Global Voices » Myanmar (Burma)

Interfaith Groups: Stop Religious Violence in Myanmar

Thant Sin — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:19:06 +0000

Interfaith groups in Myanmar are actively working for peace, understanding and harmony amid rising cases of violence against the minority Muslims in the country.

A recent case of anti-Muslim violence instigated by Buddhist mobs broke out in Oakkan, a northern district of Myanmar's former capital city Yangon, on April 30. Around 77 houses were burned down, nine people injured and one killed. It was the latest attack in a series of violence which targeted Muslim houses and shops in the cities of Nattalin, Bago and central Myanmar. The riot that happened at the central town of Meikhtila on March 20 was the second major conflict after the sectarian violence in the Rakhine state which displaced 100,000 people last year.

Myanmar youth campaigners throw ‘Peace for Myanmar’ scarfs to a crowd. Photo by Thet Htoo, Copyright @Demotix (4/15/2013)

These riots and conflicts which challenge the efficiency of the civil government are occurring at a time when the country is undergoing a political transition to democracy.

Ko Thant Zin, a Muslim who participated in ‘Pray for Myanmar campaign’ organized by various religious leaders, said [my] in an interview:

Our primary objective is to obtain peace for Myanmar. We don't want the troubles and the conflicts. We want to stop the clashes that hinder our path to democracy, as soon as possible. As a follower of Islam, I am sad for all this. But as a Myanmar, we cannot accept this situation. Most of the people in my country want to live peacefully and don't want conflicts. That's why our movement will be successful nationwide. Whether in Buddhism, Islam or any religion, there are people who insult or vilify other religions. If we are to feel bad about this, there would be no end to this. These are the acts of destruction. They are not the truth. Those who made videos that insult Buddha or Jesus, regard these acts like a game. We are hurt by this. In our religion, we have no right to vilify others. Even though we feel sad deep inside, we just have to suppress it because all we want is peace.

Similar interfaith alliance prayers [my], discussion panel [my] and blood donation drive [my] were also done in cities like Pathein and Myeik.

On the other hand, religious extremists and racists continue to create division in different communities. Social media hate comments and propaganda also played a role in inciting violence on the eve of the conflicts. This is unfortunate since Myanmar has recently implemented some reforms to promote freedom of speech.

Mon Mon Myat wrote an investigative report in the Bangkok Post, speculating who are the people behind the religious and racial hate messages. (Myanmar version also available here [my]). His research focused on the content and style of the messages that the writers used. It is suggested that the propaganda might be state-sponsored. He also wrote:

In Meiktila, the spark that ignited the violence is widely believed to have been a dispute between the Muslim owner of a gold shop and two would-be customers, both Buddhists.

But what could, and probably should, have been nothing more than a minor spat rapidly escalated into mass murder and rioting. And all thanks to a group of anonymous online rabble-rousers, relentlessly banging the drum for intolerance and hatred via their blogs and websites.

He stressed the fact that government needs to handle the violence decisively:

Whether or not these atrocities were committed by military or paramilitary groups, the fact remains that the government did nothing to bring those responsible for the killings to justice.

Meanwhile, Mandalay citizens have formed a “Conflict Prevention” [my] committee in response to these hate messages. On May 3, an anonymous group were trying to provoke a riot in the city of Mandalay. Fortunately, security was able to control the situation and three people were arrested.

On Facebook, Ye Htut shared his thoughts [my] on the recent protests by radical Islamic groups in Indonesia, which warned to call for Jihad against Myanmar:

The claims that the foreign religious extremists want to wage Jihad against Myanmar may damage the image of the Muslim people who want to live peacefully in Myanmar. As these claims can create misunderstandings on Islam, they can also affect our movement for the peace and religious harmony and the trust-building between the different communities that we are trying to develop.

He urged domestic media to be more careful in reporting this matter:

For the media, they should be careful not to increase the fear and doubt among the Buddhists when reporting about such claims. It should be noted that respective governments do not accept such claims. It would be appropriate if the media can ask and present the opinions of the leaders of Islamic organizations in Myanmar regarding such terroristic ideologies.

Blogger Nay Phone Latt also shared [my] his opinion:

Actually, through government policies we can change the situation that is making us worried. We can resolve by using firm and effective laws that truly rule. I think government should impose laws and policies that forbid religious insults in society and protect the minority religion from being dominated by others. Even if we don't want to revolve the issue by using laws, at the society level we can start by casting aside our hatred and shaking hands with one another. By creating peaceful coexistence as our focus, we can find solutions. Otherwise, if we resort to using violence, the circle of killings will not stop and it will turn our country into a hideous battleground. To prevent this, both the government and the people are responsible.

Giants, Hackers, Trolls: Where Mythology and Online Activism Meet

Joel Gilbourd — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:43:45 +0000

Netizens have come to know a “troll” as ”someone who posts a deliberately provocative message” to fuel an argument online.

That these inflammatory net users were labeled as “trolls” was no accident. The original meaning of a troll is found in Scandinavian mythology, in which trolls are “creatures bent on mischief and wickedness.”

In fact, the online world has much more in common with the mythological world than you might expect. Many of the roles that have emerged in the Internet age are very similar to the structure used in traditional tales to impart some truth to listeners.

For instance, Loki, in Scandinavian folklore, is a trickster, a character set on breaking rules for ultimately positive effects. In the online world, a trickster is a whistleblower, the unconventional agent who will alert the rest of the world in order to trigger social change, such as former United States army soldier Bradley Manning, who is accused of passing on classified information to WikiLeaks.

