Mix of joy, concern in Myanmar over Pope’s imminent visit

Nov 25, 2017

By John Zaw
Myint Swe, a 74-year-old Buddhist, is looking forward to Pope Francis’ visit to Myanmar which he believes will help improve interfaith harmony and heal the wounds of the Rakhine crisis.

The president of Religions for Peace, an interfaith group based in Yangon, said the pontiff will experience a hospitable welcome from local Buddhists who are anticipating his November 27–30 visit.

“We couldn’t have imagined, five years ago, that the Pope would visit Myanmar but now, the dream has come true, not only for Catholics, but also for the blessing and benefit of the majority Buddhists,” said Myint Swe.

“The message that we want to convey [during the Pope’s visit] is how people, with different religions, collaborate towards peace and harmony,” said Myint Swe who will join a public Mass on November 29.

Besides prayers, as a spiritual preparation for the papal visit, the Catholic Church has been arranging logistical requirements for the pilgrims, in collaboration with other faiths. Buddhist monasteries, Protestant and Catholic churches in Yangon will provide places of shelter for thousands of Catholics across the country.

A public Mass by the Pope at Kyaikkasan grounds in Yangon on November 29 is expected to draw more than 150,000 Catholics and people from other faiths.

Fr Joseph Mg Win, a member of the organising committee for the Pope’s visit, said various religious leaders are ready to provide help. “We have close relationships with different religions in Myanmar and they are eager to contribute in the preparations for the Pope’s visit,” he said.

As an example, the Yangon Division Sangha (Buddhist community) has offered their halls to be used as shelter for pilgrims.

Fr Mg Win also said many Buddhists have informed him that they will join the Pope’s public Mass on November 29.

A month before the Pope arrived in Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party held an interfaith peace prayer rally across the country.

Catholic priests, nuns, brothers, and laypeople were among the 30,000 participants from different religions who took part in the unprecedented event in Yangon on October 10.

Zaw Min Latt, a Muslim resident in Yangon involved in interfaith activities, said it was good to pray together for peace but it needs to be more than a perceived PR stunt.

“The government must take action against those who spread hate speech, to allow freedom of religion without discrimination and to have the rule of law prevail,” said Zaw Min Latt.

He said Pope Francis’ visit gives hope that the freedom of religion and human rights in Myanmar for minorities would improve. Against expectations, he said, discrimination and hatred against minority Muslims worsened under the civilian-led government.

“The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, their rights and to ensure the rule of law is upheld so there may be no discrimination or violence towards any race or religion,” Zaw Min Latt said.

But the news of the Pope’s visit has already drawn the ire of hardline Buddhist groups who have fanned sectarian violence and protest, especially against the Rohingya and other Muslims over the past five years.

Many hardline Buddhists have voiced their opposition to the Pope’s visit. “Why will the Pope visit Myanmar? Don’t interfere with politics as you are a religious leader,” and “There is no Rohingya so why is he using the term,” are a few examples of comments online.

In a perceived disrespectful act, Aye Ne Win, the grandson of the late dictator Ne Win, dressed up as a pope for a Halloween party. Photos of him in his costume went viral on social media, outraging the Catholic community as well as some Buddhists.

U Wirathu, an ultra-nationalist monk in Mandalay and the leader of hardline Buddhist movement, Ma Ba Tha, said that the Pope’s visit was “political instigation.”

Some Catholics have raised their concerns for the Pope’s security during the visit while others are anxious — especially among Myanmar’s Catholic leaders — on whether the Pope will use the Rohingya term or avoid it as they have suggested.

The use of the term Rohingya, the name the ethnic Muslim group self-identifies with, is a sensitive issue in Myanmar. The government and military — along with many Myanmar citizens — instead refer to the million-plus Rohingya as “Bengalis,” claiming they hail from neighbouring Bangladesh.

If the Pope does use the term Rohingya in his speeches, Catholic laypeople are concerned the Church may face a backlash from hardline Buddhist groups. As part of an effort to prevent this from occurring, Catholic bishops have already advised Pope Francis to avoid using the term.

But Buddhist leader Myint Swe has no concern.

“I believe the Pope knows the reality of the country. Even if he uses the Rohingya term, it would be to identify the group and it will not have a political motive,” Myint Swe said.

Zaw Min Latt said Pope Francis has the right to say Rohingya and to speak on any issue he wants to highlight.

“I want to ask that even if the Pope avoids using the Rohingya name as suggested by Catholic leaders, will the freedom of religion and belief improve more for the minorities, such as Christians, and Muslims?” Zaw Min Latt asked. --ucanews.com (Used with permission)