democratic countries. Here in Bermuda, where churches abound and religious tolerance is supreme, it is hard to imagine that, elsewhere in the world, others are not so fortunate.

Even as you are reading this, people are being arrested, tortured, imprisoned and killed simply because of their faith. Still others have disappeared without trace, and many are spending their 20th year in captivity because their beliefs are at odds with those who persecute them.

The problem is so acute that the international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, is mounting a worldwide campaign to highlight it during the first quarter of 1993.

"The campaign's will highlight the cases of 14 people from various countries around the world who have been victims of imprisonment, disappearance or execution, primarily for expressing religious beliefs,'' Amnesty International's section co-ordinator, Ms. Lena Ostroff, explained.

"Every day there are thousands of men, women and children who are victims of these abuses, primarily for exercising their freedom of religion -- something we take for granted here in Bermuda.'' Citing the case of five priests and bishops in the Republic of China, Ms.

Ostroff said: "These are elderly priests in poor health who are imprisoned under poor conditions solely for their loyalty to the Vatican. Roman Catholicism is illegal in China.'' Unlike Bermuda, where members of the Baha'i community worship freely, that religion is not tolerated in Iran, and Amnesty is focussing attention on the case of one Baha'i man who was taken in for questioning and has never been seen again.

"He was from a prominent family who was taken in for questioning and then executed without a trial. His family don't even know where he is buried. He had committed no crime, but was killed because he was a Baha'i,'' Ms. Ostroff related.

In Colombia, a nun who was running an orphanage and teaching poor children in a rural area was shot by soldiers in front of her young charges; an Italian missionary in Rwanda who was similarly engaged was also shot dead by security forces.

"These were people who were putting their lives at stake to help the less fortunate,'' Ms. Ostoff explained.

In Iraq, an 82-year-old Shi'a Moslem and well-known mosque preacher "disappeared'' after he was arrested and his present whereabouts are unknown.

Two Buddist monks in Vietnam were arrested in 1984, and are currently serving 20 years imprisonment for their religious beliefs.

A Costa Rican human rights activist in the Methodist church was arrested six months after he arrived in Honduras looking for work. One day he left his home and has never been seen again. Despite confirmed reports that he was alive a year later, Honduran Government officials are still procrastinating about providing further information.

In Zaire, at least 37 people, including a ten-year-old boy, were killed when soldiers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration organised by members of the Roman Catholic church.

While these examples give only the merest glimpse into the extent of religious persecution worldwide, they are intended to awaken people in Bermuda to a tragic state of affairs.

"Countries around the world routinely arrest and execute thousands upon thousands of people for their beliefs,'' Ms. Ostroff said. "I think it is hard for people in Bermuda to understand the extent of the problem and what it means.

" One of the reasons I felt it was important for Amnesty to do the campaign here is because I know that many Bermudians are very religious.

Religion is a very important part of their lives, and people have never questioned their right to get up on Saturday or Sunday mornings and attend the church of their choice.

"We would like to let Bermudians know that there are many people throughout the world who are not that fortunate, and that they can do something about it.'' Specifically, "doing something about it'' means writing or signing pre-written letters to the appropriate governments protesting the injustices.

"Letters are the main thrust of Amnesty's work and we invite Bermudians to stop at our campaign table, which operates every Friday in the Walkway on Reid Street between 12 noon and 2 p.m.,'' Ms. Ostroff said.

Letters will also be available for signing in the Christian Bookstore in the Washington Mall as well as at the Morning Light Gallery and Bookstore in Dockyard.

"Of course, all the churches have also been invited to participate, so hopefully the congregations will have an opportunity to sign letters right in their own churches: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Moslem Community Centre,'' Ms. Ostroff noted.

But do such letters really do any good? "A group here `adopted' a priest in China and students at Mount St. Agnes were also working on the case. He was released last year, so letters do indeed work,'' Ms. Ostroff assured. "Well over 40,000 people have had their lives saved as a result of Amnesty International's letter-writing campaigns.'' Of course, for every life that is saved there are thousands which aren't, but Ms. Ostroff wisely counters that argument with a better one: "We either sit around and watch TV and do nothing, or we can write a letter and know that we are doing something. I urge people to take a moment and be aware of how lucky they are to be living here. There are other people around the world who need their assistance.'' Noting that it takes just a few minutes out of someone's life to try and help another by signing a letter, Ms. Ostroff said: "I always ask people: `What else are you going to do this week that takes ten minutes and can save someone's life?' There are many times when we think our lives are but a grain of sand, but we can make a difference. Whatever we do is a blessing.'' The section co-ordinator also said that local representatives of Amnesty International would be happy to speak to any group or organisation wishing to learn more about cases of religious persecution, and also to provide them with letters to sign.

Amnesty International is also very effective in making heads of powerful nations more aware of human rights when it comes to dispensing foreign aid.

"When the President of the United States, for example, decides to give aid to a Third World country, human rights is now recognised as a determinant.

Governments are more reluctant to give money to a country with an atrocious human rights record,'' Ms. Ostroff said.

IN THE FACE OF DEATH -- These young Roman Catholics in Kinshaha, Zaire, who were participating in a peaceful demonstration following a mass for peace and hope, were among those killed and wounded by Special Presidential Division troops who attacked the crowd with rifles, hot water cannons, metal-tipped canes and tear gas.