By LYNCH COWAN
KUCHING: A group of 20 or so protesters gathered yesterday at the waterfront here to raise awareness of religious intolerance and peace in society.
“The peace protest today is related to a recent incident in South Korean where a woman in her early 20s was killed as a result of a pastor’s aggression,” said Ning Bong, 28, person in-charge of the protest.
According to a statement from the Human Rights Association (HAC) for Victims of Coercive Conversion Programmes, the woman was killed because her religious denomination was not acceptable to the aggressors.
“Since the death of Gu Ji-In, a victim of a coercive conversion programme, last year alone it is reported that 147 victims have been reached,” she said.
“Every human has certain rights. A society without justice cannot possibly achieve peace, so we must unite to eradicate any action that goes against peace.
“Even in a developed country like South Korea, there are organisations that are not regulated, much to the detriment of its citizens.”
She also added that in the past 10 years at least 12,000 pastors registered with the Christian Council Korea (CCK) have been convicted in court for these crimes.
“Even as we speak, the organisation continues to run coercive conversion programmes that have resulted in traumatic experiences, even death, for unwilling participants,” Ning continued.
“We speak out for those who suffer in silence, because we want a world of peace, equal rights and fighting against corruption.”
