A multi-faith prayer meeting organised to pray for the success of the current nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) talks was held at Dharthumarlar Mon Monastery, in Moulmein, Mon State on 8 September.
The event was organized by the Mon Women Network (MWN) and multi-faith goodwill movement group. About 100 people including religious leaders and members of civil society organisations were present at the event.
Mi Kon Chan Non, from MWN said: “Today, we prayed for the peace process. Four religious members, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim, were invited to the praying event."
She said that the prayer meeting had been organised because people wanted to see the NCA agreed upon and signed so that peace could be ultimately achieved. They hope that the current talks between senior government representatives and senior ethnic armed organisation (EAO) representatives will be successful.
U Ohn Taung, the vice-chairman of the Islam Region Affairs Council said: “If we look back, peace is the most important thing needed in Myanmar. If we analyse systematically, we have rich natural resources in our country but it is still one of the least-developed countries. We, the public, do not get the opportunities that we are supposed to have. In other words, the reason why our people have to go abroad and work low-paid jobs in other countries is because the development in our country is still weak.”
On 9 September President U Thein Sein and senior ethnic armed leaders met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss the signing of the NCA.
At the multi-faith gathering, prayers not only went out to help leaders find a comprise that will be best for the public, they also prayed for those who have experienced losses from flooding, refugees fleeing from conflict and children who have been orphaned due to the civil war.
U Thant Myint Kyaw, an activist from the multi-faith goodwill movement group said: “This event is not led by any organisation but by people and religious leaders. It is people praying for the people. We heard that the government and ethnic armed groups are conducting a ceasefire signing, and if we pray publicly, both sides will feel peaceful in their hearts and both sides will come together and hold talks.”
In addition to multi-faith event in Moulmein, similar gatherings also took place in Rangoon and Naypyitaw. It was also reported that youths from different religions were also holding prayer events at 16 locations.
Reported by Sartar Mon
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
