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Mr Chair,
Anti-Slavery International would like to call the attention of
the Commission to the growing religious intolerance reported in
Myanmar over the past year. In particular, we are concerned by a
serious increase of anti-Muslim unrest before and especially after
11 September. Events in Afghanistan sparked religious clashes between
Buddhists and Muslims. Societal attitudes have shown strong prejudice
against Muslims but the Government has tacitly condoned communal
violence by responding less than adequately. The security forces
usually intervene when Buddhist properties are being attacked, and
only then is a curfew imposed to curb violence.
In May 2001, waves of communal violence hit various towns of Pegu
Division. In Toungoo, several Muslims were killed, four mosques
as well as hundreds of houses and shops belonging to Muslims were
burnt to ashes.
In October 2001, in the wake of the "war against terrorism"
in Afghanistan, widespread anti-Muslim violence broke out in several
towns of Central Burma, such as Prome, Pegu, Toungoo, Hinzada and
Pakkoku. Similarly, several people were killed, Muslim shops were
ransacked and houses set on fire.
However, the most serious situation occurs in Arakan State. The
Rohingya Muslims have been excluded from the nation-building process
in Myanmar and continue to experience discrimination on the basis
of their race and their religion. They are denied the right of citizenship.
Their freedom of movement is highly restricted as they need to obtain
a travel pass even to visit a neighbouring village. Moreover, many
had their land confiscated by the Government to provide land to
Buddhist settlers. This combination of gross human rights violations
has led forced displacement and two mass exoduses of Rohingya refugees
to Bangladesh in 1978 and 1991.
In February 2001, communal riots between Buddhists and Muslims
left more than 10 people dead in Sittwe. As a result and until today,
the authorities imposed strict restrictions on their movements.
Sittwe is now off limit to Rohingyas, turning the northern part
of Arakan into a virtual Muslim "ghetto".
Then, in May 2001, as a response to the destruction of the Bamyan
Buddhist statues by the Taliban, the authorities launched a campaign
of destruction of mosques, particularly in Maungdaw. Twenty-eight
mosques and madrassahs were dismantled.
Again, in November 2001, when the war started in Afghanistan, the
military spread rumours of infiltration of Muslim militants into
Arakan and reinforced military facilities along the border with
the use of forced labour. Rohingya villagers complained of a sudden
increase of compulsory labour to build trenches and watch posts
soon after the ILO High Level Team conducted their fact-finding
mission. Sentry duties, especially during the fasting month of Ramadan,
augmented concurrently.
Mr. Chair,
In Myanmar, the Christian minority also experiences many difficulties
in practising their religion. Particularly in Chin State, the military
regime have desecrated churches and graveyards, disturbed religious
ceremonies, prevented evangelists from preaching and imposed restrictions
on attendance at religious gatherings. Christians have also been
forced to build Buddhist pagodas in their own villages and donate
money for Buddhist festivals whereas they are banned from building
new churches and prohibited from printing Christian materials.
A three-day Baptist Convention due to be held in Shan State on
4 April 2002 was suddenly cancelled on orders of the junta. On 5
April 2002, two respected Christian ministers, Rev. Htat Gyi and
Pastor Lian Za Dal, along with family members were arrested in Rangoon
after criticizing the Government for closing down churches.
Mr. Chair,
The right to religious freedom lies at the core of human rights,
and we would therefore urge the Commission to pursue all possible
measures to guarantee rights and protection to religious minorities
in Myanmar.
Thank you.
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