITION |
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Colombo (Sri Lanka): U.S.
Congressmen are pressing Sri Lanka to drop its
controversial.
The proposed bill, called the "Prohibition of Forcible
Conversions," imposes fines of up to 500,000 Sri Lankan
rupees ($4,425 USD) and up to seven years in prison for
trying to convert a Sri Lankan citizen from one religion
to another by using "force, fraud or allurement."
The harshest punishments are aimed at those convicted of
converting women or children. The Jathika Hela Urumaya
political party, whose leadership is comprised of
Buddhist monks, drafted the bill.
According to Gospel For Asia, a leader of that party
went on record saying that US-funded Christian
missionaries are one of the greatest threats facing Sri
Lanka.
Ironically, Sri Lanka's constitution guarantees freedom
of thought, conscience and religion. That's what has
made the anti-conversion bill divisive. Debate has been
deferred amid opposition from Christians.
Craig Detweiler with Asian Access says many are already
working toward reconciliation, regardless of the
politics or jockeying for power that has gripped the
small island nation.
"One of our vice presidents serves as a pastor in
Colombo, Kithu Sevana Church. They're doing remarkable
things to bring Sinhalese and Tamils together in the
name of Christ, and yet there are proposed laws that
could make that a crime."
The pastor networks Asian Access supports have been
watching the anti-conversion saga. "We have pastors in
Mongolia, Japan and Thailand who are very concerned
about what is happening in Sri Lanka. If certain laws
are passed, maybe by a Buddhist majority there, it could
be exported to other countries."
"We're hopeful that the Christian community, which is a
small minority, will be able to broker a fragile peace
between the Buddhist majority Sinhalese and the Hindu
minority Tamil community, and that there may be healing
to a country that desperately needs it."
Sri Lanka is a colourful and highly-complex country
whose people have paid a heavy price in a decadeslong
civil war. According to reports, the death toll is
estimated at roughly 40 civilians every day, with more
than 100 wounded, as artillery shells and gun battles
between the two sides devastate the Sri Lankan
northeast.
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This page
is updated on April 1, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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