Matters India Reporter
Yangon, July 13, 2020 — In a common message released 13 July 2020, Myanmar’s religious leaders have appealed to civilian, ethnic, military and religious leaders to “seize the opportunity” to give peace a chance ahead of country’s November elections.
The message was signed by Myanmar’s first cardinal and all 16 Catholic Bishops, Heads of Buddhists, Baptist, Anglican and Evangelical Missions as well as Muslim heads and several Religions for Peace representatives from conflict ridden districts of Shan, Rakhine, Kachin, Mandalay and Meiktila.
The message was released in anticipation of important national elections and the 21st Century Panglong Conference with a direct call to all leaders of Myanmar and to “our fellow religious leaders to listen with respect to one another and determine to seek the good of all.”
The message also called fellow religious heads saying, “Buddhist, Christian and Muslim people of Myanmar, with ethnic and community leaders, can live the message that the world longs to hear.”
The joint message by religious heads invited members to, “unmask insincerity, heed to one another and look in harmony to the future, to promote a world that is peaceful, just and inclusive.”
“We are weary of war, worn down by enmities. War disgraces everyone. Why is it that Myanmar’s conflicts never end? Where does responsibility lie?,” they asked.
Myanmar the religious leaders listed some of the deplorable plaguing their country: belligerence of the Tatmadaw (military), faint authority of the civilian government, the lack of due process in the judicial system; ethnic leaders and truant cronies, and religious leaders who are too timid in protesting injustice.”
A golden opportunity is now given us in the new conditions and new challenges in our world. We urge all: seize this moment.
“Myanmar is caught in a three-fold global crisis. First, a tiny pathogen has halted humanity and arrested nature. Second, Myanmar is one of five countries most affected by climate change this century. Third, a global wildfire reveals how deeply race relations matter as Myanmar people cling to the folly of assuming a ranking in ethnic differences.”
Exposing the insatiable greed the leaders, the religious heads said, “The colonisers’ strategy was to divide and rule. Let us not be misled again. To build a nation we need not be afraid of difference, but rather learn to negotiate, compromise, dialogue and rejoice in who we are.”
The religious leaders’ final appeal was, “The people of Myanmar deserve peace, not unending war. There can be no peace without justice. There can be no justice without truth. Let a new Myanmar of hope, peace and prosperity dawn as we march towards the goal of democracy through elections. Seize this opportunity!”