In the same vein, blacksmiths and dwarves take material in its raw form and build objects that allow the gods to fight against their enemies. They give the raw material a shape that is useful and understandable, similar to what professional and citizen journalists do with information that is made available online by WikiLeaks.

And in Norse mythology, when Thor and the other gods fail to launch Baldr's funeral ship so that he may be resurrected in the other world, they call upon a giantess of supernatural power to propel the ship forward. In the online world, organizations of “giant” power such as Anonymous throw their weight behind information or causes to increase their awareness.

Whistleblowers and tricksters

Illustration of Alfred Smedberg's “The boy who never was afraid”, John Bauer, 1912. Public domain

A trickster often times effects positive change through scheming and thievery, despite perhaps having less-than-pure intentions.

Bradley Manning himself noted this when he admitted during testimony that he took classified government information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to a transcript of his statements:

I created copies of the CIDNE-I and CIDNE-A SigAct tables as part of the process of backing up information. At the time I did so, I did not intend to use this information for any purpose other than for back up. However, I later decided to release this information publicly. At that time, I believe and still believe that these tables are two of the most significant documents of our time.

His role as whistleblower (or, as the french say, “alert-launcher”) is characterized by his aim - he again testified - to trigger national debate on the role of the US military and on US foreign policy.

His actions helped to re-establish a line of communication between the government, which was holding back a certain truth, and the population, which had been deprived of it.

While his decision might be justified from a purely humanist standpoint, it nevertheless is considered a crime. Manning found himself being challenged, rejected, or even ignored by the mass media.

WikiLeaks and blacksmiths

Manning then gave the stolen information to WikiLeaks, who worked and shaped the data in a way not dissimilar to the blacksmiths of mythology.

Figures such Julian Assange and Birgitta Jónsdóttir, a member of the Icelandic parliament, processed and analyzed what Manning had given them. The work was journalistic, identifying the context, the players, and the political implications to ensure the information's full impact.

Julian Assange described the role:

Quantum mechanics and its modern evolution left me with a theory of change and how to properly understand how one thing causes another.

In other words, so long as the key facts are not actively identified, they remain uncertain and elusive.

WikiLeaks is not the only entity to assume the role of a blacksmith. Citizen journalists also play a part in forging information into an understandable form.

The extensive research and dissemination efforts carried out most notably by Heather Mash and Jemila Hanan [fr] related to the living conditions of Myanmar's persecuted Muslim minority, the Rohingya community, are an important example of this.

This journalistic work is more than just a mediating role, as Hanan explained in a February 2013 post on her blog:

There is no precedent for using social media to stop a genocide – this is uncharted territory. We need to use social media to create and be the media, us, the people.
Our objectives are to:
1. disseminate information;
2. make connections;
3. encourage people to act.

Anonymous and giants

But Manning's information and WikiLeaks’ analysis would have been pointless without an audience. It was not enough to simply unearth and to shape the information – something needed to intervene so that information was actually read.

Hacktivist group Anonymous stepped into this role, using its might to propel the information foward, as Annie Machon, a former MI5 officer, explained in an op-ed for RT:

If you can do it over cyberspace, you get global awareness of what you’re doing, and the message you’re trying to put out. And this is precisely what Anonymous has achieved, with this publicized assault against certain Israeli websites.
Let’s not call them attacks: they are distributed denial of service attempts against certain countries and certain websites. So what we’re seeing here is a sort of automated mass influx into certain websites that cause them to crash.

While Anonymous relies on data released and shaped by citizen journalists to carry out their actions, their role is not to work the information as a blacksmith but to infuse the information with circulatory force using their extraordinary strength, like the mythological giant.

Twitter, for example, is rich with posts concerning their recent operations such as: #OpIsrael, #OpKashmir, #OpRohingya (which attracted public attention to available information concerning the genocide of this minority), #ReformCFAA (which is part of a protest movement against the Computer Fraud and Abuses Act), or #OpGabon against organ trafficking.

Myanmar: Suu Kyi Beats Lady Gaga in Time Magazine Poll

Thant Sin — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:28:57 +0000

Aung San Suu Kyi, photo by Htoo Tay Zar, taken from Wikipedia

Aung San Suu Kyi was voted as the Time Magazine's most influential person of the decade on 17 April, 2013. She won against Lady Gaga by 61 percent of the total votes. It came as a proud moment for Myanmar people who untiringly voted for her to show their utmost support for ‘The Lady.’ It is also regarded as a New Year present for Aung San Suu Kyi from her people as April 16 is the first day in the Myanmar calender.

Following her victory after the voting closed, many people shared their joy and enthusiasm on Facebook. Here are some of the posts:

Helen Ayekyaw wrote that the ‘gift’ is fruit of unity in the country:

your children has given a present for Mom, which is a fruit of our unity. Wish you are happy.

Taw Win Daund complimented the voters:

Say it who is the winner and say it loud….!!!.. :)
Give yourselves a big hand coz u worth it..

Hmuu Zaw also congratulated her and wrote about the significance of the poll victory:

Daw Suu is an icon of Myanmar. Our president is also a symbol of Myanmar's reformation. In any case, we have voted to present our country; our people's pride can be seen here. Lady Gaga's fans are also mobilizing people to vote for her in various fan pages. There is a stark difference in number of followers, internet users and the internet speed. I don't want to say anything about TIME's matching two people of different areas (I mean an Icon and a Pop-star; it would be better if she is matched with Obama or Hilary Clinton). There might be different opinions on the style of voting. But we can see the TIME's intention of allowing us to vote multiple times. Some people might think this is not necessary but this means a lot to us who recently have been able to look outside of a closed-society. Lady Gaga's fans and people from TIME magazine might be surprised (if they check IP, they will know who are voting). For Myanmar people who are living here or abroad, we have come to a cross-point. The word Myanmar that had been neglected always, now comes into recognition. We have started a new year with good news.

