YANGON: Senior monks in Myanmar yesterday appealed for peace following a surge in religious bloodshed in the former junta-ruled nation, in a joint statement that stopped short of condemning a wave of anti-Muslim attacks.
After two days of talks between more than 200 monks at a monastery near Yangon, the Buddhist clerics accused media of tarnishing their image with allegations that monks were at the forefront of the violence.
“All Buddhist leaders and Buddhists want to live peacefully, without any conflict,” they said in a statement read out by senior monk Dhammapiya.
“All citizens of Myanmar support policies that encourage living peacefully,” he said.
Dozens of people were killed in religious riots in March in central Myanmar, where journalists saw some men in monks’ robes wielding sticks and knives during the unrest.
Dhammapiya said that while several monks had taken part in anti-Muslim attacks, others were mistaken for perpetrators as they tried to intervene to halt the mob violence.
“We denounce reports (in the media) that wrongly accuse and harm the dignity of Buddhists and Buddhist monks,” he said.
At the same time, senior clerics distanced themselves from a call from controversial Mandalay monk Wirathu for restrictions on interfaith marriage.
Senior monks said, however, that the idea was not formally discussed at the meeting.
“We are only thinking how to live peacefully. We’re not thinking to draft any law. It can cause much misunderstanding and division,” said Vimala, a senior monk from Kabar Aye Buddhist University.
“Muslims also do not need to be afraid. We have laws in this country. People should not be afraid of each other but show respect for and value each other.”
AFP
