E/CN.4/1995/91
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first anniversary at Saint Nicolas Guadalupe. Scores of men, women and
children were injured. The place of worship was heavily damaged and 11
vehicles belonging to church members were said to have been destroyed and
burnt.
In June 1993, at least 454 members of various Protestant
communities (Presbyterians, Pentacostalists and Adventists) and Catholics
of San Juan Chamula municipality were reportedly expelled by force for
having abandoned the Chamula religion and converted to Christianity.
Anyone found reading the Bible has been threatened with expulsion from
Chamula lands. Christians who do not participate in the local Chamula
festivals are said to be marginalized and risk of stirring up popular
resentment.
On 6 August 1993, five Presbyterian families were reportedly
expelled from the San Juan Chamula d’Ardenza Uno community. Two
brothers, Juan and Salvador Patishtan, received notice of expulsion and
the mayor of the village threatened that they would be beaten and killed
if they attempted to return. When the families tried to return to their
homes on 19 August, they were allegedly beaten and detained in the
San Juan Chamula prison for one night.
On 30 January 1994, an armed man is said to have attacked
80 Protestants attending a religious service at the Bethel church in
Cerro de la Bandera, a town in the State of Durango. Cruz Salvador, a
member of the congregation was fatally wounded and Eutilia Flores
received serious injuries. The few Protestants in the region have
allegedly been persecuted because of their faith."
Mongolia
In a communication dated 5 September 1994, the Special Rapporteur sent
the following comments to the Government of Mongolia:
"According to the information received, discrimination is being
practised against Christians. It is claimed that, from a legal
standpoint, the Law on Church-State Relations adopted on 30 November 1993
contravenes freedom of religion and the principle of non-discrimination.
It would seem to be necessary to take note of the six following articles
of this Law:
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Article 4.2 ’... The State will respect the predominant
position of the Buddhist religion in Mongolia’;
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Article 4.7 ’... The organized propagation of religion from
outside are forbidden’;
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Article 4.8 ’The absolute number of lamas and clergy and the
location of churches are controlled and regulated by State’;
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Article 7.5 ’It is forbidden to introduce activities which
are either alien to the traditions and customs of the
Mongolian people, or inhumane’;