He also mentioned some of the other challenges facing Myanmar:

I fully hope that in the future we will be united as well for nation, peace, development and putting Myanmar in the right place. TIME's voting has finished but we still have Nation Building, and State Building has been only 2 years old. As the President said we have to walk ahead taking lessons and challenges from the past years.

Here are also some of the voters’ sentiments the day and night before the match was closed

Photo of a family voting for Aung San Suu Kyi, shared by Taw Win Daund

Freedom News Group was regularly updating the voting results:

Lady Gaga 46% and Aung San Suu Kyi 54%. Only two hours left to vote for Aung San Suu Kyi

Demo Fatty wrote in behalf of other Burmese who can't access the internet:

We, 2 million people are voting also on behalf of 40 million people who also wanted to vote for Daw Suu but do not have internet. So what? Let's vote, everybody!

Michael Z Chu also expressed his concern:

Lady Gaga vs our Beloved Leader Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is getting close plz everyone vote vote vote n tell all ur friends n family also

Photo of a child voting for Aung San Suu Kyi, shared by Zaw Min Tun

One of the voters, Tin Ko Ko Oo wrote:

Don't give up! respect those who voted all night long.

Kaung Thant asserts that Suu Kyi will remain a beloved figure even if she loses in the poll:

Whatever the result will be, Mother Suu is always going to be in the heart of her people.

Chinese Envy the Return of Private Media in Myanmar

Abby — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:22:10 +0000

The return of private newspapers in Myanmar after an absence of almost five decades has triggered envy and frustration among Chinese citizens who are wondering whether China, with its tight media controls, will ever follow suit.

After Chinese newspaper Beijing Times reported [zh] that the four private newspapers in Myanmar sold out as soon as they hit the news stands on 1 April, 2013, other Chinese media outlets picked up on the story, triggering a lively debate on China's most popular social media platforms.

China Daily newspaper editor Craig McIntosh commented on popular microblogging site Sina Weibo:

A great day for Myanmar. A free, unbiased and fair print media can play a huge role in protecting human rights and other freedoms.

A screenshot of the report on Myanmar's private newspapers on China's Guangxi TV (from youku)

Another news editor “Guilin Ribao Laona” wrote [zh]:

私人报纸一小步，国家民主一大步……

A small step for private newspapers, a giant leap for a country's democracy.

Most commentators, however, expressed frustration with China's own media censorship. “Xianshi Wangtian” wrote [zh]:

向缅甸人民祝贺，我国宪法规定中国公民也有自办报刊的权利，不知什么时候中国公民能依法自办报刊，这也是中国梦，何时成真？

Congratulations to the people of Myanmar. The constitution in our country also says that Chinese citizens have the right to run their own papers, but when can Chinese citizens have the right according to the law? This is also the Chinese dream, when will it come true?

One user calling himself “ShanghaiJuice” replied:

That's not going to happen in China.

While another commented [zh] sarcastically:

缅甸也快成民主国家了，我国的朋友越来越少了。

It seems that Myanmar has stepped on the road towards democracy, and China will have less and less friends.

Another commentator called “Liushi Buhuo” echoed [zh] the sentiment:

搞了几十年还不如缅甸越南，再过两年可能连古巴都不如，只能跟朝鲜比高下。

After dozens of years of reform and opening, we can't even beat Myanmar or Vietnam, maybe after two more years, we will be even more backward than Cuba, perhaps there would only be North Korea left for us to compare.

“Hujin Wenyu”, in turn, suggested [zh]:

既如此，可到缅甸去，办一份中文报纸，如何？

If so, How about running a Chinese newspaper in Myanmar?

One user expressed hope, however, writing [zh]:

Maybe that's also the future of China? Not sure how many years or decades it's gonna take though.

Myanmar Now Sells Cheap SIM Cards

Chan Myae Khine — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:39:12 +0000

Great news for mobile phone users in Myanmar. Authorities from different divisions and states will start selling[my] mobile SIM cards for CDMA and WCDMA network at only 1500 kyats or about 2 US Dollars. Just five years ago, a SIM card in Myanmar could cost more than $2000.

Al Jazeera: Amplifying (Global Voices) Women's Voices

Jillian C. York — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:43:22 +0000

Last month, I received an interesting e-mail from my editor, Nasir Khan, at the Opinion page of Al Jazeera English. In the e-mail, Khan explained that while his goal has been to keep a gender ratio of 50/50 on the page, he has often come up short. Therefore, he wrote, he would be working on a project with the sole intention of increasing the output of women contributors:

For the months of February and March, I plan to have a gender ratio of 80/20 in favour of women, flipping the abhorrent ratio that currently exists within the industry … In the process, [we'll be] challenging other outlets to do the same.

Though the initiative failed to attract much mainstream coverage, it quickly spread through social media, and by mid-March Khan was well on his way to fulfilling his goal. Through tweets, e-mails, and Facebook posts, women heard about the initiative and lined up to contribute.

