BANGKOK: The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday spoke out against the Buddhist attacks against Muslims in Myanmar, arguing that killing in the name of faith is "unthinkable." It comes on the heels of a wave of sectarian violence erupted in March in the central Myanmar town of Meikhtila, causing 44 deaths and displacing an estimated 13,000 people, mostly Muslims. The Dalai Lama, a foremost Buddhist leader, told an audience at the University of Maryland at the start of an American tour that the root of seemingly sectarian conflict was political, not spiritual. "Really, killing people in the name of religion is unthinkable, very sad. Nowadays even Buddhists are involved in Burma," with monks attacking Muslim mosques, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said after delivering the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace at the university. "I think it is very sad," he said, adding, "I pray for them (the monks) to think of the face of Buddha," who had been a protector of Muslims. The European Union began easing sanctions against Myanmar a year ago as the military, in power for decades, progressively ceded power to civilians and implemented wholesale reforms of the economy. Ministers noted, however, that there were “still significant challenges to be addressed," in particular an end to hostilities in Kachin state and improving the plight of the Rohingya people. New York-based Human Rights Watch said on Monday that Myanmar has waged “a campaign of ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims, citing evidence of mass graves and forced displacement affecting tens of thousands. HRW Asia head Phil Robertson said lifting the sanctions was “premature and regrettable," warning that the move lessens leverage over Myanmar. To help Myanmar's economy, the EU will also look at the feasibility of a bilateral investment agreement, as well as more development assistance. BN
