A number of youths, from various religious backgrounds, are calling for Burma’s government-led peace project to be carried out against a background of peace.
Injustice and unfairness has no place in the country’s peace process; every civilian should have his or her rights [respected], states Ma Su Yatanar Myint, who practices Islam.
“When peace is being worked towards, it should be in a peaceful way, not in an unjust or unfair way. Everyone should have his or her rights [respected]. I would like the peace [process] to be carried out in a peaceful way; not with guns,” said Ma Su Yatanar Myint, in an interview with IMNA.
In Burma, the peace process may only advance through ceasefire talks, but the next round of ceasefire talks has been postponed for two months already.
In response to the 19th November violence, where more than twenty cadets were killed as government troops fired artillery shells at the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO)’s military academy in Laiza area, Kachin State, Burma’s youths are calling for peace.
Daw Khun Kyar, of the Kachin Peace Network, believes that people in Burma should urge the government’s Union Peace-Making Working Committee (UPWC) and the ethnic armed groups’ Nationwide Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) to refrain from continuing conflict and, instead, head in the direction of peace.
“There must be a guarantee of peace for all people in Burma, not just for one person and one area. We, the public, should not make the conflict bigger, but make the conflict head towards peace. We should urge for peace to take place as soon as possible,” said Daw Khun Kyar, a practicing Christian.
Daw Khun Kyar continued that currently there are no areas across Burma which enjoy peace, pointing out that the 19th November attack launched by government troops in Kachin State may significantly impact the peace process.
If a national ceasefire is unable to be agreed upon, it can stop the development process of the country, states Ko Kyaw Ko Ko, a Buddhist youth.
Youths from different religious backgrounds joined together to organize a prayer event at Maha Bandula Park, Rangoon, at 5:00 pm on 24th November. Roughly 50 youths attended the event, praying for the cadets killed by government fire at Laiza military academy. Attendees light candles in the shape of the peace symbol and letters and sang songs of peace.
