Senaka Weeraratna

The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) the premier international Buddhist organization must establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on the infringement of Human Rights of the Buddhist communities during the Western Colonial Rule of countries of Buddhist Asia. It is anticipated that there will be recommendations demanding an Apology and Reparations.

The terms for Inquiry should include:  

1)  Destruction of Buddhist Temples

2)  Execution of Buddhist Monks

3) Prohibition of the Practice of Buddhism

4) Ban on wearing the yellow robe of a Buddhist Monk

5) Plunder of Buddhist Temples

6) Exhibition of artifacts stolen from Buddhist Temples in European Museums

7) Construction of Churches on top of destroyed Buddhist Temple sites

8) Confiscation of Buddhist Temple lands to establish tea and coffee plantations and grow crops, and European settlement 

9) Forcible conversion of Buddhists to Christianity

10) Establishment of Missionary schools

11) Discrimination against Buddhists in matters of employment in both the public and private sectors

12) Use of the Mass media to vilify and denigrate Buddhism and ridicule and demonize Buddhist monks and Buddhist leaders.

13) Abuse of animals and animal sacrifice 

14) Re-writing of the narrative of Buddhist History during the colonial era from the perspective of Buddhist victims of foreign oppression.

15) The feasibility of establishing a League of Buddhist Nations to be the collective voice of the Buddhists at the summit level and to function more or less similar to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

It is suggested that these proposals be Tabled at the ongoing 30th General Conference of the WFB in Bangkok, Thailand from October 18 – 21, 2022.

Senaka Weeraratna