China Meeting Discusses Kanungu Massacres

The Monitor/November 11, 2000

The infamous mass killing at Kanungu in Uganda was a subject of debate at a Nov. 09 meeting in Beijing China.

The meeting whose theme was 'Destructive Cults' was attended by more than 100 experts from eight countries plagued by quasi-religious organizations. "The meeting was to focus on promoting international cooperation and academic studies for the prevention and control of destructive cults that claim human lives," said an organizer with the China Association for the Advancement of International Friendship (CAAIF). Participants were from the United States, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, Uganda, Canada, Russia and China.

In March this year, over 1,000 members of a cult, The Movement for The Restoration of Ten Commandments of God, in Kanungu, Rukungiri district were burnt to death by their leaders.

Cheng Siyuan, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Wan Guoquan, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the opening ceremony. They serve as chairman and consultant of the CAAIF respectively.

The meeting was convened at a time when destructive cults have become rampant in devastating society, violating human rights and causing concern of the international community, according to Tan Songlin, vice-chairman of the CAAIF.

The meeting, the first of its kind in Asia, called for more attention from various governments, the general public and civil organizations to the issue of destructive cults.

It is also sought to promote international cooperation in combating such evil forces and safeguarding human rights.