Global Voices women step up

The women of Global Voices were no exception, and by the end of March they had substantially contributed to the Opinion section. This shouldn't be surprising: just last month, a study published by The Guardian showed that Global Voices has a 51% contribution rate from women, consistent over time. The article praised Global Voices for its diversity, noting:

However you slice it, Global Voices publishes a diverse set of voices at all levels of participation, from the most prolific to the most casual.

Global Voices has always sought to bring the voices of bloggers and netizens into the mainstream — today we'll do the opposite, amplifying the voices of nine GV women (of whom we are very proud) that have made it into the mainstream.

Deborah Esch, a Global Voices author and member of the GV Advocacy Steering Committee (as well as a professor of literature), wrote about her experiences gaining open access to a scholarly archive that had previously been locked to the public, helping her come to terms with the death of activist Aaron Swartz. Esch writes:

Along the way, I found that I was no longer in search of an example – in literature, in historiography – a figure to help come to terms with the death of Aaron Swartz. I had my example: had it as an experience, the unexpected experience of open access to a scholarly archive that had till then been locked away from the public behind the monolithic gates of one institution or another.

Esch also published a second piece on the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez disaster.

Two Global Voices ladies: Jillian and Leila at the Arab Bloggers Summit in Tunisia 2011. Photo shared by Jillian C. York on flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Rayna Stamboliyska, a GV contributor, wrote about the importance of “hacking science,” explaining:

A very powerful concept – “citizen science” – has naturally emerged along the lines of open science. Countless professional researchers blog about their work and discuss online results obtained by their peers. Such open discussion permits non-professionals to participate as well. The surge of the hacker/maker/do-it-yourself movement has tremendously contributed to engage non-professional scientists in science.

Nowadays, there are hundreds of projects the world over within which professional and non-professional researchers take part in genuine scientific studies. A clearly visible shift has operated in the recent years from citizens helping merely collect data to citizens actually analysing it, producing valuable results and interpreting them as well as generating new hypotheses.

Leila Nachawati Rego, a Spanish-Syrian contributor and member of the GV Advocacy Steering Committee, wrote of reasons to remain optimistic about Syria. Using the town of Kafranbel as a symbol of hope against tyranny, Nachawati Rego writes:

This northwestern town has become well-known for the powerful and edgy banners. They are being created since the beginning of the uprising and are instantly shared through social media.

Internet users from all over the world look forward to every new message and drawing, which summarise the meaning and the evolution of the Syrian struggle.

Although banners and drawings have captured international attention, Kafranbel is more than that. It is also a model for new forms of self-management emerging from the rubble. Its inhabitants not only have survived several regime bombings, but also have engaged in self-government while rebuilding their own town.

Chan Myae Khine, who writes about Myanmar for Global Voices, analyzed the ongoing conflict between Muslims and Buddhists in her country, explaining:

The background of the latest clash between Muslims and Buddhists, however, is not as clear cut as is reported. Although it is reported to be sectarian in nature, the characteristics of the latest flair of violence are utterly atypical, and at worst, planned. An insecure public, the nature of the extremists and the announcement of a state of emergency are indicative of a regression from the still-ongoing transition towards democracy.

Renata Avila, a transparency advocate and longtime contributor to GV and GV Advocacy, discussed the case of American journalist Nicholas Blake, in which the Guatemalan state was declared responsible for the journalist's disappearance. She writes of her experience:

While I worked as a lawyer for the Guatemalan genocide case, preparing the witnesses who presented their testimonies before Spanish National Courts, I struggled with the lack of information about the Army suspects. Counterinsurgency plans and information of the chain of command were obtained either via whistleblowers or Freedom of Information requests filed in the United States, evidencing the importance of both the freedom of information architecture and whistleblowers as key instruments where not even a Bush or a Kennedy can obtain the truth. Up till now, the Military Archives remain sealed, secret. Key files needed for the cases are reported “missing”.

GV contributor Yoo Eun Lee, who writes about Korea, asked “Who was behind the South Korean cyber-attacks?“, writing:

If the attacks were indeed from North Korea, there is no need to read anything into it. Their message and motive cannot be anymore clear. North Korea has been using all kinds of extreme war rhetoric offline for decades, with statements like “turning the South Korean capital into a sea of fire/blood”. This hacking could be just more blackmailing – only done online.

Although blaming North Korea for the attack provides very convenient and believable explanations – compact enough to fit into saucy headlines – it is completely lazy and misleading.

Kirsten Han, who contributes to GV from Singapore, wrote about the Singaporean government's attempt to increase the country's birth rate, calling some attempts “cringe-worthy at best”:

Young men and women are now being bombarded with “pro-family” messaging, cajoling and coaxing them into getting married and settling down rather than “waiting for all the stars to align”. A married life with children is portrayed as the ultimate desirable outcome, and singles are continually told to get out there and start looking for a spouse…

…it's like constantly being under the gaze of an overzealous aunt, eager to set you up on blind dates with anyone who catches her eye. Young Singaporeans are barely given the time and space to really think about what they want, and with a host of “pro-family” policies – priority in the public housing queue for married couples, parental leave being only applicable to couples who are lawfully married, etc – it sometimes seems like a choice between conforming or working doubly hard. Those who don't fit into the social norm are more or less left out.

In her piece, GV contributor Lakshmi Sarah proposes that the BRIC countries take steps to act responsibly when it comes to women's rights and violence against women:

The BRICs have gained attention since 2001, when the term was initially coined. From 2000 to 2008, the BRICs’ share of GDP rose from 16 to 22 percent. The Times (London) has quoted a financial adviser predicting that by 2050, the BRICs nations will “dominate the globe”. Each BRIC country has its own view of power and responsibility. Each BRIC country also has its own record when it comes to human rights and women's issues.

