Dalai Lama expresses deep sorrow over the ongoing violence in Myanmar

SHIMLA: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing violence in Rakhine state of Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

It is reported that around 300,000 ethnic Muslims from the region have fled into Bangladesh following a security clampdown by the Burmese armed forces, prompted by militant attacks organised by fringe Muslim groups on Burmese military outposts in late August.

Dalai Lama wrote a letter to fellow Nobel Peace laureate and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"May I take the liberty of writing to you once again to tell you how dismayed I am by the distressing circumstances in which the situation seems to have deteriorated further," Dalai Lama wrote in his letter to Daw Ang San Su Kyi.

"It is disappointing to observe that the problem appears to be getting worse and the violence is increasing. I appeal to you and your fellow leaders to reach out to all sections of society to try to restore friendly relations throughout the population in a spirit of peace and reconciliation," read the letter.

"As a fellow Buddhist and Nobel Laureate, I am appealing to you and your colleagues once more to find a lasting and humane solution to this festering problem," he has added.

A champion of peace and a strong advocate of religious harmony, Dalai lama has consistently denounced violence in the name of religion and has discouraged use of labels such as 'Muslim terrorists' and 'Buddhist terrorists'. He has vehemently spoken against violence in the name of religion and has maintained that those who indulge in violence cannot be true followers of any religion as all religions advocate a universal message of love, peace and warm-heartedness.

Dalai lama has also made repeated calls to learn from the mistakes of the 20th century and make the 21st century a century of peace based on the power of dialogue to resolve conflicts.

Describing the situation as tense, Dalai Lama has said that the plight of the fleeing minority has made him 'very sad'."Those people...harassing some Muslims...should remember, Buddha definitely would have helped those poor Muslims. I feel...so very sad," Dalai Lama told .

OneIndia News