Myanmar’s cooperation in international efforts on the incident occurred in the Indian Ocean
Myanmar’s cooperation in international efforts on the incident occurred
in the Indian Ocean
First and foremost, we agree with you and share concerns over the sufferings and unfortunate fate of innocent people as the consequences of human smuggling and illegal migration currently occurred in the region.
How did it happen?
Many people living under the poverty line, naturally, seek for better life in other countries at where they expect job opportunity, social life, etc. could be happily and easily found. While taking the opportunity to exploit these simple hopes, smugglers and traffickers emerged and played in devil role pretending to fulfill their dreams in conventional and inhumane manner under contemporary form of slavery.
At this point, we would like to suggest to find further various news carrying about crackdown of smugglers including high-ranking officials in one country, bodies found at the two countries’ border, refusal of three countries to enter the drifting boats into their territories, US$ 600 payment for sea transporting, etc. for your own judgment who did it and how it happened whilst Myanmar and another country are described as the countries from where these migrants fled away.
The most important thing for you to be known
Myanmar is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society peacefully co-existed of over 51 million population composed of 90% Buddhist, 4% Christian, 4% Muslim and 2 % Hindu and others in religious-wise.
You may ask the 90% Buddhist. The answer is simple as the majority of Muslims in Islamic countries exist traditionally. Most importantly, in Myanmar, there are freedom of religion and non- discrimination against any person on race, religion, gender, etc. under the Constitution. Christian Church, Muslim Mosques, Hindu temples, Buddhist pagodas can be seen side-by-side in many parts of the country proving mutual regard for all religions.
We, you and many witness the rise of religion extremism in various societies as a complex phenomenon and its negative effects are present in our daily life.
To avoid these, inter-religious/ interfaith dialogues are being widely held in Myanmar as a powerful way of promoting tolerance to share deep insights and aspirations with each others on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of one’s belief.
Other factors to be counted
Developing country like Myanmar is facing undue pressure politicized by some quarters who do not want Myanmar to be on right track forwards prosperous one. They are also creating misunderstanding and anger from the international community including Muslims at this very moment when humanitarian assistance are badly needed for the boat people ( this is our strong view ) by placing one-sided story over sole country.
There are efforts by Myanmar on rebuilding trust between two communities in Rakhine State, granting citizenship through national verification process to Bengalis living in Myanmar for many years and arrangements made for living side-by-side with concrete documentation.
Myanmar and Pakistan
Myanmar High Commissioner was the first-ever one presented his Letters of Credence to Quaid-i-Azam, Governor-General of Pakistan since 1947 and could imagine the long-lasting and time-tested relations between the two countries and the peoples.
Conclusion
Myanmar is fully prepared to work with the international community especially on humanitarian ground and moral obligation to alleviate the sufferings of the smuggled/ trafficked victims. It has also been extending its full cooperation with countries in the region to solve the issue of boat people. On the other hand, Myanmar has been providing humanitarian assistance and search and rescue efforts in its own capacity.
Recently, 700- 1000 victims have been rescued and well-looked after at Myanmar side, and 150 persons were verified as Bangladeshi nationals and handed over to their side on 8 June 2015.
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