I contributed my own piece as well, looking at the effectiveness of an activism campaign leading up to Microsoft's recent release of a transparency report:

The campaign could serve as a strong model for future efforts. Unlike popular petition platforms like Change.org and AVAAZ, the letter to Skype used a dedicated website and opened signatures up to both individuals and organisation, adding clout. This helps, as Microsoft is unlikely to be affected by the complaints of individual users.

Continuing the effort

Al Jazeera's Khan hopes that the success of this experiment will lead to greater gender balance in the future. This whole experiences goes to prove that the first step to overcoming gender imbalance is deciding to do something about it. Our community believes strongly in supporting diversity in the media, and we're thrilled for the opportunity to help.

Religious Extremism Blamed for Myanmar Riots

Mong Palatino — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 08:43:16 +0000

The Meikhtila riots in central Myanmar which also spread to other towns have killed more than 40 people and raised fears that religious and ethnic clashes would continue to worsen in the country. There are suspicions that the riots were provoked to create panic and distract public attention. Many people also analyzed the roots of the violence, in particular, the rise of religious extremism which have caused division and hate in many parts of Myanmar.

President U Thein Sein gave a televised speech to warn the ‘political opportunists and religious extremists’:

I am deeply saddened to find out that a simple private dispute led to a deadly riot and that some unruly instigators, taking advantage of the disingenuousness of the public, tried to spread the riots to other parts of the country.

I would like to warn all political opportunists and religious extremists who exploit the noble teachings of these religions and tried to plant hatred among people of different faiths for their own self-interest.

I will not hesitate to use force as a last resort to protect the lives and safeguard the property of general public.

A destroyed shop owned by a Muslim in Sitkwin. Photo by Thet Htoo, Copyright@ Demotix (3/29/2013)

Kyaw Zwa Moe wants the government to investigate and identify the people who instigated the riots:

Although fingers have been pointed in different directions, almost everyone in Burma seems to agree that someone, or some group, is responsible for instigating the recent riots. Now, responsibility falls on the government to investigate and take action against the political opportunists or religious extremists behind this unrest.

But Tomas Quintana, UN special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, suspects the involvement of state forces:

…(there are) instances where the military, police and other civilian law enforcement forces have been standing by while atrocities have been committed before their very eyes, including by well organised ultra-nationalist Buddhist mobs.

This may indicate direct involvement by some sections of the State or implicit collusion and support for such actions.

May Ng affirms this observation. Meanwhile, Min Ko Naing, a former political prisoner and leader of the 88 Generation Students group, also saw the inaction of security forces during the riots:

On our way into Meiktila, we saw a motorcyclist armed with a machete causing havoc at a petrol station. The police and the security officers were just standing there watching him. In fact, in that kind of situation, they don’t need to wait for their superior’s orders

Andrew Selth gives an overview about the history of Muslims in Myanmar which comprise about 4 percent of the country’s population. He notes that religious intolerance is not new in the country:

…religious intolerance is not new to Burma. Indeed, before 2011 the regime reportedly encouraged some anti-Muslim riots to divert attention from its own failings.

…the problem is not just the tactics of the security forces, but the discriminatory policies and community attitudes in Burma which make anti-Muslim unrest likely to recur. These are issues that few Burmese politicians seem willing seriously to address.

Benedict Rogers visited a village and interviewed some Muslims who told him that they have been living peacefully with their Buddhist neighbors for over 200 years already:

Last Monday, I visited a village little more than two miles from Naypyitaw, where a community of 260 Muslims had lived peacefully alongside Buddhists for 200 years. They told me they had never had a problem, and had good relations with their Buddhist neighbors, until March 22. That night, a huge mob of Buddhists came to attack the mosque and the madrassa alongside it. The Muslim people fled in time, and no one was killed or injured, but the mosque was damaged and desecrated, and the madrassa completely burned out. It was a smouldering scene of fear and misery.

Francis Wade thinks the recent riot is another proof of “Islamophobic streak” in the country:

…this latest wave of attacks on Muslims is so troubling because of the involvement of civilians, who have otherwise been tolerant of the Christian beliefs of their countrymen.

The Meikhtila violence should be seen as the latest manifestation of an historic Islamophobic streak in Burma. Of course there is bitter irony in reports of civilians and monks colluding with security forces in last week’s attacks;

Matt Schissler refers to the rise of an ‘anti-Muslim Buddhist nationalism.’ He mentions the posting of ‘969’ stickers and signs in some Buddhist shops:

…since September 2012, a concerted effort to encourage support for Buddhist shops and to discourage Buddhists from patronizing establishments with Muslim ownership and refuse sale to Muslims

The 969 is about the 9 special attributes of the Buddha, the 6 Buddhist teachings, and the 9 attributes of Buddhist monks.

Maung Zarni blames the violence to what he calls “genocidal Buddhist racism”:

… they have chosen to pursue a destructive nationalism that is rooted in the fear of losing property, land, and racial and religious purity.

He also observed the proliferation of online hate speech:

The Burmese state has mobilized its society’s Islamaphobia through various institutional mechanisms, including the state media outlets and social media sites, the presidential office’s Facebook page among them. Burmese-language social media sites, which thrive out of the purview of international media watchdogs, are littered with hate speech.

Aung Zaw blames military leaders for the emergence of ‘Buddhist fascists’ and ‘Buddhist extremists’:

Although they portrayed themselves as devout Buddhists, Burma’s military rulers showed no compassion toward anyone who did not bow before them.

