The Becket Fund Condemns Crackdown on Religious Freedom in Burma/MyanmarOct 2, 2007
In reaction to the violent suppression of Buddhist monks and
other Burma/Myanmar citizens, the Becket Fund urged the United Nations Human
Rights Council to take action to protect the human rights of the Burmese/Myanmar
people. In a joint letter to the Council,
25 non-governmental organizations from around the world recommended that the
Human Rights Council adopt a resolution calling for “an immediate end to all
violent attacks on peaceful and democratic protesters.” The letter also called
for an expert panel of special mandate holders, including the Special
Rapporteur on freedom of religion, to travel to Burma/Myanmar to observe the
human rights situation in an effort to prevent further violations.
On October 2, 2007, the United Nations Human Rights Council
adopted a resolution which condemned the “violent repression of peaceful
demonstrations in Myanmar”
and also urged the government of Burma/Myanmar and the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights to cooperate in an effort to protect human rights
and fundamental freedoms in Myanmar.
Angela Wu, International Director of The Becket Fund for
Religious Liberty, reacted to the resolution, “We see in Burma/Myanmar how the
suppression of religious liberty can result in the loss of hundreds of innocent
lives. It is encouraging to see the international community rallying to protect
a people who have suffered from repression and violence for such a long time." This letter marks the second time this year that The Becket Fund has spoken out against the religious suppression by the Burmese Junta Government. In March 2007, The Becket Fund submitted a written statement to Fourth session of the UN Human Rights
Council detailing violations of religious freedom in Burma/Myanmar.
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