By Matters India Reporter
Yangon: In a joint appeal for restoration of peace and reconciliation in the civil unrest following military coup on February 1, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Myanmar has endorsed Buddhist monks warning.
Bishops representing 16 Catholic dioceses in Myanmar in February 21 letter appealed to specially those in power for restrain in the streets and return to dialogue,.
“The letter signed by all sixteen Bishops warned the military rulers,” said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the president of Myanmar Catholic Bishops Conference.
“Mother’s tears are never a blessing to any nation,” he added decrying heartrending scenes of youth dying in the streets.
The bishops’ letter called for healing starting with the release of detained civilian leaders. “With prayers in our hearts, we plead with all stakeholders, return to dialogue, let us invest our energy in reconciliation,” the letter added.
The bishops concurred with the call for reconciliation through dialogue with reverend “Ma Ha Na” monks and urged leaders to heed to their warning: “Myanmar can become history and wiped out of the map of the world, if it cannot solve problems in a peaceful way.”
In another letter dated February 21, president of Religions for Peace Myanmar chapter president Cardinal Bo appealed to the people of Myanmar, the [military] rulers and international community to de-escalate violence on the streets in Myanmar.
The letter said, “We also strongly appeal to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the regional body committed to peace, stability and prosperity, to urgently offer its good services to Myanmar as a member state.”
Religions for Peace group further offered to facilitate the process of peace and reconciliation saying, “[RfP] stands ready to continue the Religions for Peace Advisory Forum on Peace and Reconciliation in Myanmar, as an open space for dialogue, when conditions are acceptable, for all parties to join.”