The outcome is that we now have countless “Buddhist extremists” in Burma. Sadly, they are everywhere. They are out on the streets and sitting in Parliament, wearing military fatigues, business suits and monk’s robes.

So the rise of “Buddhist” fascists in Burma comes as no surprise to anyone who has witnessed the machinations of the country’s rulers over the past half-century. Their presence in the streets of Meikhtila is no more than a throwback to the darkest days of military rule, and one that will not be exorcised easily.

History of Myanmar's Movie Industry

Mong Palatino — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:13:11 +0000

Ei Ei Su writes about the history of Myanmar's movie industry beginning with the country's first silent film in 1920, up to the 1940s when the industry was producing about 400 films, until the army takeover in 1962.

PHOTOS: Life Before Myanmar Violence

Rezwan — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 06:41:20 +0000

College graduates in Maiktila, Myanmar. Riots erupted last week which affected the peaceful image of the town. Image by Geoffrey Hiller. Used with permission

(more…)

Drones and Drug Politics in China and Myanmar

Mong Palatino — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:14:25 +0000

This post is part of our International Relations & Security coverage.

Naw Kham before execution. Screenshot from China Central Television News video.

Burmese drug lord Naw Kham and fellow gang members Hsang Kham from Thailand, Yi Lai, and Zha Xika from Laos were executed by China on March 1, 2013 after being found guilty of killing 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong River in 2011.

The execution grabbed the world’s attention for two reasons. First, Chinese state-run TV networks aired the execution parade, a decision which enraged many people in Myanmar and even in China. Second, the Chinese government admitted that it considered the use of drones in 2012 to capture Naw Kham who was then hiding in a rural village in Laos. It was the first time that China publicly acknowledged that it had acquired drones.

Naw Kham’s execution triggered widespread discussion about his criminal activities. Known as the ‘Godfather of the Golden Triangle’, Naw Kham led the 100-strong Hawngleuk Militia in the Shan State border town of Tachilek in Myanmar which engaged in drug trafficking, kidnapping and hijacking. With Myanmar as its heartland, the notorious Golden Triangle in mainland Southeast Asia is the world’s second largest producer of opium after Afghanistan.

Naw Kham’s gang also extorted protection money from cargo ships along the Mekong River. He became the most wanted man in China after his group killed 13 Chinese sailors who refused to pay in 2011. The ‘Mekong Tragedy’ prompted China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to launch joint patrols along the river and coordinate attempts to capture Naw Kham. His arrest drew comparisons to the successful operation by US forces to kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

How did Naw Kham elude arrest for so many years? It seems he was protected by high-ranking Burmese officials and apparently even by some villagers, says Myanmar’s Mizzima News:

He managed for nearly a decade to avoid efforts by the region’s law enforcement agencies to capture him because of the “protection and blessings” of both villagers and Burma’s military in the Tachilek and Kentung area of Shan State, officials said. He was looked upon as a “Robin Hood”, for the doling out of money he extorted from Mekong shipping.

Naw Kham’s tragic life also reminds us about the complexity of narco-politics in Myanmar. Shan Herald explains the link between the war on drugs and the raging civil war in north Myanmar:

No one is innocent in the war on drugs in Burma:

The people because of their desperate need for survival

The rebels to buy arms for the struggle against a tyrannical government

The government and its armed forces for encouraging allies to be involved in the drug trade to fight against the resistance and for allowing their units to be involved so they could feed, clothe and equip themselves

The circle becomes complete when greedy financiers take advantage of the state of affairs to invest, produce and trade in drugs

Khuensai Jaiyen of the Shan Drug Watch believes that a “political solution with armed ethnic groups” is the key to addressing the drug menace:

It’s time to end the vicious cycle of new drug lords emerging and being scapegoated over and again. The political root causes of the drug problem must be tackled

News about China’s possession of drones prompted a discussion about whether the Chinese government will authorize their use to protect state investments in Myanmar, in particular its gas pipeline project. Mizzima weighs on this matter:

Perhaps, but perhaps not. However the fact that China is making its southwestern neighbor aware of its military capabilities sends a message [that is] hard to ignore.

It is highly likely that Chinese patience and its committed policy of respecting sovereignty will be put to the test in the coming months—not only in containing the Kachin conflict, but also in protecting a vital pipeline from sabotage.

With regard to the live showing of the execution march, most Burmese and Chinese internet users have criticized the “unnecessary spectacle”. Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch described it as an ‘affront to human dignity’:

There is no reason to turn an execution into this grotesque show and it actually detracts from the effective dispensation of justice … no matter what they have done, they are not animals in a zoo.

This post and its translations to Spanish, Arabic and French were commissioned by the International Security Network (ISN) as part of a partnership to seek out citizen voices on international relations and security issues worldwide. This post was first published on the ISN blog, see similar stories here.

Myanmar: Who is Plotting the Meikhtila Riot?

Chan Myae Khine — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:01:34 +0000

For three days, riots raged in the town of Meikhtila in the Mandalay division of Myanmar.

The riot erupted on March 20, 2013 when a Muslim owner of a gold shop had beaten up two gold sellers due to an argument over a broken gold piece. A crowd gathered to help the gold sellers and they proceeded to demolish the gold shop.

A curfew was imposed by the police after a group of people reportedly set buildings and motor bikes on fire in the area. As some Muslims feared for their safety, they requested to leave the downtown. Police and members of the Young Buddhist Association escorted them towards the town stadium.

