Buddhist extremists! Surely an oxymoron. Yet according to an article by Reuters titled “After Violence, Myanmar Moves To Curb Religious Extremism”, that’s exactly what has been happening in Myanmar. We all, at least I do, associate Buddhism with peace and tranquility, not with the burning down of mosques or injuring people in the name of religion. However, earlier this month a large group of ‘peaceful’ Buddhists burnt down a prayer hall belonging to a Muslim community, causing the occupants to flee for their lives. I never thought I would live to see the day when the world’s most peaceful religion embraces violence.
There has always been tension between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Myanmar over the decades, but only after the military pulled back from governing the country a few years ago has violence escalated. As a foreign investor, and one who has been very bullish on Myanmar, I sincerely hope that the government of Aung San Suu Kyi puts an end to the tension immediately. If not, the economy will surely suffer. (Courtesy of fronteranews.com)
July 19, 2016
Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes to visit Myanmar
US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes will arrive in Myanmar on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the US embassy.
He will be in Myanmar from July 19 to 20 in order to meet government officials, businessmen and leaders of social organisations in Nay Pyi Taw.
Rhodes’s responsibilities include supporting the strategies employed by President Obama and writing election campaign speeches. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
He will be in Myanmar from July 19 to 20 in order to meet government officials, businessmen and leaders of social organisations in Nay Pyi Taw.
Rhodes’s responsibilities include supporting the strategies employed by President Obama and writing election campaign speeches. (Courtesy of elevenmyanmar.com)
Myanmar's Suu Kyi honours hero father
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi paid tribute to her independence hero father on Tuesday at a memorial attended for the first time by the army chief, a rare show of unity in the former junta-run country.
The 71-year-old, now steering Myanmar's first civilian government in decades, laid a wreath at the mausoleum dedicated to her father and eight others assassinated in 1947 during their struggle to win independence from Britain.
A heavy security presence surrounded the memorial in Yangon, as huge crowds gathered outside the gates to celebrate the fallen leaders. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
The 71-year-old, now steering Myanmar's first civilian government in decades, laid a wreath at the mausoleum dedicated to her father and eight others assassinated in 1947 during their struggle to win independence from Britain.
A heavy security presence surrounded the memorial in Yangon, as huge crowds gathered outside the gates to celebrate the fallen leaders. (Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)
Coast Guard seizes suspected boat from Myanmar
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) apprehended a boat from Myanmar moving around Andamans late on Monday night. The boat was seized after two hours of chase by ICG ships.
According to officials, two ICG ships - Rajkamal and Bhikaji Cama - spotted the boat while they were on a routine patrol of the Northern Group of Islands.
"The boat did not respond to the maritime communication procedures and hence we grew suspicious over its presence," an ICG official told OneIndia on Tuesday.
The boat was finally seized from Narcondum, which is a small volcanic island in Andaman sea. The boat did not bear any country's flag nor had any registration number. (Courtesy of oneindia.com)
According to officials, two ICG ships - Rajkamal and Bhikaji Cama - spotted the boat while they were on a routine patrol of the Northern Group of Islands.
"The boat did not respond to the maritime communication procedures and hence we grew suspicious over its presence," an ICG official told OneIndia on Tuesday.
The boat was finally seized from Narcondum, which is a small volcanic island in Andaman sea. The boat did not bear any country's flag nor had any registration number. (Courtesy of oneindia.com)
Myanmar ignores ethnic divisions to honor Muslim martyr
Thousands of people of all faiths cast aside religious and ethnic differences early Thursday to pay respect to the country's heroes of independence at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in Myanmar’s commercial capital Yangon.
Each year on July 19, events take place countrywide, but for Myanmar's minority Muslim population Martyr's Day has taken on extra significance as many feel the secularism encouraged by one man is now under threat from a surge in Buddhist nationalism.
Of the eight men assassinated alongside the country’s founding father in 1947, one was a highly respected Muslim politician, Abdul Razak, who paved the way for what was initially a secular state in the majority Buddhist country. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
Each year on July 19, events take place countrywide, but for Myanmar's minority Muslim population Martyr's Day has taken on extra significance as many feel the secularism encouraged by one man is now under threat from a surge in Buddhist nationalism.
Of the eight men assassinated alongside the country’s founding father in 1947, one was a highly respected Muslim politician, Abdul Razak, who paved the way for what was initially a secular state in the majority Buddhist country. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)
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