E/CN.4/1999/58 page 14 centre for information and advisory assistance in connection with harmful sectarian organizations. The law is aimed at certain practices of sectarian organizations regarded as harmful to individuals and society or as impairing human dignity; it also stipulates that the harmful nature of a sectarian group is to be evaluated by reference to the principles contained in the Belgian Constitution, laws, decrees and orders and in the international human rights instruments ratified by Belgium. 43. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Belgian authorities for their well-researched, specific and instructive reply, and notes that meticulous and correctly-presented information makes it possible to avoid generalizations and routine assumptions. In his opinion, Belgium's approach to the problem is well worth following since it could result in a useful yardstick if it succeeded in making a clear-cut practical and operational distinction between what did and what did not constitute freedom of religion. Bhutan 44. It is alleged that Buddhism is given preferential treatment and that the practice of Buddhism is compulsory for all in schools, on pain of punishment. In 1997 several Buddhist nuns and religious teachers were allegedly arrested for taking part in peaceful demonstrations and their monasteries were closed by the authorities. 45. Bhutan provided a detailed description of the country's situation and the historical background of religions: the two principal recognized religions are Buddhism and Hinduism, the Bhutanese being free to practise and profess the religion of their choice. In accordance with a 1974 National Assembly resolution, there are restrictions on proselytizing in public. School curricula, with the exception of those of monastic schools, make no provision for religious instruction or practice; however, a prayer common to Buddhism and Hinduism is recited daily in all schools, and prayers are said in boarding schools at the secondary level; no problems are raised by these prayers. The Bhutanese authorities have stated that: “Allegations of arrests of monks and religious teachers have been made in the context of allegations 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 ... One hundred fifty persons were arrested in eastern Bhutan in 1997 for their involvement in disturbance of the 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 charge-sheeted 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 of these people to incite communal violence. As a result most of these 150 persons were apprehended by the local people and handed over to the Royal Bhutan Police. It may be pointed out that