Pope's invitation to fraternity, only path to peace in Myanmar: Abp. Bo
Yangon, Myanmar, 28 December 2013: 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 Charles Bo,
Archbishop of Yangon. His message addressed to the Catholics of Myanmar for January
1, 2014, on the occasion of the World Day of Peace is a message that will inspire
confidence and unity. Over the past two years, the country "has opened its doors to
the world," through a series of reforms in favour of democratic freedoms as well as
some major economic, social and political reforms. "Today, adds the prelate in the
document sent to AsiaNews - is more space for civil society, the media and political
actors". A stable and lasting peace with ethnic minorities and the release of all
political prisoners are the objectives to be achieved in a nation in which "for the
first time in over 50 years," there are " concrete reasons for hope " for the future.
On
the day when the Catholic Church celebrates peace in the world, the Archbishop of
Yangon said that "we are only at the beginning of the beginning". In the face of some
positive steps such as "greater freedom of speech", the prelate said that "some have
taken advantage of (this freedom) to spread hatred and fomenting violence against
our Muslim brothers and sisters." He adds that "democratic reform "alone "is not enough"
to put an end to decades of conflict, the country needs an overall "peace process"
and not "simple ceasefire" with ethnic minorities .
Archbishop Charles Bo recalled
the tradition of the Church's social doctrine, noting that "peace is the daughter
of justice " and both are essential. He calls to mind Pope Francis message for the
World Day of Peace, in which the Pope indicates the "fraternity" as the "foundation
and path to peace." The religious conflicts that have brought "pain and suffering
" to the young nation.
The prelate emphasizes the value of "unity in diversity"
, more so in a "multi -ethnic and multi- confessional " country in which " equal rights"
are fundamental as well as the promotion of different histories , languages, traditions
and cultures. Hence the invitation to 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. Tragedies
such as those of the Rohingya or conflicts in the north, in predominantly Christian
Kachin State , are dramas that cause " great harm " to the nation.
And again,
the problem of poverty that concerns at least 40 % of the population and the terrible
conditions of the millions of immigrants in Malaysia and Thailand, victims of human
trafficking , a form of "modern slavery." " I assure you of my personal closeness
and that of the whole Church - adds the prelate - the helpless victims of the forgotten
wars. We must put an end to all forms of hostility, abuse and violations of basic
human rights." Finally , Msgr. Bo urges the Burmese people to "dialogue, forgiveness
and reconciliation" to rebuild "justice, truth and hope" in Myanmar. Source: AsiaNews