By Jared Ferrie
Yangon (Burma) : An
ultra-nationalist Buddhist creed is becoming more visible in Myanmar's
commercial capital, Yangon, after monks from the apartheid-like movement
helped stoke a wave of anti-Muslim violence in the central heartlands.
Many
Muslims in the city say they are living in fear after dozens of members
of their faith were killed in March by Buddhist mobs whipped up by monks
from the "969" movement, a name that refers to attributes of the
Buddha, his teachings and the monkhood.
 This image is for representation only (Courtesy : China Daily) |
Calm has been restored in Meikhtila and
other volatile central areas after authorities imposed martial law and
dispatched troops. A Reuters examination of the violence showed it was
well-organised, abetted at times by police turning a blind eye.
But concerns linger among Muslims in
Yangon, a city of about 4 million people undergoing rapid change during
Myanmar's transition from 49 years of oppressive military rule that
ended in March 2011.
Fears simmer after 13 boys died in a
fire in an Islamic school on April 2. Officials blamed faulty electrical
equipment but many Muslims believe the fire was started deliberately.
"At
night-time nobody sleeps," said Mohamed Irshad on his way home from
midday prayers at a mosque in Mingalar Taung Nyunt, a mostly Muslim
neighbourhood. "We have a guard, because some time they might come to
attack."
Another worshipper, Ruhla Min, said the
imam warned his congregation not to be provoked into violence, but to be
patient and stay calm. "We prayed for peace," Ruhla Min said.
Some of the radical "969" monks have spoken in Yangon in recent weeks and recordings of their speeches are widely available.
Among the best selling speakers is
Wirathu, who was jailed for inciting anti-Muslim riots in 2003 and
released last year when the government freed hundreds of political
prisoners.
Kyi Lwin, who sells DVDs in central
Yangon, said the movement was not anti-Muslim but meant to "build a
fence" around Buddhism and discourage Buddhists from interacting with
Muslims who may try to convert them. The speeches convinced him not to
buy goods from Muslims or eat at their restaurants, he said.
Ma Than Htwe said she had put a "969"
sticker on her juice stall because some people thought she looked Muslim
and that was losing her business.
Muslims
account for 5 percent of Myanmar's 60 million people but have a much
greater representation than their numbers would suggest among the
wealthier merchant class, feeding resentment among some of those who
remain impoverished despite the political and economic transformation
under way.
"If you talk to people about their
economic life, it hasn't really changed. They are still struggling to
survive," said Aye Chan Naing, executive director of Democratic Voice of
Burma, a media group. "Monks openly preach about taking businesses back
into Buddhist hands. That appeals to a lot of people."
A Muslim, he worries about the spread of
prejudice and the failure of the government to educate people about the
danger. But he also warns against tarring all monks with the same
brush.
"There were lots of Buddhist monks not
condoning this violence, but preaching peace and reconciliation. Even in
Meikhtila, there were quite a lot of Buddhist monks and locals helping
the Muslims," he said.
Ye Htut, a presidential spokesman and deputy minister of information, noted that Myanmar has more than 500,000 monks.
"Only the handful had some extremist
idea. The majority of Myanmar people and monks are against these
actions," he said in an email to Reuters. "There are many cases in which
monks and the community save the lives of Muslims."
President condemns "Extremists"
Even so, some people worry that violence
could derail reforms. An easing of rules on freedom of speech, for
instance, has allowed political debate but also unleashed anti-Muslim
sentiment.
In a televised speech on March 28,
President Thein Sein warned "political opportunists and religious
extremists" not to instigate violence and said he would not hesitate to
use force to protect lives and property.
At least
110 people were killed in attacks on Rohingya Muslims in two bouts of
violence in Rakhine State in the west in 2012, according to the
government. Tens of thousands of Rohingya, who are denied citizenship by
Myanmar and are stateless, are now effectively segregated in camps.
Hostility
against the Rohingyas is longstanding, especially in Rakhine State where
an estimated 800,000 of them live. In contrast, Yangon is a diverse
city dotted with Buddhist pagodas, Islamic mosques, Christian churches
and Hindu temples.
On one bustling street corner, Zaw Min, a
Buddhist book vendor, sat next to his friend of 10 years, a Muslim who
sells TV remote controls.
The men spend most of their days side by
side on plastic stools, but their complicated friendship is emblematic
of the uneasy relationship between the two communities.
Zaw Min said they often defend each
other when a customer starts an argument. But prominently displayed on
his sign is a "969" sticker and he says he wouldn't buy anything from a
Muslim unless there was really no alternative.
When asked to comment, his Muslim friend simply shook his head without looking up.
Zaw Min said Buddhists should support
Buddhist businesses that will use their money to make donations to monks
and contribute to the construction of monasteries.
"If there is a fight between religions, I will fight for the Buddhist religion," he said.
Source : Yahoo News India
Comments
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment, as it helps us to improve our articles...!