Yangon (
AsiaNews) - "Interreligious dialogue would be the best solution to solve
the Rohingya issue . Serious dialogue among religious leaders would have more
weight than any political decision", says Msgr . Charles
Bo, Archbishop of Yangon , commenting on an issue of major tension in Myanmar
after the military dictatorship . The
situation is very delicate and at the center of a vast debate. In
particular, after the call by the United
Nations in a resolution on 20 November urging Naypyidaw to grant citizenship
to the Muslim minority. A call immediately
rejected by the Burmese authorities , who believe the Rohingyas are "
illegal immigrants " from Bangladesh , an opinion shared by the rest of the
main opposition party , the National League for Democracy ( NLD) lead by Aung
San Suu Kyi. People
should refrain from making rash statements, reflects the prelate , because in
these cases "silence is golden" . At
the same time it is necessary to promote a "serious reflection - he warns
- to figure out which roads to travel to resolve the issue ."
The
escalation of violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the western state of
Rakhine has exacerbated the tensions between the different ethnic groups and
religious denominations that characterize Myanmar, the theater last
year of a bloody fight between Arakanese and Rohingya Muslims. The
rape and murder in May 2012 of a young Buddhist woman sparked a spiral of
terror , which caused hundreds of deaths and destroyed homes with at least 160
thousand displaced people who have sought refuge abroad , to escape attacks by the
extremists Buddhist group 969.
"The
situation of the Rohingya is very delicate and at the center of a vast debate
" says Msgr . Bo
, that " it's unlikely that the United Nations can exert real pressure on
Myanmar." It
is true that Muslims are "victims and subject to persecution more in
Myanmar " rather than in other parts of the world , he says, but what can
we say about " non-Muslims in Islamic countries ? ! And this is the
question that the Buddhist
monks here in Myanmar always pose. "
The
Archbishop of Yangon explains that "Rohingya means the Rakhine population
: they are defined the population of Rakhine State , however, there are no Rohingyas
but only Bangali " . "The
point is that, long ago, a hundred years ago, they came to Myanmar. They - Msgr
. Bo added - have the right to citizenship and the restrictions against them
should be removed. At the same time , there is
a large number who only recently moved to Rakhine State ... a few years ago. Citizenship
must be assessed case by case . Certainly it can not be generalized".
The
prelate believes " the good will of all" is needed: " The fear
that citizens have of Muslims - he said - is in some ways understandable. And
the international Muslim community must strive to understand the situation.
Having said that , I feel compassion for
the Muslims of the country. They live in situations of constant concern and
threat to their safety. They a subject to constant attacks".
The solution ? The
Archbishop of Yangon says it is based on inter-religious dialogue . "The
Buddhist, Muslim and Christian leadership should meet more often and show more
understanding. Where there is dialogue, hate speech and misunderstandings give
way to solidarity and empathy ." For
this he asks that schools teach religion so that pupils ' can learn about the positive
aspects of other faiths . " And even the Buddhist
monks, Msgr . Bo,
should learn "how much beauty there is in Christianity and Islam ."
According
to United Nations estimates there are at least 800 thousand Rohingya Muslims in
Myanmar.