Myanmar is cracking down on Buddhist extremism, aiming to curb ethnic and religious tension that saw two mosques destroyed and scores of Muslim residents fleeing their villages in recent weeks.
Nobel Peace Prize winner and government leader Aung San Suu Kyi has come under criticism from human rights activists and lawyers for not cracking down on the perpetrators of the attacks aimed at the Muslim minority.
In an apparent response to the criticism, the government has made a surprisingly decisive move against an organisation of radical nationalist monks, known as the Ma Ba Tha, threatening legal action if it spread hate speech and incites violence.
Yesterday, the government launched a task force to prevent violent protests as part of a broader push to stop religious violence.
Religious tension simmered in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for almost half a century of military rule, before boiling over in 2012 in the west of the country into clashes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. (Courtesy of gulf-times.com)
July 16, 2016
Crisis committee formed
A central emergency management committee has been formed to handle sudden crises, according to the President’s Office on July 15.
President Htin Kyaw signed the order to create the committee to allow cooperation between the government’s security forces, to manage rapid response with regional governments if there are riots, religious or ethnic demonstrations and other security issues. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
President Htin Kyaw signed the order to create the committee to allow cooperation between the government’s security forces, to manage rapid response with regional governments if there are riots, religious or ethnic demonstrations and other security issues. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Myanmar government criticizes Buddhist nationalist group
Myanmar's government has denounced an influential Buddhist nationalist group after failing to speaking against it strongly while others were accusing it of using hate speech and inspiring violence against Muslims.
The Ma Ba Tha organization's charismatic leader, the monk Wirathu, responded Wednesday by calling the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a "dictatorial woman."
The Sangha Council, a state institution that oversees Buddhist monastic discipline, declared Tuesday that it did not recognize Ma Ba Tha as a member of the country's Buddhist order. Last week, the government's minister for Yangon, Phyo Min Thein, said the group shouldn't exist, rejecting Ma Ba Tha's demands on official policy toward the Muslim Rohingya minority. The group planned, then called a protest against the minister. (Courtesy of napavalleyregister.com)
The Ma Ba Tha organization's charismatic leader, the monk Wirathu, responded Wednesday by calling the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a "dictatorial woman."
The Sangha Council, a state institution that oversees Buddhist monastic discipline, declared Tuesday that it did not recognize Ma Ba Tha as a member of the country's Buddhist order. Last week, the government's minister for Yangon, Phyo Min Thein, said the group shouldn't exist, rejecting Ma Ba Tha's demands on official policy toward the Muslim Rohingya minority. The group planned, then called a protest against the minister. (Courtesy of napavalleyregister.com)
Village Administrator Extorted Money From Arakanese Rohigyas in Maungdaw
Village administrator in Gojondiya village of southern Maungdaw extorted money from innocent Rohingya farmers with the promise of building barriers for their farmlands, which are under salty water now.
In the incident, since last 2 months up to 300 acre of farmlands of the villagers were under salty water, which prevented them from farming even in this rainy season, thus stopping their livelihoods.
When the situation was known to the village administrator Ibrahim S/O Jafar Ahmed (35), he promised to build barriers for every farm lands and extorted 20,000 Kyats from each house from the whole village, which is a home to 300 houses. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
In the incident, since last 2 months up to 300 acre of farmlands of the villagers were under salty water, which prevented them from farming even in this rainy season, thus stopping their livelihoods.
When the situation was known to the village administrator Ibrahim S/O Jafar Ahmed (35), he promised to build barriers for every farm lands and extorted 20,000 Kyats from each house from the whole village, which is a home to 300 houses. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Escaped to India, but persecution goes on: Arakanese Rohingya Falsely accused
Picked up by National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Nov 14, 2014, from his residence in Royal Colony near Balapur, the Rohingya refugee was lodged for five months in Presidency Jail in Kolkata and then transferred to Cherlapally Jail in the city, where he was an inmate for six months.
Finally, as NIA could not prove allegations against him, Khaled got a conditional bail but city police booked him under a cheating case (Section 420, 458, 471 of IPC) and Section 14 of Foreigners Act for not being registered under UNHCR.
“The NIA wanted to make me an accused in the Burdwan blast case, but could not join the dots to prove their case,” said Khaled, father of a two-year old. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Finally, as NIA could not prove allegations against him, Khaled got a conditional bail but city police booked him under a cheating case (Section 420, 458, 471 of IPC) and Section 14 of Foreigners Act for not being registered under UNHCR.
“The NIA wanted to make me an accused in the Burdwan blast case, but could not join the dots to prove their case,” said Khaled, father of a two-year old. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Arakan committee establishes 142-point agenda
The Arakan (Rakhine) State Peace, Stability and Development Committee was established on May 30 by the president as an answer to ongoing tensions and human rights concerns in the restive western state, and has been tasked with formulating development initiatives.
Headed by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 27-member committee held its second meeting yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.
Amid continued pressure over conditions faced by largely Arakanese Rohingya who have seen no change to their circumstance in the first four months of the new administration, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged all committee members yesterday to accelerate plans to improve Arakan (Rakhine) State. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
Headed by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 27-member committee held its second meeting yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.
Amid continued pressure over conditions faced by largely Arakanese Rohingya who have seen no change to their circumstance in the first four months of the new administration, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged all committee members yesterday to accelerate plans to improve Arakan (Rakhine) State. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)
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