was held on Tuesday morning (Sept. 8), at Dharthumarlar Mon Monastery, Moulmein Capital of Mon State.
The event was organized by the Mon Women Network (MWN) and multi-faith goodwill movement group. About 100 people including religious leaders and members of civil society organizations were present at the event.
“Today, we prayed for the peace process. Four religious members, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim, were invited to the praying event. And, the praying event was organized for the peace process,” said Mi Kon Chan Non, from MWN.
Mi Kon Chan Non continued to say that the prayer time was arranged due to the wishes for an positive agreement on the NCA inking, and ultimately for the achievement of peace. Afterwards, further political issues would be able to be discussed. The hope is that the talk currently being held between government top leaders and ethnic armed top leaders will be successful.
“If we look back, peace is the most important thing needed in Myanmar. If we analyze systematically, we have rich natural resources in our country but it is still one of the least-developed countries. We, the public, do not get the opportunities that we are supposed to have. In other words, the reason why our people have to go abroad and work low-paid jobs in other countries is because the development in our country is still weak,” said U Ohn Taung, vice-chairman of Islam Region Affair Council.
On September 9, the President U Thein Sein and ethnic armed top leaders met in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss the signing of the NCA.
At the multi-faith gathering, prayers not only went out to help leaders find a comprise that will best affect the public, they also prayed for those who experience losses from flooding, refugees fleeing conflict and children who became orphans due to the civil war.
“This event is not led by any organization but by people and religious leaders. It is a kind of, people praying for the people. Due to what we heard, the government and ethnic armed groups are conducting a ceasefire signing, and if we pray publicly, both sides will feel peaceful in their hearts and both sides will come together and hold talks,” said U Thant Myint Kyaw, an activist of the multi-faith goodwill movement group.
In addition to multi-faith event in Moulmein, similar gatherings also took place in Rangoon and Nay Pyi Taw. And, it was reported that respective youths from multiple religions and also holding praying events in 16 locations, respectively.
