Buddhist leaders’ initiative welcomed

We, European Rohingya Council (ERC), on behalf of the whole Rohingya community, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Buddhist leaders of the world for the initiative and suggestions they have made to end the decades-long persecutions and months-long violence against Rohingyas and other Muslim communities in Arakan State, Burma (Myanmar).
In fact, Buddhism centers on promoting peace universally. Its teaching is based on the moral precepts of refraining from killing and causing harm, compassion and mutual care; and its teachings offer respect to all, regardless of class, caste, race or creed. Buddhism is without any doubt a non-violent religion.
However, in Burma, the way many monks and Buddhists are behaving and committing violence against the different people especially Rohingyas is demeaning to Buddhism.
As a result of tyrannical rulers’ decades-long conspiracy to divide and rule, racism and xenophobia has got deep-rooted in the hearts of majority Burmese. As a result, sadly, even the monks, scholars and human rights activists seem unable to escape the trap of ultra-nationalism, bigotry and delusion.
The Burmese regime, some extremists and ultranationalists and some self-interested groups have systematically plotted the violence against Rohingyas that started on June 8, 2012 for their respective gains. Despite the massive violence against Rohingyas and other Muslims in Arakan that have created unimaginable human tragedy, we still wish, and are ready to live together with
Rakhines and others, in peaceful co-existence, for which it has become necessary to hold dialogues on reconciliation and national level meetings.
We feel the world Buddhist leaders are really influential in Burma because no matter what, Burmese Buddhists carry a long and profound history of upholding the dharma. Therefore, we request to the world Buddhist leaders to take all possible steps toward holding such dialogues and meetings. — Chairman,
European Rohingya Council, Norway