Pope calls for pursuit of truth over Sri Lanka's violent past

COLOMBO - Pope Francis said on Tuesday Sri Lanka needed to find out the truth of what happened during its long civil war in order to consolidate peace and heal scars between religious communities.

Francis appeared to make the case for a truth commission to investigate the Buddhist-majority nation's 26-year civil war, an election pledge of the government voted into office on Thursday.

"The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity," he said on arrival at Bandaranaike international airport.

The war pitted mainly Hindu Tamils against the Sinhalese, and mostly Buddhist, majority. It ended in 2009 with a crushing defeat of the Tamil rebels in an army onslaught that killed up to 40,000 civilians, according to a 2011 U.N. estimate.

On his second Asian excursion, Francis will spend two days in Sri Lanka before going to the Philippines, part of his outreach aimed at shoring-up the Church's presence in developing nations.

Francis carried a message of inter-faith dialogue that chimed with an unusually harmonious atmosphere in Sri Lanka that last week elected a government promising increased respect for long-suffering religious minorities.

About 70 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhists. Hindus make up about 13 percent and Muslims 10 percent. Catholics are about 7 percent, split between ethnic Sinhalese and Tamils.

In comments that seemed directed at former president and wartime leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost office after a resurgence in religious tensions, Francis called for a more inclusive society in Sri Lanka.

"The great work of rebuilding must embrace improving infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and the full inclusion of each member of society," he said.

Rajapaksa is feted as a hero for ending three decades of war. He also presided over a period of fast economic growth and infrastructure reconstruction.

However, he refused to allow a fully independent inquiry into alleged war crimes and presided over a period of growing repression of religious minorities as well as political opponents.

Pope Francis had first-hand experience of devastating civil strife as a priest in his native Argentina during its "Dirty War". A 50,000 page truth report after that war revealed shocking details of kidnappings, rapes and torture by the military junta.

He also carried a message with a wider resonance in the wake of Islamist militant violence in Nigeria and France last week.

"It is a continuing tragedy in our world that so many communities are at war with themselves," he said.

"The inability to reconcile differences and disagreements, whether old or new, has given rise to ethnic and religious tensions, frequently accompanied by outbreaks of violence."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dalai Lama says no problem with gay marriage

WASHINGTON - The celibate Dalai Lama has thrown his considerable moral weight behind gay marriage, condemning homophobia and saying sex was fine as long as it was consensual.

The Buddhist monk offered his views on the hot-button social issue during his latest tour of the United States, where he was welcomed Thursday in Washington by top lawmakers and offered the customary prayer that opens each Senate session.

The Dalai Lama, in an interview, said that gay marriage was up to each government and was ultimately "individual business."

"If two people -- a couple -- really feel that way is more practical, more sort of satisfaction, both sides fully agree, then okay," he told an online talk show by veteran radio and television host Larry King.

The Dalai Lama said though that people should still follow their own religions' rules on sexuality.

"But then for a non-believer, that is up to them. So there are different forms of sex -- so long (as it is) safe, okay, and (if both people) fully agree, okay," the Dalai Lama said in English.

"Bully, abuse -- that's totally wrong. That's a violation of human rights," he said.

The Dalai Lama is Tibet's exiled spiritual leader and one of the most prominent leaders in Buddhism.

Gay marriage has won growing acceptance in the Western world and Latin America. But no predominantly Buddhist nation allows gay marriage, although several places with Buddhist influence including Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam have increasingly debated the issue.

The Dalai Lama, who fled his Chinese-ruled homeland for India in 1959 and later won the Nobel Peace Prize, has prided himself on progressive positions and described himself as a feminist.

But his past comments on gay rights have occasionally bothered some of his Western audiences. In one of his books, the Dalai Lama, while not explicitly criticizing homosexuality, said that sex should only involve "organs intended for sexual intercourse."

'The leading nation'

The Dalai Lama, whose meeting on February 21 with President Barack Obama was angrily condemned by China, separately told lawmakers that one of his main goals was "preservation of Tibetan culture."

Offering advice as a "longtime friend" of the United States, the Dalai Lama said that he considered the nation to be "really a champion of democracy, freedom."

"These traditional values are, I think, very, very relevant in today's world. After all, you are the leading nation in the free world, So, (show) self-confidence," the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama sat between House Speaker John Boehner, who said he wanted to show bipartisan support for the Buddhist monk, and the Republican leader's often bitter rival Nancy Pelosi, a longtime activist on the Tibetan cause. He later met top senators.

"What is happening in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world," said Pelosi, the leader of Obama's Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.

More than 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in recent years to protest what they describe as a stifling Chinese control over their religious, cultural and political freedoms. Obama called for the protection of Tibetans' rights in a statement after his meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Reflecting on mortality

In contrast to his meeting with Obama, which the White House took pains to portray as private, the Dalai Lama was accompanied in his talks at Congress by Lobsang Sangay, who was elected in 2011 as the prime minister of Tibetans in exile.

