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Friday, October 12, 2012

CHAKMA BUDDHISTS PROTEST AGAINST BANGLA ATTACKS

By Suman Chakma

The Buddhist community MOSTLY CHAKMA in Mizoram, who are confined to the southern tip of the state bordering Bangladesh, on Tuesday organised a peaceful rally in protest against the recent attacks on Buddhists in the neighbouring country Bangladesh.
Thousands of Buddhists joined the procession held at Kamalanagar, the headquarters of Chakma autonomous district council (CADC) in southern Mizoram, and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh through the Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi.
The memorandum, submitted in the names of Mizoram Bhikkhu Sangha and Mizoram Buddhists Association, demanded :
(1) reconstruction of Buddhist and Hindu temples and reinstallation of images burnt/destructed by the miscreant during the recent incident at different places;
(2) provision for adequate compensation for the loss of lives and property;
(3) proper rehabilitation of displaced families;
(4) judicial enquiry and punishment to the culprits under the law of the land; and
 (5) protection of the minorities to safeguard their peaceful and dignitary living.
The memorandum stated that the “well-organised” atrocities on September 29, causing destruction of several Buddhist and Hindu temples and attack on religious minorities in Ramu and in some other minority domain places under Cox’s Bazar district were against the natural justice and a gross violation of humanity.
“It shocked not only the world Buddhist community but also the entire human race in the globe. The incident on religious minorities, once again proved the breach of the pious Constitutional provisions in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh,” it said.
Buddhism, having 70,494 followers, is the second largest religion in Mizoram, next to the dominant religion Christianity which has 7,72,809 followers. It is the dominant religion among the Chakmas who dominated the Chakma autonomous district council in southern Mizoram.

Media coverage:
1. http://www.demotix.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvSpUuvUHH8news/1509512/buddhist-monks-protest-outside-bangladesh-embassy-against-mob-attacks
2. http://in.news.yahoo.com/video/national-22564751/buddhists-hindus-protest-bangladesh-attack-30839327.html
3. http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/890-myanmar-buddhist-monks-protest-against-bangladesh-attacks
4. http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=233989&cid=2
5. http://www.indianexpress.com/videos/national/6/buddhists-hindus-protest-bangladesh-attack--/12784