A group of Arakanese monks have called for Rohingya “sympathisers” to be targeted and exposed as “national traitors” while tensions again flare between Buddhists and Muslims in Burma’s westernmost state.
In a document seen by DVB, the All-Arakanese Monks’ Solidarity Conference have urged locals to distribute images of anyone alleged to be supporting the stateless minority group to all townships in the region, potentially opening them up to violent attacks by nationalist extremists.
The ten-point document also calls for the creation of security bodies led by monks intended to enforce and safeguard discipline, “to establish a magazine, covering all of Arakan state, to promote [Buddhist] religion” and renewed calls for the Rohingya to be expelled from Burma.
“The president has been very clear that the Arakan issue should not be seen as a religious one, but if anyone is trying to establish it as a religious issue it’s definitely the monks now,” said Chris Lewa, head of the Arakan Project.
Lewa, who has recently returned from Arakan state’s capital Sittwe, told DVB that ethnic Arakanese are already terrified of helping any foreigners travelling to the region, and the monks’ move could have a devastating humanitarian impact.
“The Rakhines [Arakanese] are mostly afraid of their own community if they do anything that can be seen to be helping or supporting the Muslim community.”
Violence erupted again this weekend with reports of casualties following fresh clashes between Arakanese Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in Min Bya and Mrauk U townships. A curfew has been imposed in both areas.
Last week, President Thein Sein suspended plans for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to open a humanitarian liaison office in Sittwe, after monks across the country staged mass rallies against the move.
“I am amazed that they arrested peace activists demonstrating in Yangon [Rangoon] over Kachin state, but just allow this promotion of hatred, especially by people like the monks, who would be the best actors to try to calm things down – it seems to be completely unbelievable,” said Lewa.
Many Arakanese monks have repeatedly called on local Buddhists to sever all relations with the Rohingya community, including trade and the provision of humanitarian aid.
“It is deeply depressing to see this kind of intolerance and nationalism on the rise, and going unchallenged by most democratic leaders. The more this kind of extremism goes unchallenged the bolder those promoting hatred and intolerance become,” Mark Farmaner from Burma Campaign UK told DVB.
“Burma is a multi-cultural, multi-racial multi-religion country. If this isn’t recognised and accepted there will be no end to conflict in Burma.”
On Sunday, President Thein Sein reluctantly recognised the need for humanitarian assistance to the conflict-torn state, but only after sustained international pressure.
“We are not in a situation to feed the people in the camps with the help of ordinary citizens so we have to accept humanitarian assistance from the international community,” he said. “If we do not accept the humanitarian assistance they will say we are not human.”
But despite international pledges of assistance, Lewa says the conditions in the camps for displaced Rohingyas remain “very poor” and are permeated by a “lack of hope”.
Tensions flared in Arakan state after the rape and murder of an ethnic Arakanese woman – allegedly by three Muslims – sparked a series of revenge attacks and communal riots, which killed 87 people and displaced nearly 100,000. Displaced Rohingyas have been segregated in camps away from the Arakanese majority and are unable to travel freely.
These racist Buddhist monks have to stop. Buddhist monks are supposed to be peaceful, practice Buddhism, and not involved in secular affairs. Buddhism preaches loving kindness. These monks are overstepping their mandate.
I request the Myanmar’s Shanga Maha Na Ya Ka to discourage these activities of the monks. Monks should focus on promoting Buddhist religion and not hate.
They call themselves Buddhist monks? Shame on the religion. It is time that the rest of the Buddhist population stand up and condemn these Arakanese monks before Burmese Buddhism is discredited in the world.
Sadly, these extremism are coming from Buddist Monk. Government should control any extremism from any parties, Buddhist or Muslim or nationalist. Rohinyas are human also and Rohinya exists in Burma though over many years, illegal immigrants are now mixed up with Rohinyas and calling themselve as Rohinyas. We need rule of law as no country in the world decide only on humitarian ground and gives illegal immigrants the citizen status. We need to solve this issue peacefully among all concerning parties. Burmese need educations to know how to think as individual and what democracy really is. Respect to others and free thinking will not come fast after almost 50 years of military rule.
Monks calling for hatred and violence is not only going to get people on both sides in Arakan and around the world to be in deep, deep trouble, it will also put the sacredness of the Buddhist Monk Order into disrepute.
It is of utmost importance to show tolerance and real metta from BOTH sides.
Racism and hatred are getting out of hand. Lack of trustworthy leadership is seen in political as well as religious sides.
If the situation explodes, everyone including the monks and their supporters will be worse off.
DVB says “Tensions flared in Arakan state after the rape and murder of an ethnic Arakanese woman – allegedly by three Muslims”. The Government Doctor, Dr. U Aung Sit Htun, who did Postmortem on Ma Thida Htwe wrote in the report.. ” There is no sign of rape found on the body”. DVB need to emphasize this fact in future news.
