Myanmar hosts World Buddhist Peace Summit amid interfaith woes at home

Myanmar hosts World Buddhist Peace Summit amid interfaith woes at home



YANGON: -- Conflict and tensions between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar could be up for discussion at the World Buddhist Peace Conference in Sagaing Township which begins on Friday, The Irrawaddy reported.

The three-day event is hosted by Sitagu International Buddhist Academy.

Ashin Kumara, who is organizing the conference, said domestic strains between the two faiths in recent years might be addressed at a gathering expected to draw hundreds of religious and spiritual leaders.

Relations between Myanmar’s majority Buddhists and minority Muslims have deteriorated in recent years, with 2012 violence between members of the two faiths in Arakan State killing more than 100 people and displacing an estimated 140,000 additionally. Most of those affected by the communal conflict in western Myanmar were members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.

He said that other religious leaders in the country, including Muslims, have been invited to attend the conference.

About 700 religious scholars from different faiths and other observers are expected to attend the gathering, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday, with 200 experts from 52 countries invited, in addition to 500 local scholars.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147673

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-22