Archbishop of Rangoon calls for Rohingya citizenship

Rangoon Archbishop Charles Bo (PHOTO: UCA News)

DVB News
Junuary 01, 2014

In his New Year message to the Roman Catholics of Burma, Monsignor Charles Bo called for unity between the “different souls” of “this wonderful nation” and pointed particularly towards the Rohingya Muslims of western Burma, saying those born in the country should be granted citizenship.

The archbishop further called for an end to violence against the Rohingyas, and urged the country to instead fight against poverty and human trafficking.

“On the eve of the New Year, Myanmar prepares for the dawn of a new era characterized by freedom, democracy, justice, peace, hope and fraternity among the different souls of this wonderful nation,” wrote Msgr Charles Bo in AsiaNews in a message addressed for 1 January 2014 on the occasion of the World Day of Peace.

He noted that Burma has “opened its doors to the world” over the past two years through a series of reforms in favour of democratic freedoms as well as some major economic, social and political reforms. He said that for the first time in over 50 years, there are “concrete reasons for hope” for the future.

Citing the communal violence aimed at Rohingyas and other Muslims, he said, “Without fraternity it is impossible to build a just society and a stable and lasting peace.”

Emphasizing the value of unity in diversity, Archbishop Bo invited the Burmese government and the international community to resolve the issues related to citizenship, according to the principle that every person born in Myanmar should be recognized as a citizen of Burma.

Msgr Bo further noted that other “tragedies”, such as the ongoing conflict in Kachin State, cause “great harm” to the nation.

“I wish all my brothers and sisters, of all religions and ethnicities, throughout our nation a truly happy and blessed New Year,” he concluded.

Comments

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention Advocacy Director T. Kumar to Speak on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) Contact: Carolyn Lang, clang@aiusa.org, 202-675-8759 /EINPresswire.com/ (Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International Advocacy Director T. Kumar will address the Islamic Society of North America's 49th Annual Convention "One Nation Under God: Striving for the Common Good," in regards to the minority community of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) on Saturday, September 1, at 11:30 am at the Washington DC Convention Center.

Iran Ready to Dispatch Medical Teams to Myanmar

TEHRAN (FNA)- Head of the Basij Organization of Iran's Medical Society Mohammad Rayeeszadeh voiced the society's readiness to dispatch medics, nurses and relief and rescue forces to help Myanmar's Muslims who are under the daily attacks of the majority in the Southeast Asian country. "The Basij (volunteer) organization of the Medical Society is prepared to dispatch emergency teams of physicians, nurses and rescue workers to Myanmar," Rayeeszadeh told FNA on Saturday.

2,600 tonnes of aid delivered to Myanmar Muslims

Khalifa Foundation has distributed urgent aid totalling 5,200 tonnes Gulf News March 04, 2013 Burma: The Khalifa Bin Zayed Humanitarian Foundation (KZHF) has distributed another 2,600 tonnes of food aid to Myanmar Muslims, completing its third and last phase of the urgent aid totalling 5,200 tonnes of relief items among 850,000 beneficiaries. As per directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the assistance was purchased from the local markets of Myanmar in cooperation and coordination with the Embassy of Kuwait to be shipped by sea to “Rakhine (Arakan)” for distribution among the affectees there.

The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Search This Blog