Tuesday, May 18, 2010

All Lives are Sacred: A plea to put an end to massive killing in Bangkok

Public Statement
All Lives are Sacred: A plea to put an end to massive killing in Bangkok 

International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) 

Since the beginning of the demonstration by the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), aka “Red Shirts”, on 12 March 2010, there have been many hundreds of casualties. In the past five days, attempts to disperse the demonstration in Ratchaprasong have become been violent, with a further effect of provoking violence. The government’s actions have so far failed to deter the demonstrators.
The present clash of political views is one of the great crises in Siam’s modern history. The country was previously acclaimed for settling conflict peacefully and democratically. Now it appears that both sides, the government and the UDD, are clinging to an illusion of victory over another.  The entire nation is hostage to their conflict. Buddhist wisdom is relevant for those absorbed in hatred, greed and delusion. The Dhammapada, Verse 201 says:

Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. Persons who have given up both victory and defeat, the contented, they are happy.
The International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), representing a diversity of socially engaged buddhists from around the world, is gravely concerned about this standoff. We wish for all parties address the conflict with reason and tools of peace, to recognize the ancient Buddhist wisdom that neither the so-called winner nor loser will be contented and happy. We encourage those who do not fall into one of the two camps can help this process wherever possible.  Only through peaceful negotiation and dialogue can all parties concerned return the country to its true nature as a flourishing democracy and a peace-loving nation.





Our heartfelt plea is for both parties to stop any act that may cost lives and injuries;  to reclaim the time-tested wisdom of reconciliation and nonviolence.


Whenever INEB can help bridge the gap between the opposed parties we are willing to do all that we can.

We trust that in the light of upcoming international Vesakh celebrations in Thailand, supported by the United Nations 22-26 May 2010 and the subsequent local Vesakh celebrations, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha, all parties will unite in taking responsibility for their conduct and for bringing about lasting peace, transformation towards social justice and shared wellbeing for future generations. 

To close, in Verse 5 of the Dhammapada the Buddha proclaims:
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By love alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.


Your browser may not support display of this image. International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
www.inebnetwork.org
Patron, Advisory Committee and Executive Committee Name Lists

PATRONS

His Holiness the Dalai Lama   Tibet
Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh   France/Vietnam 
Venerable Phra Rajpanyamedhi   Siam (Thailand)  
Venerable Bhikshuni Chao Hwei  Taiwan

ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AC)

Name Organisation Country
Sulak Sivaraksa (Founder Chair) Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute www.sulak-sivaraksa.org Siam
Raja Dharmapala Dharmavedi Institute Sri Lanka
Jill Jameson Buddhist Peace Fellowship Australia Australia
Dharmachari Lokamitra Jambudvipa Trust www.jambudvipa.org India
Ven. Tsering Palmo Ladakh Nuns Association Ladakh/India
Phra Maha Boonchuay Mahachulalongkorn University http://www.mcu.ac.th Siam
Phra Phaisan Visalo Buddhika Network for Buddhism and Society http://www.budnet.org Siam
Bhikkhuni Dhammananda Songdhammakalyani Monastery Siam
Venetia Walkey Dhamma Park Foundation www.dhammapark.com Siam
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Jungto Society www.jungto.org South Korea
Rev. Alan Senauke Clear View Project www.clearviewproject.org USA
Ven. Sumanalankar Parbatya Bouddha Mission www.pbm-cht.org Bangladesh
Hisashi Nakamura Ryukoku University www.ryukoku.ac.jp Japan
Rev. Masazumi Okano International Buddhist Exchange Center Japan
Swee-hin Toh University for Peace www.upeace.org Costa Rica
Frans Goetghebeur European Buddhist Union www.e-b-u.org Belgium

EXECUTICE COMMITTEE (EC)

Name Organisation Country
Harsha Navaratne (Chairperson) Sewalanka Foundation www.sewalanka.org Sri Lanka
Hans van Willenswaard (Vice Chairperson) GNH Program www.schoolforwellbeing.org Netherlands/ Siam
Somboon Chungprempree (Interim Executive Secretary) Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) www.semsikkha.org Siam
Douangdeuane Bounyavong Buddhists for Development www.bdp.org.la Laos
Hsiang-chou Yo Fo Guang University www.fgu.edu.tw Taiwan
Jonathan Watts Think Sangha USA/Japan
Anchalee Kurutach Buddhist Peace Fellowship www.bpf.org USA
Poolchawee Ruangwichatorn Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) www.semsikkha.org Siam
Pipob Udomittipong Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation (SNF) www.snf.or.th Siam
Ros Sotha Buddhists and Khmer Society Network www.bksn.wordpress.com Cambodia
Mangesh Dahiwale Jambudvipa Trust www.jambudvipa.org India
Prashant Varma Deer Park Institute www.deerpark.in India
Erica Kang Jungto Society www.jungto.org South Korea
Minyong Lee   South Korea
Eddy Setiawan HIKMAHBUDHI www.hikmahbudhi.or.id Indonesia
Matteo Pistono Nekorpa and RIGPA Fellowship USA
Tashi Zangmo   Bhutan
Vidyananda (KV Soon)   Malaysia
Harn   Burma/Myanmar

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