Activist: attack on Burmese Buddha tree, a threat to India and Myanmar
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "The attack at Bodh Gaya is a threat to national security and to religion in India and Myanmar." So told AsiaNews Tint Swe, Burmese activist and former member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), in exile in New Delhi where he chairs the Burma Center Delhi. On July 7, nine explosions hit Bodh Gaya, Buddhism's sacred complex located in Bihar (India) which houses the Bodhi tree, under which - according to Buddhist tradition - Siddartha Gautama attained enlightenment.
Two monks were injured in the attack, one of whom is from Myanmar. In all of India there are about 500 Burmese monks studying, of which 200 at Bodh Gaya alone. The complex, explains Swe, "is the head and the heart of Burmese Buddhism. Our people are carefully following the developments of the event, wanting to know as much as possible".
For this reason the activist fears that the events at Bodh Gaya may also have an impact on Myanmar, which has long been the scene of violent ethnic-religious conflicts between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim minority. In particular In the western state of Rakhine, on the border with Bangladesh, Rohingya Muslims have been subjected to harsh repressive measures. Accused of being illegal immigrants, they have suffered attacks of all sorts following the killing of a Buddhist woman in June 2012. Since then, hundreds of people have died whilst thousands more have been displaced under the indifferent, if not complicitous eyes of the police and government authorities.
According to the India there is an Islamic origin behind the attack at Bodh Gaya. Thinking about the consequences in Myanmar, for the Burmese activist "it is unlikely that Buddhists will respond with guns and bombs, but the campaign of anti-Islamic hatred might find new strength. I urge the Burmese not to act against Muslims, who live with us for years. Let's not point the finger against the religion. My most difficult task is to let the outside world know the real Myanmar, the real Burmans and the real Buddhism. But media and activists are looking at everything from a single viewpoint. Some subjects are exploiting this situation. And it's very sad."
Meanwhile, inside and outside of India there is an alert for possible new attacks against the holy sites of Buddhism. Authorities In Nepal have secured the area around Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, symbol of non-violence, and increased checks on Tibetan refugee camps scattered throughout the country.
.png)
14/08/2013
