This refers to the report “Nepal’s Kamlari girls break the bonds of slavery” encircling Shanta Chaudhary’s survival and escape from disturbing, bitter servitude.
The story was heart-breaking, but it dug out all those lost and forbidden paths leading to hope and positivity. It enfolded many concealed realities regarding poor women, slave trading and forced labor. There is need for more organizations such as the Nepalese Youth Foundation in order to free these souls from the cruel trap and make them capable enough to live their lives peacefully.
These artificial traditions can be reduced by a great extent when they are boycotted, condemned, disapproved and banned. The ones who still practice them must be punished. The victims must be taken care through continued counseling sessions and health treatments. Each citizen is responsible for taking care of his/her fellow citizens. Shame on those parents who consider their daughters as a burden.
I am thankful to Arab News for letting us convey our views to millions of readers around the globe and for also publishing such articles related to the rights of women and children. — Dr. Areej Rana, Jeddah
Massacre of Muslims
In his usual pinching, yet eloquent diatribe, Aijaz Zaka Syed has sketched the ugly persecution of Rohingya men, women and children in Myanmar. Although, we have been hearing about the indiscriminate killings of the Burmese Muslims in bits and pieces, the writer provides a different perspective of the evil design of the Rakhine gangs with the active support of the Junta regime. More importantly, he has sensibly highlighted the conspicuous silence of the world toward this ethnic cleansing. It is most unfortunate that such a massacre and large scale killings of a particular sect or community could happen anywhere on this plan*et during the times when most of the people, whatever the faith or sect, believe that their books prohibit them to indiscriminately kill human beings on any pretext. Besides, on one hand, most of the nations and people around the world are exerting endeavors to find cures for different diseases and are working hard to make human life more and more comfortable; on the other hand, ironically, they turn a blind eye toward the genocide in certain parts of the world or when it affects a certain religious sect. International politics and the so-called statesmen must change their perspective and deal with this situation, where humanity is at stake without giving weight to economic considerations or other long-term motives. I also wonder the use and efficacy of the UN or the Amnesty International, which have invariably failed in stopping almost all of the cases of ethnic cleansing. — Safi H. Jannaty, Dammam
2
Our Rohingya brothers and sisters are suffering at the hands of the Buddhists in Mayanmar. I would like to ask: Where is the honorable Buddhist spiritual leader — the Dalai Lama, whose words are obeyed religiously by all Buddhist followers? Is he approving these atrocities? If he is, then there is nothing more to say. If he is not, which we are hoping, I am begging him to speak out and start practicing what he believes in, which is to value human lives in Myanmar and to stop these ferocious acts done by his followers. — Alwee Attas, Jeddah
3
The article “Who cares for Myanmar’s Muslims?” is a reflection of the plight of the most unfortunate people in the world at the moment. The response of the Muslims of the world is not only sad but shameful. We will all have to answer to the Almighty for our reaction. I wish the author would have given a solution too.
Can I start by asking all the Muslims to start a fund, identify a vast piece of land and transfer the poor souls so that one day we may be able to say to Allah that we tried. Is any one awake at the OIC? — Shahid، زy e-mail
Letters: Women’s empowerment
