Solidarity with the Rohingya people
- Who are the Rohingya people?
السلام عليكم (May the Divine Peace be with you!) The Rohingyas are a minor Muslim tribe that resides in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The Myanmar military suppressed them from 1960’s, and eventually, their citizenship was denied in 1980’. When they faced military crackdown in 1992, they were forced to move to Bangladesh and Malaysia. When an anti-governmental rebel group attacked a Myanmar police station killing six people, the massacre of the Rohingya people was initiated by the Myanmar military on the excuse of removing the rebel group. Villages of the Rohingya were set on fire, the Rohingya women got raped, and more than 640 thousand of the Rohingya people have been escaping their homeland to Bangladesh over the border. - The situation of the refugee camps in Bangladesh
It is fortunate that the Bangla government accepted them. However, since the refugee camps were set up in the mountain area where wild animals such as elephants used to live, elephants attack and destroy the shelters killing children from time to time. 900 thousand people are confined in more than 20 camps. Having been affected by the monsoon, the camps are being repaired and made up with levees. Ten people should live in each tent. It is almost impossible to live in such a condition. Moreover, the immediate aid for orphans, disabled, women without family is needed. There are many NGOs are working for them. However, the distribution of supplies is another problem. There are also other issues such as water shortage and poor hygiene. - Preparation for peace camp among the Rohingya refugees
The JPIC Commission of the Korean Province will visit the Rohingya refugee camps by the end of this year along with ADI (Asian Dignity Initiative) and the Pioneers. The commission will study more in-depth the case and hold a “Camp of Peace” which is not only for one-time-visit or humanitarian aid but also for returning of the Rohingya back to Myanmar in the long run. The Rohingya people cannot stay at the refugee camps any longer. It is necessary to put pressure on the government so that they can return home in the end. - Commemoration on the one-year anniversary of the Rohingya massacre
25th of August, 2018 is the one-year anniversary of the Rohingya massacre. The Korean Network of Religion and Civil Society for the Rohingya is preparing a memorial event in solidarity with them. There will be a photo exhibition, peace concert, screening of documentaries, and talk show with the film directors on the issue. The JPIC Commission of the Korean Province is taking part of this network and will put any possible effort for their cause for the Rohingyas.
Peace Mass for Peace Agreement on the Korean Peninsula
On October 9, 2017, the Conference of Major Superiors of Korean Men’s Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life and the Association of the Major Superiors of Religious Women in Korea have started to celebrate a weekly mass for peace on the Korean Peninsula at Gwanghwamun Square every Monday at 19:30.
In the opening Mass, the Korean religious issued a statement that “The true and lasting peace among nations cannot consist in possession of an equal supply of armaments but only in mutual trust” (Pacem in Terris, 113).
- We will not stop praying for the peace on the Korean peninsula.
- We urge to the president Moon Jae-in and the chairman Kim Jong-un, to accomplish the previous South-North Joint Declarations (6.15 and 10.4), and to create a milestone for the peaceful unification.
- We urge to the United States and North Korea (DPRK) to make a peace treaty to achieve permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- We urge to Mr. Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to mediate for the interim suspension of the Key Resolve US-ROK military exercise next year (2018) and of the launch of the missile of North Korea, for the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
- We urge to the international community to make a fair effort to resolve conflicts and tensions that have arisen on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the world.
On May 27, 2018, the historical Inter-Korean summit came true, and it declared a statement, the “Panmunjom Declaration” that gave tremendous hope for the peace on the peninsula. Since the summit, the theme of the peace mass became the “Prayer for the Peace Treaty on the Korean Peninsula.” About 30 to 50 religious and believers attend the peace masses every week. The JPIC Committee of the Korean Province is also taking part in this movement. We will assess our activities and discuss the future direction anew.
Br. Aloysio Kim, OFM
JPIC animator – Seoul, S. KOREA
