November 7 (NMG) – Due to ongoing Buddhist-Muslim conflict, citizens in Burma in some areas have been banned from taking part in religious festivals, over one thousand Burmese migrant workers and merchants in Mae Sod today enjoy religious festival of “public contribution” which was held at Kyaung-gyi-tait Burmese monastery, in-charge of Moe-Thauk-Pann Worker’s Association Ko Arkar said.

Away from their country, Burmese migrants comprising of workers and merchants from all walks of lives celebrated Buddhist religious “public contribution” in Thailand every year. Thai authorities, not like usual, were paving the ways to festive-mood Burmese migrant workers by clearing the traffic conjunction on the streets.

“It seems there is religious conflict in Burma and the followers of all religions are suppressed by the government. Not only for the Islam nor Buddhist, all religious ceremonies have been closely monitored and respective festivals are restricted by the military government. The regime is usually afraid of the co-operative works, especially if everybody can participate. The authorities are not willingly to allow or at least there will be certain restrictions to do so. But here in Thailand, peoples are allowed to do the public functions and we do enjoy it,” Ko Arkar complained the religious freedom in Burma.

Due to the recent conflicts between Buddhist and Islam, Burmese authorities issued curfew orders in some part of Burma and the religious festivals are not allowed to celebrate throughout the country, a construction worker, Ko Thant Zin who recently arrived Thai-Burma border said.

“In my opinion, there is no freedom of religion in Burma at all. When we arrived Thailand as workers, we held this public contribution with our own hard-earn money. But we enjoy a lot because there is freedom that is not available in Burma,” Ko Thant Zin commented.

He also added that while peoples in Burma are not allowed to gather at their religious festivals, the migrant workers in Thailand were enjoying “public contribution” festival away from their country that held once a year according to Buddhist lunar calendar.

Burma under the military government, there have been several restrictions on socio-political activities and sometimes these are prohibited. People have no freedom to organize their religious activities and the festivals are put under the strict control of military government while the regime is continuously saying there is religious freedom in the country.

Network Media Group