Freedom of religion must be protected: Thein Sein
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President addresses group before visit to Britain and France
President Thein Sein called on Saturday for the protection of freedom of religion during a meeting with the Interfaith Friendship Group at Yangon regional government office in Dagon.
In a news broadcast on state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television on Saturday night, Thein Sein was quoted as saying that freedom of religion and freedom of expression must be protected for democracy to flourish in Myanmar.
He said mutual trust, respect, understanding and tolerance were needed in order to have freedom of religious worship and expression.
“The public needs to strongly oppose those who use religion as a political weapon to fuel conflicts for their personal gain, and effective actions must be taken against them,” Thein Sein said.
The president said the low educational level and economic difficulties were among the main reasons behind recent ethnic riots. Social and economic developments must be brought about to solve the problems.
Besides providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the violence without racial or religious discrimination, the traumatic experiences that both communities suffered also needed to be remedied, Thein Sein said.
He urged the public to respect and understand different religious worship and oppose religious extremists.
Religious leaders, including the Sitagu venerable monk, released a statement on July 10 calling on the public to avoid hate speeches and targeting or harming individuals and religious organisations.
The president yesterday left Myanmar on an official trip to Britain and France to strengthen bilateral ties in a wide range of areas, including investment and education, an official from the President’s Office said.
Thein Sein’s four-day trip is a follow-up of his last visits to five European countries – Italy, Norway, Austria, Finland and Belgium from February 25 to March 8.
The report said that the president’s visit to Britain and France is expected to be a historic milestone in various sectors such as economic, education and social affairs.
While Myanmar had educational, health and social contact with Britain in the past, bilateral ties were put on hold after 1988.
But when the country began political reforms with a civilian-led government, relations with Britain began to improve.
A British delegation headed by Foreign Secretary William Hague paid a visit to Myanmar on January 5 last year. Chief of Defence Staff of the British Armed Forces, General Sir David Richards, also visited Myanmar last month.
Leaders and government heads from Britain and other western states also paid official visits to Myanmar. They met with President Thein Sein, ministers, opposition National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and parliament speakers and discussed assistance to Myanmar in the fields of political, economic and social affairs and human resources.
