Guatemala. There is no government policy of discrimination, but a lack of resources and political will to enforce existing laws and to implement the Peace Accords limits the free expression of indigenous religious practice. Indigenous leaders note that Mayan culture does not receive the official recognition that it is due. The Government has not provided mechanisms for indigenous control of or free access to ceremonial sites considered sacred within indigenous culture. Individuals seeking to practice traditional religious ceremonies in sacred sites must pay an entrance fee or request permission far in advance from the Historical Anthropological Institute (a division of the Ministry of Culture). The Government's use of sacred sites as revenue-generating tourist destinations is considered by some indigenous groups to be an affront to their spiritual rights. In October 2001, the Government swore in the Commission for the Definition of Sacred Places to address such issues. However, the Commission has not taken action to address these indigenous concerns since its inception.

India. The status of religious freedom improved in a number of ways, yet problems remain in some areas. During most of the period covered by this report, the central Government was led by a coalition called the National Democratic Alliance. The leading party in the coalition was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist party with links to Hindu extremist groups that have been implicated in violent acts against Christians and Muslims. The BJP-led government sometimes did not act effectively to counter societal attacks against religious minorities and attempts by state and local governments to limit religious freedom. This failure resulted in part from the legal constraints inherent in the country's federal structure, and in part from shortcomings in the law enforcement and justice systems. Tensions between Muslims and Hindus, and to an extent between Christians and Hindus, were a problem. Attacks on religious minorities occurred in several states. Some extremists saw ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks on religious minorities as signals that such violence could be committed with impunity. There are anti-conversion laws in several states. In late May, a new coalition, the United Progressive Alliance, came to power and pledged to respect the country's traditions of secular government and religious tolerance, and to pay particular attention to the rights of religious minorities.

Indonesia. The Government recognizes only five major religions. Persons of other faiths frequently experienced official discrimination, often in the context of civil registration of marriages and births, and the issuance of identity cards. Security forces occasionally tolerated discrimination against and abuse of religious groups by private actors, and the Government at times failed to punish perpetrators. Sectarian clashes claimed at least 46 lives in Central Sulawesi and at least 47 in the Malukus. The Government took steps to halt the surge in violence in the Malukus and Central Sulawesi. Nevertheless, some members of the Christian and Muslim communities in these conflict zones alleged that members of the military and police forces either carried out or supported some attacks.