ASIA/MYANMAR - Cardinal Bo: "A healing process for Myanmar"

Tuesday, 26 September 2017 refugees   religious minorities   ethnic minorities   justice   peace   rohingya   islam  

Yangone (Agenzia Fides) - "The recent sad and tragic events in our country that have hit thousands of Muslims, Hindus and others have brought the world's attention here. The start of violence and aggressive response are deplorable. We feel great compassion towards thousands of Muslims, Hindus, and populations of rakhine, mro and many other ethnic groups who are displaced. This is a tragedy that should not happen. We strongly believe that aggressive responses without integrated policies to building long-term peace are counterproductive", says Cardinal Charles Maung Bo in a statement sent to Agenzia Fides, speaking about the crisis of the Rohingya refugees in the West of Myanmar. Two months before Pope Francis’ visit to Myanmar (27-30 December), the Cardinal expresses the hope of a "healing future" for the wounds that afflict the country.
In the text of the statement sent to Fides, Cardinal Bo shares "the concern expressed by Aung San Suu Kyi in her recent speech to the UN, for all the forms of violence" and, taking note of the attacks she suffered from the Western press, the Cardinal notes that "stigmatizing her response is counterproductive". The Cardinal reminds everyone of "the difficult circumstances in which Aung San Suu Kyi carried out a role in the government, the many humanitarian challenges that her government had to face in a short space of time, the role of the military imposed by the Constitution in terms of security".
The Cardinal welcomes and shares the issues raised regarding the rights of the people living in the state of Rakhine, of the return of refugees, of their development and social promotion, and notes with favor that Aung San Suu Kyi "has established a special commission to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission": a worthy initiative of appreciation and collaboration of the international community.
"All of us must pass from a wounded past to a future of healing. Let the lesson of the past illuminate our future. Peace based on justice is possible, peace is the only possible path", concludes the text.
In the recent United Nations General Assembly, Myanmar rejected the accusation of "ethnic cleansing", one month after the outbreak of violence which forced about 400,000 Muslim Rohingyas to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the situation of the Muslim population has not improved and humanitarian assistance is urgently needed. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2017)


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