Description:
Agenda Item 11 - Civil and political rights, including the questions of (e) Religious intolerance. Paragraphs on Laos, Vietnam, Burma and Afghanistan. "... In Myanmar, the Government continues to monitor the activities of members of all religions, including Buddhism, in part
because the clergy and congregation members have in the past become politically active. Moreover, government authorities
coercively promote Buddhism over other religions, particularly among members of ethnic minorities. In Chin State, Christian
Chins are facing harassment. Several hundred Chins fled to Guam in 2000 seeking refuge in the United States. Many of them
complained of religious discrimination as a ground to their claims.
Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State have particularly been discriminated against on the basis of their religion. They have been
denied citizenship, and in many instances their land was confiscated to make it available to new Buddhist settlers, a programme
engineered by the State authorities. Muslims have been compelled to provide forced labour to build new settlements as well as
Buddhist pagodas.
Societal attitudes have also shown widespread prejudice against Muslims in Myanmar and the government contributes to
instigate anti-Muslim violence. Communal riots between Buddhists and Muslims took place in Sittwe during February 2001 that
left at least ten people dead..."
Source/publisher:
United Nations
Date of Publication:
2001-04-00
Date of entry:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
htm
Size:
5.92 KB