Myanmar people protest OIC's visit

Myanmar people protest OIC's visit

Published on Wednesday, 13 November 2013 23:34

People marching from the eastern stairs of Shwedagon Pagoda during a protest against the OIC's visit to Myanmar, in Yangon yesterday (Photo – EMG)

YANGON—Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Myanmar's commercial hub yesterday to protest against a visit by delegations from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), while police prevented a plan to hold a protest in Rakhine State's capital Sittwe.

A delegation led by secretary-general Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and several ministers from the OIC arrived in Myanmar today and will travel to Sittwe on Friday.

Protestors staged a demonstration in Insein Township at about 11 a.m. and in front of Shwedagon Pagoda in Bahan Township at about 2 p.m.

They held vinyl signs reading "OIC Get Out" and shouted slogans such as: "OIC is not allowed to open offices anywhere in Myanmar," "We will not allow any organisation to meddle in Myanmar's internal affairs," and "Take illegal Bengalis from Rakhine State to Islamic countries."

Over 30 Buddhist monks and other Yangon residents marched through Baho Road in Insein Township while shouting "Don't come, OIC" and "You can't go to Rakhine State."

Later, a procession of about 1,000 Buddhist monks and citizens marched from the eastern stairs of Shwedagon Pagoda to City Hall in the downtown area. Led by venerable monk U Parmaukkha, abbot of Magway Pariyatti monastery, protestors expressed their disapproval of the OIC entering and visiting Myanmar.

U Parmaukkha said the protest was held with permission from police stations in Bahan and Kyauktada townships.

Aye Zaw Maung, minister of Rakhine race affairs for Yangon Region, showed up at the demonstrations to meet with the protestors in Yangon.

"I came here to look at the situation. It is good that the public is showing their desire after getting official permission. This is the desire and voice of the public," he said.

Residents of Rakhine State's capital Sittwe tried to stage a protest against the OIC's visit but the protestors had to disperse after the police intervened.

However, residents in other cities including Sittwe and Kyaukphyu of Rakhine State are still planning to protest against the OIC's visit.

"We have no objections against the OIC's visit. We accept that they came to see and provide aid to the Muslims. However, the monks in Pakokku will object if the government allows them to open offices in Myanmar and other requests that harm nationality and religion," said U Lekkhana of the Bodhi Manaing monastery in Pakokku, Magway Region.

"The residents will be ready to protest when the OIC delegation arrives in Meiktila," said Aung Myint Ko, a resident of Meiktila in Mandalay Region.

People holding banners in front of City Hall during a protest against the OIC's visit to Myanmar, in Yangon on November 12. (Photo – EMG)

There were nationwide protests last year when the OIC attempted to open an office in Myanmar. 

However, the government announced that it would not allow the OIC to open offices in Myanmar as it goes against the will of the people.

Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut told Eleven Media yesterday that the OIC delegation has no plan to meet with President Thein Sein during their visit.

"OIC officials have no plan to meet the president. Their visit has nothing to do with opening an OIC office. The purpose is to help address the Rakhine conflict and study the resettlements there. They will not meet the members of Islam either. They will meet Rakhine nationals," said Ye Htut, who once argued that the OIC didn't need to intervene in the Rakhine issue. 

The OIC is an international Islamic organisation consisting of 57 members and is the largest international organisation after the United Nations. When established on September 25, 1969, its name was the Organisation of Islamic Conference. Its main objective is to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world. 

It was also formed to promote international peace and security by strengthening solidarity among Islamic countries. 

On August 5, 1990, the OIC adopted the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam in accordance with the Sharia Law and in defiance of the UN Human Rights Declaration. 

In June 2008, however, the OIC chose to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law after revising its charter and removing the Cairo Declaration. It was renamed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on June 28, 2011.

Despite its criticism of conflicts in Thailand and the Philippines and of human rights abuses of Muslim minorities, the OIC has also been criticised for failing to discuss the treatment of ethnic minorities within member countries such as the oppression of the Kurds in Syria, the Ahwaz in Iran, the Hazars in Afghanistan, the Baluchis in Pakistan, or the Al-Akhdam in Yemen.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/11/14/myanmar-people-protest-oics-visit/