I am buddhisht and I don’t agree with what the buddhist monks are doing. Buddhism is such a peaceful and forgiving religion. It is the government and laypeople who need to solve this problem in a wise way without promoting racism and hatred.
it is duty of buddist monk in myanmar to bully other religion, most yellow robe people are not real monks, get free food, free house become monks n bully muslim, christain,
The Points from Rakhine Monk meetings are not like this article said. Please look and see instead of fueling the crisis by putting comments by Cris Lewa and mark Farmaner who have never looked at the crisis by both sides but only from Muslim sides. It will never solve the problems. Read the article carefully whether it reflect the real situation or not.
Shame on our Buddhism! These monks are not deserved to be in the monk robes.
“– allegedly by three Muslims “? When will DVB drop this “alleged rape ” words because it’s been proven that there was no rape involved.
I have Buddhist friends. All through out my life (68years old) I knew Buddhism is a peaceful religion.
I hope any Buddhist people can tell me more about their ethnic concern.
Please protect Burma from all forms of extremism. This monk led movement is definitely injurious to the country’s reputation, peace and future development.
The best solution to this conflict is order Marshel law and let the ARMY govern the state until it is totally down for another 3 years. That mean No Democracy is Arakan. Or If the army is involve, let the UN troops to be in the buffer line and humanitarian aids can flow in to help the people.
These monks are most definitely doing the wrong thing! Buddha preached loving kindness towards all beings. But these monks are inciting racism, hatred and violence! Unbelievable!
Those who are leading the demonstration are not genuine Buddhist monks.Lord Buddha never taught his followers to kill people.He taught his followers to be kind to even animals and plants.A genuine Buddhist monk is full of love and kindness.Just shaving the head and wrapping a robe around does not make one a monk.These are extremist ultra nationalist Rakhine migrants from Bangladesh who have nothing but hatred toward the Rohingyas.In their mindset, Rohingyas are not humans and they deserve to die.The government is fully responsible for not protecting these innocent people.
Sad things. Buddhism preaches love and kindness towards ALL BEINGS which includes legal being or illegal beings and all the beings seen or not seen. That cross way beyond boundary of politics. It is the basic teaching of Bouddha. At least monk should respect this in order to take vow to become monks.
It,s ex-Gen Khin Nyunt and his discharged intelagent officers are pushing back Buddhist monk demonestration and aporsing to Rakhine racist who were illeagle resettled in Arakan since 1971.
loll… DVB only allows comments to their taste: Denouncing Buddhism by twisting news. DVB English and Burmese have totally different tone. What an ethical journalism DVB is promoting.
Islams is religious of peace, very fanning.everyday you hear from Islamism country they kill each other moreover violent other religious,countries and opposite view with Islams.
How sad. In addition to killing hundreds, injuring thousands and dislocating tens of thousands, the violence and instability is probably devastating the Myanmar economy and destroying the tourist industry. Faith groups have an obligation to promote religious understanding and tolerance.
James you sound like hypocrite or I should say zionist supporter. You dont know anything about Burma I think. Pls dont criticise any religión. Do you know the Buddhist Monks never gets involves in politics never harm any humanbeings like the Imams of Muslims the Priest of Christians. I cant understand the so called peace loving Monks are inciting and pouring fuel to the fire. Yes fighting in Islamic countries are happening due to the double standard policy of yr west colonial UK & the biggest bully USA. So think twice before you comment.
The article included statements about the 1984 citizenship law and racism as the cause of of the June 8 riot and recent clash. However, various details have been left out therefore giving a misleading or incomplete picture .
After coming into the country in great numbers Muslims Bengali later wanted the area they occupied to belong to another country ( Pakistan) and requested self-rule. When the country was in chaos they massacred people of the host country which they entered ( Burma) . It looks like now they are at it again. In the last two years Muslims have tried to chase Arakanese away from town in their own country by traumatizing them with a series of attack on Arakanese villages, not to mention gang rape and murder. Eventually Muslims launched the riot on June 8, 2012.
Back in 1942:
In 1942 the country was in chaos because there was a war taken place between Japan and British in Burma. Bengali Muslims took advantage of the chaos and turned against people in the host country ( Burma) . Thousands ( 17, 000 ) of armed Bengali Muslim massacred Rakhine local people and burned down their homes . According to record, there were over 200 village totally vanished with only a few villages left.
1946
Bengalis requested self-rule ( to rule themselves under Islamic Sharia Law instead ) and wanted Bhuthidawng & Maungdaw belong to another country-Pakistan . They later rebelled on June 9th,1948, by the name “Mujahid Organization” to push their agenda.
1948
Burma Independence
1975
According to Mr.Kaiser, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Burma , in 1975 “there were upward of ½ million Bangalee trespassers in Arakan” and that the Burmese government had “some right” to eject over 500,000 “Bangalee trespassers” as the Ambassador described them – not “Rohingyas”. Mr Kaiser subsequently became Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN and was Chairman of the UN Security Council for October 1979…
These monks very much like to be worshiped. They always dislike Muslims not bowing down to the monks. Buddhist monks do not do the killings, but they want their Buddhists do the killing for them. Increasing numbers of Muslim converts are a threat to them. It will be very tough for Theravara Buddhism to prove the peaceful teachings of Lord Buddha.