Photo shared by Mg Byine Oo on Facebook.

Netizens are actively discussing the issue. Some are spreading hate comments on Facebook while others are expressing their frustration over religious clashes.

Young Buddhist Association posted an image which says “Don't let religious wars happen because of you!”. The caption reads:

Don't allow religious/ethnic hatreds, conflicts and riots to reverse Myanmar's drive towards the democracy route. We believe that lawful resolving of all injustices, conflicts and riots would be the only possible way with least bad effects.

- Young Buddhist Association (Myanmar)

More than 2,000 people shared it in less than 24 hours to warn writers who espouse hatred and whose identities are mostly unknown.

Tun Zaw Anyar Myay warns[my] against a never ending blood cycle [UPDATE: post was recently removed by author]:

Friend, we are also very sad (to hear about this). If we were to carry those conflicts to our next generation, it will be a never ending blood cycle.

Ye Htut, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Information, posted[my] reminds the public about the importance of solving problems in a democratic manner:

While (we are all) trying our best to cure the wounds in such a vulnerable society, why (are they) making effort to worsen the wounds?

I like everyone to understand that trying to solve something with the force of the mob when it could have been resolved by law is not the way of democracy.

On the other hand, some people are asking if the riot was instigated by something else. Thanda Win is suspicious[my] over the timing of the riot noting that violence is always happening in the country whenever leaders are travelling abroad:

1) Whenever Aunt Suu (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) or President is on a foreign trip, riot happens in Myanmar.

2) Whenever an important guest visits Myanmar, riot happens.

Google boss Eric Schmidt was in Myanmar during the weekend.

Ye Min Htun compares[my] his experience during the 1988 uprising with the current situation. He also rejects extremism:

Who are creating the ethnic and religion related conflicts? Who will be affected if such thing is allowed to happen. [...] I condemn whoever is supporting the racial and religious extremism. Extremism is not the solution.

Mg Byine O whose hometown is Meikhtila shared[my] his thoughts on the riot.

The whole day, I felt so bad worrying if the fire reached my home or my friends’ homes [...] If those in Meikhtila can't work for like two weeks, all the villages depending on the town will be in trouble. Just now, my grandma called me and said “How could I sell all the onions harvested?, I'm so disappointed”. That's frustrating. [...]

In Meikhtila, people follow various religions – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and even traditional beliefs. All are doing business together. We have not had such problem. We have argued with those from different religions but nothing like this. There are many police stations, and once you get into trouble, you would be in jail. [...] Everybody who has been to Meikhtila knows it. Everybody mingles peacefully. Now it is not a religious conflict, but (they) are shaping it.[...] I don't want to hear a military general's announcement saying “The military took over the country”in order to bring a timely halt to the deteriorating conditions all over the country“. Phew…. [...]

Ye Myat Min tweeted a similar thought:

@yemyat91: The mastermind behind all these political unrest is leveraging on small-minded people. Blood and anger has become their cards #Myanmar

Other netizens also condemned the extremists and those who are sharing false news and reports. Moe Zay Nyein even made a list[my] of Facebook pages posting false news and extreme posts using the name of Buddhists and Muslims. Eleven Media, which is a popular local news agency, reported[my] that a news item[my] on BBC Facebook page claiming that 10 people died (as of 21 Mar 2013) was inaccurate.

The Ministry of Information released[my] a report stating (as of 22 Mar 2013, 18:37 local time) that 11 died and 39 were injured. The riots also destroyed 152 houses, 2 cars, 1 government office, 1 motor bike, 2 motor trishaws and 13 religion buildings. To restore security, the ministry issued a state of emergency in the town.

Working for Rural Development in Myanmar

Chan Myae Khine — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:13:57 +0000

Video about rural development which went viral in Myanmar

(more…)

Google Myanmar is Now Online

Chan Myae Khine — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:23:36 +0000

Google Myanmar is now available in local domain at www.google.com.mm a few days before the arrival of Google CEO Eric Schmidt in Myanmar. Google play store which is inaccessible in Myanmar also seems to have been unblocked for now.

Myanmar: ‘Save Our Zoo’ Campaign

Chan Myae Khine — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:27:01 +0000

The government of Myanmar wants to relocate the Yangon Zoological Gardens which has been a city landmark since 1906. In fact, about 450 animals were already transferred to another zoo in Nay Pyi Taw, the country's new capital. Minister Soe Thein argued that the zoo is already a health threat for residents in the city. He added that the zoo can be transferred to Hlaw Kar National Wildlife Park which is outside of Yangon.

Netizens have launched an online campaign to block the relocation. Mahar Kyaung, who posted the “Save Our Zoo” photo on facebook, reminded authorities that zoos in other countries are also located in city centers:

The Saigon Zoo in Vietnam which opened in 1864 is at the center of the town. Similarly, the Ragunan Zoo which also opened in 1864 is located in Jakarta city. Manila Zoo which opened in 1959 in the Philippines is also in the city proper.

The real big purpose (I heard) is that they are planning to build hotels in the location of the Yangon Zoo.[...]

Photo – Ma Har Kyaung Facebook Page

He then cited his reasons for opposing the proposal:

Since current Zoological Garden is a historical zoo;
Since it was founded with funding raised from the public;
Since it will be a waste of country's budget as it will need to renovate the Hlaw Kar Park;
Since it will be inconvenient to go out of town for friends and relatives visiting Yangon after their visit to Shwedagon Pagoda (Author's Note: Yangon Zoo is very close to Shwedagon Pagoda and those from small towns and villages who visit Yangon usually go to the zoo after Shwedagon Pagoda);
Since I knew the idea of the ex-general (Minister Soe Thein) who wants to make profit by relocating the zoo.