The Dalai Lama told the lawmakers that he had transferred his political role to the elected leader.

While the globe-trotting monk has been instrumental in throwing a worldwide spotlight on Tibet, he has increasingly been looking ahead to the future of the movement without him.

The Dalai Lama appeared to reflect on his own mortality as he served as the guest Senate chaplain.

Offering prayers to the Buddha "and all other gods," the Dalai Lama recited what he described as "my favorite prayer," which he recites daily for inner strength.

"As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too remain to help dispel the misery of the world," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Asian Muslims celebrate Eid as 14 killed in Afghanistan

KABUL - Muslims across Asia celebrated Eid al-Fitr Thursday with lavish feasts and religious services but festivities in Afghanistan were marred by an explosion at a graveyard that killed 14 women and children.

The attack, which occurred in eastern Nangahar province, came as a group of women and youngsters gathered to commemorate the late wife of a pro-government tribal leader as part of their Eid prayers.

Earlier, President Hamid Karzai appealed to the Taliban to resist being controlled by foreigners and said the militants should support their own country.

"You are working for others, (foreign) guns are put on your shoulders, and innocent Afghan people are being killed by it, homes are destroyed," he said. "Give up on it, be Afghan."

Elsewhere in Asia, Indonesia was among the first countries in the Islamic world to kick off Eid celebrations, but fears of fresh attacks at Buddhist sites prompted a security clampdown days after a temple bombing.

The past week has seen an exodus from cities in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, with people taking to cars, boats and planes to head home to their families across the archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.

While most Indonesians were celebrating, it was an anxious time for the country's minority Buddhists after an attack on a temple in Jakarta on Sunday.

One person was injured when a small bomb exploded at the Ekayana temple as hundreds were praying, an attack motivated by anger at the plight of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

"Buddhist temples are one of the key locations we are securing," national police spokesman Ronny Sompie told AFP.

Malaysia's Islamic authorities called for Muslims to strengthen the unity of the nation in the aftermath of controversial elections in May that saw the Muslim Malay ruling party retain its grip on power.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to host up to 80,000 guests as he opens his home to celebrate the end of the fasting month.

Muslims in Australia were among those to celebrate Eid on Thursday, along with Malaysia and the Philippines, with Gulf states expected to follow. Pakistan, Hong Kong and North African nations are expected to start festivities on Friday.

Leaders of Australia's ruling Labor Party including foreign minister Bob Carr and members of the opposition addressed worshippers outside Sydney's Lakemba mosque, rallying support ahead of national polls on September 7.

In Beijing, Chinese Hui Muslims exchanged sweets and received blessings at the city's historic Nijuie Mosque, built in the 10th century.

Many of China's estimated 40 million Muslims live in the country's eastern regions of Ningxia and Xinjiang, which last month saw its worst ethnic violence in recent years that left at least 35 people dead.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Whatever makes you happy': Dalai Lama kicks off tour with Russell Brand

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - The Dalai Lama kicked off Saturday a series of talks across Britain, forming an unlikely double act with comedian Russell Brand.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader began his week-long program at the Manchester Arena in northwest England, with a talk to young people entitled "Stand Up And Be The Change."

The Buddhist monk was in jovial form as he bantered with Brand, 37, the ex-husband of US pop star Katy Perry, who is as well-known for his hedonistic past as he is for his stand-up routines and film roles.

"Day is for work, night is for sleep but you can do what makes you happy," the 76-year-old said.

"Thank you for sanctioning my lifestyle," Brand replied.

"Going from junkie to Shagger of the Year...three times... to now introducing the Dalai Lama. It has been an interesting journey," the hirsute comic said.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, said the future was in the hands of youth.

"The 21st century belongs to you. My generation belongs to the 20th century, it has already gone so my generation are ready to say bye bye," he said.

"I think quite certain this century can be more pleasant, more peaceful, and more equal."

He said dialogue was the key to avoiding violent conflicts.

"At the age of 16 I lost my freedom. At the age of 24 I lost my own country. During these 50 or 60 years I have faced a lot of problems but I never give up hope. Hope based on truth, hope based on reason," he continued.

He is due to give further talks and teachings in Manchester before heading to London and then Edinburgh, Dundee, and Inverness in Scotland.

Speaking Friday, he was asked about the economic crisis in the European Union.

"It is very, very serious but then if you ask me what my advice is then I say I am not an expert," he said.

"You have experience of the First World War and the Second World War by rebuilding.

"Looking at Germany they rebuilt their economy as did Japan, so why not?"

The Tibetan leader, who fled his homeland for northern India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, announced last year that he was giving up his political role to focus on spiritual duties.

Despite his calls for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet, Beijing has repeatedly accused him of trying to split Tibet from the rest of China and has stepped up pressure on world leaders not to meet him.

source: interaksyon.com