Nine embassies press for tolerance in Myanmar
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Nine embassies in Myanmar Tuesday issued a statement calling for tolerance ahead of the November 8 election.
In the statement, they said: "As the campaign in Myanmar officially begins, however, we, as international partners invested in the success of this country and these elections, are concerned about the prospect of religion being used as a tool of division and conflict during the campaign season."
Citing the history of division and civil conflict in Myanmar, they call on all stakeholders - the government, the Union Election Commission, political parties, civic and religious leaders, and citizens alike - to promote a spirit of tolerance, mutual respect, and
equality under the law to ensure the elections are peaceful and inclusive.
"We call for all election rules and regulations to be applied fairly, consistently, and transparently without regard to ethnicity, religion, or political party."
They also affirmed the commitment to support Myanmar and its people during the current election season.
The joint statement was issued by the Embassies of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
