A/53/279 of discrimination by the Royal Government against the Nyingmpa school of Buddhism in favour of the Drukpa Kargyupa school. This allegation is totally absurd as no difference of treatment exists between the two schools, which are well-integrated and coexist in total harmony ... 150 persons were arrested in eastern Bhutan in 1997 for their involvement in disturbance of public peace and attempts to incite communal discord. On the basis of the investigations carried out by the police, 38 persons were released immediately and 112 were chargesheeted in a court of law for collaborating with subversive elements in Nepal, accepting money from them and carrying out activities such as organizing mob demonstrations by enticing innocent villagers with money and trying to incite sectarian violence. On the day slated for the demonstrations in October 1997, a conflict emerged between the above persons and the villagers, who were against the attempts to incite communal violence. As a result, most of the 150 persons were apprehended by the local people and handed over to the Royal Bhutan police. It may be pointed out that one Thinley Yoezer of the Drametse Buddhist school was the main person responsible for inciting and instigating violence among people in eastern Bhutan. It was on his directives that many active collaborators spread false and malicious allegations against the Royal Government, conducted several meetings and plotted to take up seditious activities in eastern Bhutan. To finance those activities, Thinley Yoezer received a total of Nu 125,000 and a large amount of seditious literature from subversive elements in Nepal.” The authorities further explained that a monastery, as was the case with any place of worship, could not be closed; and that several recently established religious schools had been closed following an inspection which had revealed that the curriculum, teachers and premises of these establishments did not meet minimum standards, but that they could reopen once those standards had been met. 45. In Bulgaria, a climate of intolerance in the media and society reportedly affected minorities in the areas of religion and belief (Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of God, Emmanuel Bible Center). 46. In Cyprus, in the territories controlled by the Turkish army, a policy of religious intolerance and discrimination is said to affect non-Muslims and their religious property (over 500 places of worship and cemeteries have been destroyed or desecrated; for example, the Armenian monastery of Saint Makar has been converted into a hotel). 47. In Egypt, Professor Hassan Hanafi is said to have been denounced as an apostate by the Al-Azhar scholars because of his interpretation of Islam. 48. In Eritrea, the authorities allegedly plan to implement a declaration which would impose drastic restrictions on religious communities by prohibiting them from engaging in any activities other than religious services. As a result, religious properties such as schools and clinics could be officially confiscated. 49. The Government of Eritrea replied that its legislation was in conformity with the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. In order to remedy past situations characterized by the delivery of health- and education-related services on the basis of religious preference, since independence, the Government, after consulting with religious institutions and in cooperation with the World Bank, had decided to establish a programme entitled “The Community Rehabilitation Fund” which would make the above-mentioned services available to all. It had been agreed that religious institutions would focus their activities on proselytism, seminaries and charitable work and that they would contribute to the Community Rehabilitation Fund. Furthermore, the administration of schools and clinics associated with religious institutions would be secularized although the existing staff would be retained. It was made clear that this would not involve any confiscation of property. 50. In the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, a Jehovah’s Witness is reported to have been sentenced to prison for refusing to perform military service. A court allegedly declared that he belonged to a sect and could not, therefore, appeal on the basis of religion. Furthermore, under the 1997 Act on freedom of religion and of belief, members of communities which have had no official existence in the Russian Federation during the past 15 years are prohibited from any proselytizing activities. 51. In Greece, a professor was reportedly arrested for having made several references to Buddhism while teaching German at a private school. A pastor in the Greek Evangelical Church of Thessalonika is also said to have been arrested for failure to possess an official house of prayer licence. 52. In Uttar Pradesh, India, members of a nationalist Hindu organization reportedly carried out a harassment campaign against the Assembly of Church of Believers. 53. In Indonesia, a Muslim cleric was reportedly arrested in North Aceh Province because he had not recited the Friday prayer as required by an agreement concluded between the Government and the religious authorities of the mosque. In 9