If they were to continue to relocate the zoo to Hlaw Kar, we should send our aunts visiting Yangon to U Soe Thein's home if they want to visit a zoo.

Many netizens seemed to agree with him. Naing Lin Ngwe expressed[my] his worry:

Another activism movement to halt a project is on its way again.

Yan Naung Soe sarcastically wrote[my]:

I pray to Buddha and may other gods praise. May they (ministers) have no idea to relocate the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Ko Gyi Kyaw asks[my] if residents are complaining against the zoo:

To say it (zoo) is unhealthy, are the residents around there protesting against it? You (Minister) were not even born when the zoo was founded.

Zin Mar Lwin shared[my] her disappointment:

They often think that it is a development to relocate something to elsewhere. Frustrated.

Yar Zar Di Yar Zar urged[my] authorities to stop making illegal profit:

Enough with all the demolitions happening in the country now. (You) should already be pleased with the wealth already hoarded.

A number of Facebook users who had seen the post asked the question “Again?”, “What do they want this time?” etc.

Since the zoo is currently being managed by business tycoon Tay Za of Htoo Trading, the company said it would follow instructions from authorities on the issue of relocation.

Aung San Suu Kyi Endorses China-backed Mine in Myanmar

Chan Myae Khine — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:45:16 +0000

An investigation commission led by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi recommends that the controversial China-backed copper mine in Monywa should continue its operations, but must improve its environmental safeguards and compensate local residents. This has led activists who have been opposing the mine to protest against Suu Kyi.

The official report [my] released on March 12, 2013 admits that the project does not provide locals with jobs and violates environmental standards and has tried to come up with concrete solutions to solve these issues.

The commission was formed by the government last year to probe the violent dispersal of a protest camp near the mine site. The 10-page report confirmed that riot police used smoke bombs to disperse protesters which included local villagers, activists, and monks who are opposed to the mining operation. The report also advised authorities to be transparent about the contract involving the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and Wan Bao Company.

Report and Aung San Suu Kyi praised

Many netizens seem to be pleased to read the first report of its kind in Myanmar. Nathan Maung wrote [my] a short note about the report:

I've just read the report by the investigation commission on Latpadaung Copper Mine. I can see the effort and quality of the commission led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This report is not a report that everyone can accept but it reflects all the initial promises of revealing all things as the truth. (Those who are too emotional and making effort only for blaming do not need to read this.) What the commission reported is that UMEHL and Wan Bao should amend the contract with transparency then the project may be continued.

Zay Htet added[my]:

It's really a detailed report. To make it happen, it's not too difficult if it is done with good will. There are many example (projects) in other countries that are systematically carried out.. I totally accept this (report). That's invaluable experience and the beginning of cooperation, an important effort. I'm pleased.

Htet Linn also asserted[my] that the report is fair enough:

Daw Suu (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) is unbelievable. It's remarkable that she made it as fair as possible for win-win situation as much as she can even though many criticized this whole thing as a political trap for her.

Protests against Aung San Suu Kyi

But some locals in the project area protested against the report and Wan Bao company by demanding a complete stop in the copper mine project. Meanwhile, Suu Kyi went to Monywa to hold a press conference on March 13, 2013. Some activists protested against the report in Yangon as well. They claimed[my] that “whoever supported the project will be known as criminals in history”.

Monywa locals protesting against the copper mining investigation report. Screentshot from Eleven's Media youtube video

Suu Kyi welcomed the protests and even reminded her detractors that everybody can protest against her under the law and even in front of her house in Yangon. Suu Kyi was defended by many netizens especially on Facebook. Here are some of the comments:

Myo Kyaw Htun[my] : Lack of knowledge, short term mindset – it's difficult (to deal) with such politics. Please sympathize with someone who is running here and there and solving every issue and problem regardless of her age. Whenever something happens, if all would be just protesting without doing any work, there will be no productivity but just going back.

Andy AP: I'm just wondering, did they really read the report from beginning to end???

Kyaw Thu Tun[my] : If they can't accept it, protest against government bravely. Why they yell “We don't want Daw Aung San Suu Kyi” while she just did her duties courageously as a member of parliament when government appointed her without any bias to government or Wan Bao, she is neither supporting their job nor being responsible for what they did.

Lin Thurein[my] : Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is solving all the mess done by military junta including current president. [...] As nobody was daring enough to be involved in such sensitive situation, they transferred that mess to her. And she bravely accepted her duty as a public leader. How can they claim the results (of the report) are not fair just because they don't want it?

May Thingyan Hein[my]: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should not be the target of protests. They should read the investigation report carefully. She suggested specific reforms that the Ministry of Mining, UMEHL and Wan Bao Company have to follow. [...] The public should demand them (UMEHL, Ministry and Wan Bao) to follow all those suggestions clearly.

Mommy Htar[my] : It's very clear. The commission cleverly pointed out the downside of the project and asked the proponents to amend the contract including compensation (to locals) with transparency and to redo the processing of assessment on how the farmers and ecosystem are affected by the mining. For example, they reported the low compensation received by farmers under the current contract. The opinion of the commission cannot be “do or don't”. They can only “report” the situation.

Both Wan Bao company and UMEHL announced their intention of complying with the recommendations given by the commission. Meanwhile, the government formed a committee to ensure that reforms are first implemented before the mine project is allowed to proceed.