Dalai Lama writes to Suu Kyi on resolving Rohingya crisis

DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has expressed sorrow over the ongoing violence against Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Describing the current situation in the country as “tense”, he said the plight of the fleeing minority has made him “very sad”, the Tibetan-governmentin-exile said in an official statement.

“Those people (who are) harassing some Muslims…should remember (that) Buddha definitely would have helped those poor Muslims. I feel…very sad,” the statement quoted the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Since August 25, nearly 3,00,000 Rohingya Muslims have been forced to flee from their homes in Myanmar and take refuge in Bangladesh.

The statement added that the Dalai Lama has also written a letter to fellow Nobel Peace laureate and Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to find a peaceful solution to the on-going crisis.

In his letter, the Dalai Lama said, “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.”

The letter added, “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,” it read.

It is disappointing to observe that the problem appears to be getting worse and the violence is increasing. DALAI LAMA, Tibetan spiritual leader