June 27, 2017
Cardinal Charles
Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, has spoken out in support of the country’s
Rohingya minority, which has been the object of severe repression.
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| File Photo: Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar |
About 1.1 million
members of the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group in a predominantly Muslim
country, live in the state of Rakhine. In the past year the government of
Myanmar has been engaged in a campaign against the Rohingya, allegedly in
response to unrest in the region; the campaign has driven tens of thousands of
families from their homes into internment camps, and thousands more have fled
the country.
Human-rights
advocates have described the campaign against the Rohingya as an instance of
ethnic cleansing, involving gross violations of human rights. To date, the
government of Myanmar has dismissed claims of genocide.
“I am not an expert
in politics or international law,” said Cardinal Bo. “I am moved by human
suffering... The enormous suffering of the population of Rakhine is one of my
great concerns.” Read more: http://www.fides.org/en/news/62537-ASIA_MYANMAR_Cardinal_Bo_Serious_concern_for_the_tragedy_of_the_Rohingya#.WVNsIPl97ct
Cardinal Bo said
that the government of Myanmar to “move away from position that do not favor
peace” and to “work with the international community to investigate the crimes reported
by the UN in a truly independent manner that leads to justice.”