RANGOON, Burma – Around 300 Buddhist monks marched through Rangoon on Tuesday (November 12th) in protest of a looming visit by delegates from the world's top Islamic body to Burma, AFP reported.
A delegation from the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) will meet with Muslims and Buddhists during their stay later this week, according to a senior official.
Attacks against Muslims in Buddhist-majority Burma have overshadowed widely praised political reforms since military rule ended in 2011.
The protesters, some wielding banners reading "No OIC" and "OIC get out", marched through the city, accusing the Islamic bloc of wanting to internationalise the issue of religious violence.
"They will say a majority of Buddhists are abusing a minority group of Muslims," Pamaukkha, a monk, said. "Then they will report on our internal affairs to the UK and the UN."
The OIC delegation will "meet with people working... in Rakhine State and groups working for religious harmony-- from both communities," president's office spokesman Ye Htut said in a post on his Facebook page.
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