Mr Chair,

Anti-Slavery International would like to call the Commission's attention to the growing religious intolerance reported in Myanmar over the past year. In particular, we are concerned by a serious increase in anti-Muslim unrest before and especially after September 11. Events in Afghanistan sparked religious clashes between Buddhists and Muslims. Societal attitudes have shown strong prejudice against Muslims, but the government has tacitly condoned communal violence by responding less than adequately. The security forces usually intervene when Buddhist properties are being attacked, and only then is a curfew imposed.

In May 2001, waves of communal violence hit various towns of Pegu Division. In Toungoo, several Muslims were killed, and four mosques as well as hundreds of houses and shops belonging to Muslims were burnt to ashes.

In October 2001, in the wake of the "war against terrorism" in Afghanistan, widespread anti-Muslim violence broke out in several towns of Central Burma such as Prome, Pegu, Toungoo, Hinzada and Pakkoku. Similarly, several people were killed, Muslim shops ransacked and houses set on fire.

However, the most serious situation remains Arakan State. The Rohingya Muslims have been excluded from the nation-building process in Myanmar and continue to experience discrimination on the basis of their race and their religion. They are denied the right of citizenship. Their freedom of movement is highly restricted [as they need to obtain a travel pass even to visit a neighbouring village]. Many have had their land confiscated by the government to provide land to Buddhist settlers. This combination of gross human right violations has led to forced displacement and two mass exoduses of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh [in 1978 and 1991].

In February 2001, communal riots [between Buddhists and Muslims] left more than ten people dead in Sittwe. As a result, and until today, the authorities have imposed further restrictions on the movement of the Rohingya. Sittwe is now off limit to them, turning the northern part of Arakan into a virtual Muslim "ghetto".

Then, in May 2001, as a response to the Taliban's destruction of the Bamyan Buddhist statues, the authorities launched a campaign of destruction of mosques, particularly in Arakan State where 28 mosques and madrassahs were demolished.

Again, in November 2001, when the war started in Afghanistan, the military spread rumours of infiltration by Muslim militants into Arakan and reinforced military facilities along the border. Rohingya villagers complained of a sudden increase in compulsory labour to build trenches and sentry posts [soon after the ILO High Level Team conducted its fact-finding mission].

Mr. Chair,

In Myanmar, the Christian minority also experiences many difficulties in practising their religion. Particularly in Chin State, the military regime has desecrated churches and graveyards, disturbed religious ceremonies, prevented evangelists from preaching and imposed restrictions on attendance at religious gatherings. Christians have also been forced to build Buddhist pagodas in their own villages and to donate money for Buddhist festivals whereas they are prohibited from building new churches or printing Christian materials.

A three-day Baptist Convention due to be held in Shan State on 4 April 2002 was suddenly cancelled by the order of the junta. On 5 April 2002, two respected Christian ministers, Rev. Htat Gyi and Pastor Lian Za Dal were arrested in Rangoon after criticizing the government for closing down churches.

Mr. Chair,

The right to religious freedom lies at the core of human rights, and we would therefore urge the Commission to pursue all possible measures to guarantee rights and protection to religious minorities in Myanmar.

Thank you.