Card Bo calls on leaders to allow all religions to advise the government
The archbishop met with Aung San Suu Kyi on Martyrs’ Day. He calls for Christians and Muslims to have the same access to ministers. Muslim leader welcomes the idea, but government official declines to comment.
Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Mgr Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, has asked State Counsellor and Minister Aung San Suu Kyi that all religious communities, not only Buddhists, be allowed to work directly with the government, to advise and assist the national reunification process in interfaith harmony.
So far the Myanmar government, including the former military junta, has had relations only with the Buddhist community.
Card Bo met two met Ms Aung San on 19 July, ‘Martyrs’ Day’, which commemorates the death of Bogyoke Aung San, Suu Kyi’s father and Burma's independence hero, who was assassinated along with eight of his companions in 1947.
The Nobel peace Prize invited religious leaders at her Yangon home for a joint ceremony (pictured).
“The cardinal suggested that representatives of religions other than Buddhism should be available to advise the ministry,” said U Aye Lwin, the leader of the Islamic Council of Myanmar Interfaith Friendship Group, who was also present at the meeting.
“His suggestion is good because the religion ministry has lacked the other religions’ representation. I’m also satisfied with it,” said the Muslim leader.
Director of the Ministry of Religion and Culture U Aung San Win declined to comment when asked for a response to the cardinal’s suggestion.
“I would like to remind everyone that according to the 2008 Constitution, all citizens have freedom of religion. They are able to observe their religious holiday. For example, Christians can celebrate Christmas, and Muslims can observe Eid,” he said. “I think the law is clear.”
Myanmar’s previous military government and the National League for Democracy-led government have been subject to pressure from Buddhist fundamentalist groups (like Ma Ba Tha), who oppose minorities and back the notion of a “state religion".
In 2015, Ma Ba Tha pushed for laws to defend “race and religion" with specific provision on polygamy and conversions that targeted Muslims, accused of growing in number.
Census data released on 22 July show however that Muslims constitute only 2.3 per cent of the population or 1.1 million. Buddhism is by far the largest religion at 89 per cent, followed by Christians at 6.9 per cent.
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17/03/2021 13:08
