Burma’s Violence Demands Greater International Attention

Burma’s Violence Demands Greater International Attention, AP

Zubair Akram

Religious violence in Burma, also known as Myanmar, has become the new breeding ground for sectarian violence. Much of the violence this past week has been instigated by radical Buddhist mobs belonging to the notorious 969 Movement at Rohingya Muslims, which constitute less than 5% of Burma’s total population, and are of Bengali heritage. The 969 Movement is led by Ashin Wirathu, a relatively unknown Buddhist monk who claims to preach nonviolence but actively loathes Muslims, who he sees as part of a malevolent mission to eradicate the country’s Buddhist majority.

Who are the monks behind Burma’s ’969′ campaign?

Who are the monks behind Burma’s ’969′ campaign? By CARLOS SARDINA GALACHE 10 May 2013

Burmese Muslims living in Malaysia demonstrate against the killings of Muslims in Meikhtila, Burma (Reuters)

Everything seems peaceful in Moulmein, the Mon state capital on the southern coast of Burma, in spite of the profusion of “969” logos plastered around the city. In a gold shop in the central market, the sticker – a religious symbol that represents the three jewels of Buddhism — figures prominently above a small shrine devoted to Buddha.

Myanmar must look beyond ‘flawed’ report to stop cycle of Buddhist-Muslim violence

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 30 April 2013

Myanmar must look beyond ‘flawed’ report to stop cycle of Buddhist-Muslim violence

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been displaced by the violence in Rakhine state

© AFP/Getty Images

Recommendations in a government-backed report investigating last year’s devastating violence in Myanmar fail to effectively tackle discrimination against Rohingya Muslims and could trigger more human rights abuses, Amnesty International said.

United Nations former expert adviser on human rights said: Massacre of Muslim Rohingyas are correct

Source: Myanmar refuses visa to Ansar Burney in The News (International) Wednesday, July 25, 2012 From Print Edition

LONDON: The Burmese embassy in London has refused the visa application of Ansar Burney, the United Nations former expert adviser on human rights. Ansar Burney had applied to visit the troubled country on a “fact-finding mission” but he was informed on Tuesday afternoon that his application cannot be entertained.

Burney told The News: “The embassy has told me that they are not allowing journalists and human rights activists in the country. I am completely gutted. This action proves that Burma has something to hide from the world.

This action shows that reports of Muslims massacre in western Myanmar and Muslim Rohingyas are correct. I wanted to go there only to find facts about this case.”Burney had applied for visa last week and was told to collect it on Tuesday.

Is Burma regime inciting Rakhine conflict to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi?

Source: Is Burma regime inciting Rakhine conflict to discredit Aung San Suu Kyi?

Conflict between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims could force opposition leader to make an unpopular intervention

BY Edward Loxton LAST UPDATED AT 07:49 ON Tue 12 Jun 2012

CHIANG MAI – As sectarian violence continues unabated in Burma’s westernmost state of Arakan, suspicion is growing that the clashes between Buddhists and minority Muslims are part of a government plot to discredit the hugely popular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and weaken the threat she poses to its military-backed power base.