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This week’s outbreak of violence against Muslims in Lashio marks nearly a year of targeted attacks on Muslims in Burma. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) recently interviewed witnesses and victims in Arakan state, Mandalay and Saigaing divisions about the ongoing attacks, and found that the government places a low priority on protecting the human rights of ethnic groups in the country.
Earlier this month, a team of researchers from PHR spent ten days in central Burma investigating attacks on Muslim civilians. The team interviewed 33 people, including 14 eyewitnesses, and compiled a thorough account of the slaughter of at least 20 children and four teachers in Meikhtila, Mandalay division. Other reports estimate that many more were killed.
PHR researchers obtained video footage showing Muslims beaten and burned to death, and confirmed the authenticity of these events with GPS, satellite mapping and eyewitness interviews.
In Meikhtila, investigators found that police were complicit in the violence against Muslims ̶ they marched unarmed Muslims toward an armed civilian mob, then refused to protect them from beating, stoning, and murder; they did not help injured Muslims; and they failed to apprehend perpetrators. The police force’s actions in Meikhtila are in violation of the UN code of conduct for law enforcement officials, and the general lack of an effective response from the central government is a monumental failure to protect its citizens from organised and targeted violence.
In the wake of unspeakable violence carried out in a methodical manner by civilians with the acquiescence of local police, there must be a strong and swift response within Burma. Despite overtures about tolerance, there has been no credible effort thus far to investigate the massacre and hold perpetrators accountable.
The government’s weak response to stop the violence and its reluctance to help Muslim victims is a symptom of a larger problem—ethnic groups are not benefitting from fledgling democratic reforms. Despite some improvements at the political level, they are treated by the new government as they were by the previous regime. Although some analysts suggest the recent violence is a result of new freedoms and democratic reforms, it’s actually just the opposite — it is a continuation of abuses against ethnic groups that are done with impunity and either tacit or outright government approval.
The evidence PHR collected in Meikhtila shows a pattern of destruction indicative of targeted and coordinated strikes against Muslim-owned businesses, homes, and mosques, and coordinated efforts to drive Muslims out of the town. Although the government imposed curfews in some towns with threats of violence and arrested some perpetrators, the response has been insufficient. Police continue to respond too slowly to stop mobs, victims are targeted for arrest as often as perpetrators, Muslims are warned not to defend themselves against mobs, and there has been no effort to prosecute those behind the attacks. The government’s acquiescence sends a strong message that these attacks can be done with impunity.
The evidence does not suggest that the government orchestrated the attacks, but it does indicate that the government did not act effectively to curb the violence. As new reports of anti-Muslim violence emerge from other parts of the country, the central government as well as local police must do much more to stop the violence from spreading.
Unfortunately, institutionalised impunity has taken root across the country, not only in areas plagued by recent religious violence. In ethnic areas, the abuses have been ongoing for 60 years—military attacks on civilians, forced displacement, environmental destruction, and failure to provide humanitarian aid have not stopped. There has been no effective effort to rein in abuses or prosecute offenders.
Perhaps the most difficult task facing the people of Burma today is the process of social reconciliation.One of the starkest examples of ongoing violence is in Kachin state, where the Burmese army has ignored orders from President Thein Sein to stop fighting, and continues to violate the human rights of civilians. Human rights groups have documented attacks on civilians in the state throughout the current conflict, which has raged since June 2011. Violence and impunity also persist in Shan state, where fragile ceasefires recently crumbled and civilians are once again being displaced by conflict. Long-running government abuses against Rohingya are now coming to the world’s attention, and violations of human rights against Arakanese, Chin, Karen and other groups have continued.
The international community has rewarded the government of Burma for its democratic reforms by lifting sanctions, increasing development aid, and forgiving loans. Yet Burma’s roadmap to democracy has yet to include ethnic groups, which make up at least 40 percent of the population. Though most of the sanctions and development concessions were made with the understanding that life for civilians is improving, progress has been far too slow for those in ethnic groups. The international community should not leave ethnic groups in Burma at the mercy of systematic attacks, and it must press for an end to ethnic violence and discrimination in diplomatic negotiations.
There will be no easy or quick transition to a peaceful Burma where ethnic and religious groups enjoy the fullest protections of their rights. Instilling a culture of tolerance across ethnic and religious lines and replacing impunity with accountability will not happen without concerted efforts by government actors as well as civil society leaders.
Perhaps the most difficult task facing the people of Burma today is the process of social reconciliation. After years of military dictatorship, rampant criminality, and a culture of violence, everyone must make the choice to end violence within their communities. Direction should come from recognized leaders within government and civil society, high-level religious leaders, and well-known democracy activists, who must condemn in unequivocal terms all ethnic and religious violence and hate speech.
There must also be an independent and transparent investigation of incidents of religiously motivated violence and discrimination with the ultimate aim of holding any perpetrators accountable. Other countries may be able to assist in these essential efforts, especially with the development of an independent investigation, but the will and the design for a society built on respect and tolerance must originate with the people of Burma.
Bill Davis is the former Burma project director and volunteer medical advisor for Physicians for Human Rights and Andrea Gittleman works as the group’s senior legislative counsel.
