MANDALAY (UCAN): In his Christmas message on December 24, Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Yangon, called on Myanmar “to understand the world’s concerns about the suffering of people” within its borders.
The cardinal, who is also head of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, said Myanmar is “known in the world for the wrong reasons and is being dragged to the international court. Big words are used against this country.”
He also called on the international community “to accompany this nation and fledgling democracy with understanding and advice, not condemnation.”
Cardinal Bo cautioned that any international sanctions against Myanmar “without consideration for the welfare of ordinary people will be a sad commentary on the world’s concern for our people, and a sad commentary on the message of Christmas.”
The 72-year-old cardinal’s appeal followed Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s state counsellor and de facto leader, defending alleged military atrocities against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague on from December 11 to 12.
The west African nation of The Gambia, took Myanmar to the international court on genocide charges following military crackdowns in 2016 and 2017 that allegedly killed hundreds of Rohingya people and resulted in more than a million people fleeing the country, which the United Nations called “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”
Cardinal Bo said “more than at any time in history, Myanmar stands at the crossroads of history today, seeking peace and reconciliation.’
He said that Christmas calls for “conversion and repentance. Conversion from hatred, repentance from all kinds of sins committed against God or fellow human beings.”
The cardinal noted that Myanmar was facing the challenges of “chronic wars, huge displacement, the unsafe migration of thousands of our youth, climate change and the need for reconciliation among various peoples.”
Cardinal Bo concluded his Christmas message stressing the need for peace. “Peace is possible. Peace is the only way. Peace to all men and women of goodwill.”
