Burmese activists: law against mixed marriages "targets women and religious harmony "
Yangon ( AsiaNews) - The current political initiatives "based on
religion", including the proposal for the amendment of the law on mixed
marriages , "are not in agreement with the goals of peaceful coexistence
between all faiths". At the same time, they do not contribute to the fight
against "extremist violence and conflict" but only serve to
"distract the public in view of the 2015 elections". This is the claim of 97
Burmese groups, of different ethnicity, religion, marital status and gender,
but united in a common movement to counter the reform of the law on marriages favored
by Burmese Buddhists and supported by President Thein Sein . In an
official document, of 11 points of criticism and seven new proposals, activists
denounce an attempt to delay the process of "transition to democracy",
an obstacle to the peace process and amendments to the Constitution " demanded
by the people of Myanmar".
The document, sent by Catholic activists to AsiaNews, is supported among others
by the Kachin Women's Peace Network (Kwpn) , Student Christian Movement (SCM),
Women's Federation of World Peace (WFWP), Democracy and Peace Women Network ,
88 Generation Students , Open Society and Peace and Yangon School of Political
Science (Ysps) . It "strongly rejects" the president of Burma's
amendments to the bill on mixed marriages, because it is based on
discriminating factors including "the common sense that women are
generally physically and mentally weaker than men, and need to be guided and
protected by men".
The activists recall that Article 364 of the Constitution states that it " the abuse of religion
for political reasons" is prohibited, while the new law could be used
"for reasons of political interest" ahead of the 2015 election, and- they
warn again - "extreme caution" is needed. The text is not only
discriminatory against women Buddhist and other religions, but it also places
"responsibility to preserve the race, religion, culture and traditions
exclusively on women ."
Women's organizations and pro human rights groups, together with civil society,
intend to carry on the fight for the dignity and rights of women, who are
likely to be deprived of rights in Myanmar, as "inherent in the survival
of liberty and freedom of choice."
Instead, the government's "immediate priority" should be "key
amendments to the Constitution" including the necessary changes so that
the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi can run for the presidency, and the
"peace process on a national scale". The state should also work for
the passage of a law requiring the registration of all marriages, without
distinction of race, sex and religion. A "minimum age" before which
you cannot get married , valid "for men and women" should also be
included. Finally, the activists asked for
" priority" to be given to women's role in education, healthcare,
business opportunities to give them greater decision-making powers.
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