-The opinions and views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect DVB’s editorial policy
The Buddhists in Burma and their government need education on how to coexist with other religions and ethnics.
Burma has lost many things from these destructions. Higher end knows very well that they can not contain it effectively because they are scared too for their present and future positions. so they try to remain silence and wish someone brave enough to do something. While, the lower ends were manipulated very well by the crooks who are benefitting something out of it politically, economically, sociallly or ….. The meaning and aim for the democracy is lost from the onset of its birth. Most people do not know the real fruit . Instead they think that freedom means any thing that they do can be done regardless of other people feeling. Lord Buddha teaching has full of peace, loving, caring and respect to others. What a waste to play a good song near a charging bull ? Burma lost confidence of investors, valuable time for good eonomic, infrastructure, social and political growth. The delay will effect dearly for the very poor people who are engaging in these riots of no where. Letting other major religion or race is very serious and they do not know how things can be turning out over the times. Injured tiger is worst than a normal tiger. how are you going to live with each other in future with mistrust, worry, fear of sharing, even poisoning, or doing bad things. NO PEACE IS NO PEACE AND NO PEACE IS DEVIL.
My men,don’t expect justice from burmese government. They will kill muslims,rape muslim women,burn down muslim properties and finally try the muslims in a kangaroo tribunal that will end up with a verdict of life sentence or lengthy imprisonment. If you expect justice from burmese government you will be the dog waiting for elephants penis to fall for food. Burmese justice is another kind of crime.
I believe you two don’t understand the definition of “Ethnicity” of Burma. You can write western way of Ethnicity, but it will take decades to take root in Burma. Burmese people never consider Rohingya as Burmese ethnic in the same token, they never consider Chinese as Burmese ethnic, yet there are many Chinese in Burma. Interesting question is this, most Burmese people don’t like Chinese government policy toward Burma. Burmese hate Chinese policy as much as they hate Bangali invaders, but why most Burmese population do not have many social problems with Chinese people the way as the have with Muslims or Rohingya? Your article is only your point of view or not a fair point of view. Look around the world today and judge what is happening. Burmese people do not want to pay the price the way that west countries are paying today. It may be fit for you guys but it is not fit for Burma. You guys are naieve.
Dear ANDREA GITTLEMAN and BILL DAVIS Minglarbar n Greetings Many thanks for the report. Can you please escalate this plight and sufferings of Muslims through your organizations or on your individual level to UN, International Criminal Court and other world bodies of human rights and justice. The Burmese government is wholly and solely responsible to STOP this against the minority Muslim population. Please apply effective pressure on Burmese government to take immediate and extensive effort to STOP this. Due to lack of proper and timely actions from the government, police, military, etc. encourages the Buddhist mobs and monks to commit more crimes against the Muslim minority. Imagine the injustice dealt to victims by the police in this classic case: Last evening (Thu) five drunk Hindus raged into a mosque in Myenigone, Rangoon while congregation of the fifth n last prayer of the day was going on, they started taking down copies of the Qur’aan from the shelves and throwing and tearing them. The congregation broke off from the prayer and took on the drunk and desecrating Hindus and gave them good spanking. Police came in,instead of arresting 5 Hindu offenders for tresspassing, desecration, disturbing people in their act of peaceful worship,they arrested 15 Muslims, asking them “Does your religion allow you to break up your prayer and beat them up?”!!!!!!!!!! This is Burmese justice and fair dealing with victims!!!! Soon you will hear these 15 victims will be awarded long prison sentences for act of “uncivilized and unwelcome gesture” shown to 5 Hindu “visitors” to the mosque. Ha ha ha…!!!! Bud mobs n monks have open season from the Burmese government. You think they can not stop them? You must be kidding. They have 50 years experience of controlling the whole country with iron grip, quell peaceful demonstrations by unarmed students, monks, lawyers, nurses with ruthless ferocity and unmatched brutality by spraying bullets at point blank range, ONLY…
want to. They can even beat and burn their holy men, the monks, if their interest is at stake, remember Letpadaung peaceful demonstration? Remember the Saffron Robe Demonstrators few years ago? But now, no no no….they are our holy men, semi gods, they are our wisemen, teachers of Lord Buddha’s teachings…no, no, no…we cannot touch them. If they kill or instigate to kill in defiance of Lord Buddha’s teaching so what…times have changed. They are wiser now!!! Much Holier than 2000 years ago. This goes to show beyond shadow of doubt that stupid and dumb head and deceitful Thein Sein & Co are 100% responsible for what’s going in Burma now. World conscience…wake up to reality and help STOP ethnic cleansing of innocent, voiceless, shirless, platformless, homeless, foodless and unarmed Burmese Muslims. PLEASE…!
Lashio, Meikhtila, Kyaukphyu are all strategically located along the Chinese-owned gas/oil pipeline and the soon-to-be-constructed railway line from Kunming China to the Bay of Bengal cutting through the heart of Burma,
Is that a pure coincidence or is there a sinister plan to “clear the path and pave the way”?
Just asking!
Burma needs the US alligator route
from the sea to cofront China.
Us needs too.
When the killing will end.
After all Muslims are slaughtered.
Hitler could not do …
how the monks will do?
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