By UCA News
Aung San Suu Kyi welcomes religious leaders' open letter,
calls on them to help unify the country's people
Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon has joined other interfaith
leaders in declaring their commitment to peace initiatives in strife-torn
Myanmar, a move welcomed by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
In an open letter to Myanmar's people, Cardinal Bo and 17
other members of a high-level delegation from Religions for Peace International
and Myanmar stated their commitment to peace and reconciliation efforts in a
country currently experiencing several internal conflicts.
"It is at a crucial moment in the history of this
country that we, as Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim leaders from Myanmar
and across the region, come to you in solidarity with hope for peace,"
began the letter presented to Suu Kyi in capital Naypyidaw on May 25.
The letter rejected the misuse of religion and race to
divide the people of Myanmar, which goes against the fundamental tenets of the
world's religious traditions and brings hatred, discrimination and violence.
"In our collective efforts to resolve inter-communal
conflicts and to advance national reconciliation, as Myanmar national and
international religious leaders, we wish to bring your prayers for peace to the
Panglong 21st Century Peace Conference," said the letter in relation to
local peace initiatives aimed at ending the country's internal conflicts.
The letter went on to say the delegation hoped to help
foster the peace and reconciliation process in the country through a series of
meetings, suggestions and displays of religious tolerance.
"We are committed to working with the Union
Government and other relevant actors to achieve a nationwide ceasefire
agreement and sustainable peace with the vision of a democratic federal system
in Myanmar," said the letter, which included Norway's Bishop Gunnar Stalsett
of Oslo and Venerable Ariya Wun Tha Bhiwun Sa, the abbot of Myawaddy Mingyi
Monastery in Mandalay, as signees.
"We are painfully witnessing increasing hostilities
and the large displacement of people in Kachin and Shan States, which further
weakens the peace and reconciliation process," said the letter, referring
to an increase in fighting between Myanmar's military and Kachin rebels that
has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians.
"We are committed to working with the Union Government
and other relevant actors to achieve a nationwide ceasefire agreement and
sustainable peace with the vision of a democratic federal system in
Myanmar."
The letter also highlighted the crisis in Rakhine State
and efforts being carried to resolve the crisis dubbed by the U.N. as ethnic
cleansing. More than 670,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine for Bangladesh since
September to avoid an anti-insurgency campaign being waged by Myanmar's
military.
"Good and laudable efforts are being advanced,
including the agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of
refugees and the invitation to the United Nations to facilitate this process,
urging priority to peace, development, education and human rights for all
communities in Rakhine State," said the letter.
The letter also called for "the exploration of
global sharing schemes" as ethnic groups battle for Myanmar's limited
resources, and suggested an international conference including the U.N. to keep
dialogue going.
Suu Kyi welcomed the suggestions for multi-religious
cooperation from the delegation during a meeting in Naypyidaw.
She said religious leaders can pave the way for
"progress for all" by encouraging their communities to work together
and promoting a more inclusive ideology that incorporates those who are
"left behind."
The delegation visited Rangoon and Naypyidaw from May
22-25.
Cardinal Bo and several other interfaith leaders also
went to strife-torn Rakhine State on May 27 where they visited transit and
reception centers while also meeting with Rohingya, Hindu and Mro communities.
From the air, the delegation saw hundreds of Rohingya
villages that were destroyed during the Myanmar military's counter-insurgency
campaign against Rohingya militants.
Read also:
Letter to the peoples of Myanmar: https://lnkd.in/g-DY6PC
Peace is possible in Myanmar: https://lnkd.in/gMAKEuY
Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide and Survival https://lnkd.in/gFA8nzg