Global Appeal For End of Ethnic Cleansing Against Indigenous People of Chittagong Hill Tracts

Why this is important

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in the Indian Sub-continent is the traditional homeland to the 11 ethnic groups who today collectively identify themselves to be an ‘indigenous people’, namely the ‘Jumma’. The British colonized CHT in 1860. With the end of the British colony, the Sub-continent was partitioned into the two nations—Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Secular Democratic Republic of India—in 1947 on the basis of religion. Pakistan was formed with the Muslim majority areas, while India with the non-Muslim majority areas. CHT with 98% non-Muslims (Buddhists, Hindus and Christians) was annexed with East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in violation of the principle of the partition of the Sub-continent and without any consultation with the then leadership of the Jumma indigenous people! Such annexation is illegal, undemocratic and unfair.

Joint Press Release: Towards The Creation of a Fact-Finding Commission on Relations Between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar

Joint Press Release 

by  

International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) 

International Movement for a Just World (JUST) 

November 20, 2013 

Towards the Creation of a Fact-Finding Commission on Relations Between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar 

The International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) concluded its biennial conference on November 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, our first such meeting in a Muslim-majority nation.  The conference theme — Inter-Faith Dialogue for Peace and Sustainability — points to the interdependence of Buddhists and Muslims throughout Southeast Asia.  A long history of harmonious relations across all the nations of this region has been challenged in recent years by inter-religious conflicts rooted in a complexity of economic, political, social, and cultural tensions. INEB’s mission is to respect the integrity of all religions and people, restoring harmony wherever possible. 

Faiths Unite in Support of Child Rights

3 April 2014
Source: Mizzima-news from Myanmar

Leaders of Myanmar's four main religions met to make a joint 'Myanmar Interfaith Declaration' on the rights of the child. 

The declaration expressed their commitment to the notion that every child can enjoy his or her rights according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The commitment was given at an event organised by a partnership between the Ratana Metta Organisation and UNICEF and held at the Chatrium Hotel on April 2-3.

Sri Lanka Council of RfP Opens Multi-Religious School in Conflict-Affected Area

After three decades of war in the Vavuniya district of Sri Lanka, the Tachibana RfP pre-school, a multi
religious center of learning, opened on 21 February and marked another significant milestone for the Sri Lanka Council of RfP (SLCRP).

The 60 children enrolled in the new school come from Sri Lanka's diverse religious communities. Studying and playing together will help rebuild bridges of trust among their families even as they receive a high-quality education in a safe, protected and calm environment.

The Tachibana RfP Pre-school was opened with the financial assistance of Tachibana Sangyo Corporation, Japan.

RfP Myanmar Child Protection Projects

Approximately 56,000 children under five die annually in Myanmar - 43,000 of them younger than 1 month.

RfP Myanmar is currently undertaking initiatives to advance and strengthen multi-religious collaboration for child protection. 

These projects aim to deliver important services to support vulnerable children and their families and strengthen child protection systems. Implemented in the Southern Shan State, Bago West, Ayeyawaddy and Yangon Regions within 13 townships and 20 villages of 8 districts, the child protection project in Myanmar so far has succeeded in -

Religions for Peace Sri Lanka Advances Post-War Reconciliation and Healing: RfP Sri Lanka’s 12th District-level Interreligious Council Launched in Kirinochchi, the most war-affected region and the ex-stronghold of LTTE

(7 November 2012 | Kirinochchi, Sri Lanka)

Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist leaders in the Kirinochchi district, the most war-affected region
and formerly the stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), launched the Religions for Peace (RfP) Sri Lanka-Kirinochchi District Interreligious Council on November 7, 2012. The inauguration was preceded by the RfP delegation’s visit to its Jaffna District Council for the monitoring of interreligious projects in youth leadership training, medical camps, Sinhara-Tamil language training, and women’s empowerment.

Senior Religious Leaders in Myanmar Reject Violence and the Misuse of Religion in Rakhine State

(Yangon, Myanmar)

Senior Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Hindu leaders in Myanmar, collaborating as members of the working committee for Religions for Peace Myanmar, issued a multi-religious statement on June 18, 2012 in Yangon, Myanmar, to address the escalating violence and the misuse of ethnic and religious differences to fuel conflicts in Rakhine state. The senior religious leaders represent Myanmar’s major religious organizations, namely the Ratana Metta Buddhist Organization; the Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC); the Catholic Church; the Hindu Community in Myanmar; and the Islamic Center of Myanmar.

At least 50 people have been killed in fighting in Rakhine State since May 28, 2012 when a Buddhist
woman was raped and murdered in Kyauk Ni Maw village, allegedly by three members of the Muslim
Rohingya minority. The rape-murder resulted in a series of clashes across Rakhine State, which
borders Bangladesh, displacing up to 30,000 people.

Religious Leaders from the ASEAN Region Visit Conflict Zone in South Thailand and Form an ASEAN Region Multi-religious Network

PRESS RELEASE

(Bangkok and Pattani, Thailand | September 19, 2012)

Photo: Supreme Cambodian Patriarch Tep Vong [an RfP Co-President] together with a Senior Islamic Leader in conflict zone of Southern Thailand 

More than 200 religious leaders, representatives of inter-religious councils and peace scholars from the
Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, convened in Bangkok and Pattani, Thailand on 17-19 September 2012, to address the role of religion and inter-religious cooperation in resolving conflicts and building peace in the ASEAN region.

Religions for Peace Myanmar Launched to Advance Inter-Communal Harmony and Peace

PRESS RELEASE

(13 September 2012, Yangon, Myanmar)

Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities in Myanmar together launched the Religions for
Peace Myanmar as the country’s first full-fledged representative and action-oriented inter-religious body for reconciliation, peace and development. Approximately 100 religious, diplomatic, political and civil society leaders in Myanmar and Religions for Peace International leaders joined the inauguration.

Religion and Peace Building Process in ASEAN

Peace building efforts in ASEAN needs to be enhanced. Here is an event to share from efforts by core groups member, Religions for Peace

Venerable Tep Vong, Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia; Co-President, Religions for Peace, being escorted by the Imam of a mosque in Yala, Southern Thailand (copy right: Religions for Peace)   

The Dusit Declaration

A Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue on the theme ‘Buddhists and Muslims in Southeast Asia working towards justice and peace’ was held at the Suan Dusit Place of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, Bangkok from 26-28 June 2006. It was organised jointly by the Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute (SPDI), International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) and International Movement for a Just World (JUST).

A total of 35 participants from eight countries attended the three-day Dialogue. Most of the participants were Buddhists and Muslims from Southeast Asia. A number of them were socially-engaged scholars and grassroots activists.

International Buddhist-Muslim Joint Statement : Shared Commitment of Action

International Buddhist-Muslim Joint Statement

Shared Commitment of Action

Bangkok, Thailand | 16 June 2013

Buddhist and Muslim leaders from South and South East Asian countries including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to address escalating tensions between two communities and potential spread of hatred across the region. The consultation was co-organized by the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), the International Movement for a Just World (JUST), and Religions for Peace (RfP).