In its July 1 international edition, Time, a US weekly news magazine, portrays Ashin Wirathu, a Myanmar Buddhist monk, as "the face of Buddhist terror." The story has triggered mixed responses, including condemnation from the Myanmar government.

The article became so controversial that the Myanmar government banned the magazine. Ye Htut, spokesperson for President Thein Sein, announced on June 25 that the magazine "would not be sold and distributed to prevent the recurrence of racial and religious conflict."

Wirathu's name has been associated with radical ideologies for quite some time now.

Since 2001, he has warned of Muslims taking over Myanmar. He was jailed in 2003 for his radical sermons but released in 2012 as part of a general amnesty.

Since his release, Wirathu has continued his rhetoric against Muslims.

He is part of the "969" nationalist movement of monks who warn about minority Muslims threatening racial purity and national security. The campaign encourages Buddhists not to do business with Muslims and only support fellow Buddhist shops.

Wirathu also proposes an inter-religious marriage law which specifies that anyone who marries a Buddhist woman must convert to Buddhism.

The government's position is that it will not take action against Wirathu for his alleged hate speeches toward the Muslim community for the reason that there has been no complaint from any individual or organization to the Sangha Maha Nayaka, an organization responsible for reviewing the speeches or sermons of monks.

What needs to be done in the larger interest of the Myanmar people?

First of all, it must be understood that Myanmar experienced religious-related violence last year and earlier this year. The violence between Buddhists and Muslims has led to the deaths of at least 200 people since the violence started in 2012, and has displaced tens of thousands of people from both religious groups.

Moreover, there need to be short-term and long-term policies to address the lingering problem between the two communities.

This should include taking legal action against any individual or organization that engages in activities that can incite violence toward other religious groups.

The government needs to put in place a transparent judicial review process by adhering to the principle of equal treatment.

Though freedom of expression should be upheld and encouraged, statements hurting the sentiments of other religious groups need to be checked.

Religious freedom needs to be exercised, while simultaneously showing respect for other faiths, regardless of their numerical strength.

The government must also lay out a concrete policy and program to address the legal status of the Rohingya (Bengali) Muslim population.

Individuals who are eligible under the 1982 citizenship law must be granted full citizenship status like any other groups in the country.

For those who are not eligible, the government must find other viable solutions. This could be explored either through a bilateral engagement with neighboring Bangladesh, where the Myanmar government says the Bengalis illegally migrated from, or with assistance from a neutral body like the UN.

Other remedial policies should include gradual improvement of people-to-people relations between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists, and also with the people of Myanmar in general.

A reconciliation program has the chance to succeed when Buddhists and Muslims are willing to compromise on their differences by respecting each other's identity and culture.

More importantly, the Myanmar government and the general public must be ready to embrace the Muslims, especially the Rohingyas, if any genuine reconciliation is to be realized.

The author is general secretary of the US-based Kuki International Forum. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn