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| Southeast Asia |
| Jihad in Myanmar |
| 2003-10-21 |
| As the world continues to glare at Myanmar’s ruling junta for its ongoing oppression of the country’s popular democracy movement, it is hardly by coincidence that tensions between Buddhists and Muslims, in the past instigated by Yangon in times of political crisis, are on the rise again. The writer takes it for granted the Buddhists rulers are the ones instigating clashes between Muslims and Buddhists. I don’t. Some in Myanmar point the finger at alleged new "terrorists" among the Muslim minority. Do these allegations represent a heightened Islamist presence in Myanmar, or is this just the inner grumblings of a regime hoping to use the "war on terror" for desperately needed international support? First, that’s a false dillemma. It could very well be the Myanmar government is trying to win international support AND there is a growing Islamist presence in Myanmar. "We have a problem in Myanmar; we have a problem here in Mandalay. The problem is called Islam. There are many new Muslims in Mandalay from Pakistan [and Bangladesh]. These people are thieves and terrorists. They do not respect our religion and our women. We are Buddhist, and we are peaceful, but we must protect ourselves." Throw the Muslims out. Throw them out while you can. While Win Rathu might be the first to claim that the US’s sanctions on Myanmar are aimed at terrorists rather than the ruling junta, he is not the first person to claim that terrorists have mingled with Myanmar’s Muslims. International attention was drawn to the Rohingya Muslim community when its links to Islamist groups were discovered. Anti-terror officials around the world took note, and so did the ruling junta in Yangon. Repeat after me: ’Islam is a religion of Peace, terrorists are not real Muslims... "There have been problems before, but the problems have really grown in the last several years with the Pakistani Muslims," said Wi Rathu. "They want Myanmar to be Muslim - but Myanmar is Buddhist. They want the rest of Asia to be Muslim and live by Muslims rules - but we are Buddhist." They want the rest of the world to be Muslim. As the government faces economic sanctions and renewed international condemnation for its imprisonment and treatment of Aung San Su Kyi from the West, one should expect the same diversionary tactics from the regime. The recent military campaign against Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) rebels in south confirms this. If democracy in Myanmar leads to increased Islamism, then damm democracy in Myanmar. If violence does once again break out, it will be agitators like Win Rathu at the lead. And this religious violence threatens to divert the world’s attention from the real issue in Myanmar - the continuing deprivation of its people’s prosperity by an unpopular military dictatorship. I’m glad the author has such telepathic powers to asign fault for violence not yet committed. Or perhaps those are self-denial powers to ignore the challenge of Islamism? |
| Posted by:Sorge |
| #7 Mr. liberalhawk--You fail into a non-sequitor fallacy: "I fail to see that a military run PI would be any more effective than Arroyo." My argument is for keeping the military junta in Burma for the short term, I said nothing about the Philiphines. And 'Oh, and throwing any minority out is despicable' is a not an argument, but an expression of belief. To be fair, I didn't argue either for the opposite--it would be inappropiate to do so in Rantburg--but I'll be posting my argument on my website either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. |
| Posted by: Sorge 2003-10-21 3:34:47 PM |
| #6 LH - Nope. I have muRat as my guide to moderation and secularism condensed into an inferiority complex that makes him act like a mindless twit full of hatred. I have seen the GRofP occur hundreds of times, however. If you'd like to say Turkey is an exception, fine - I'll grant a tiny anount of leeway, but they certainly are NOT the rule. 70 Million Turks is a drop on the advertised 1.3 billion Muslim bucket. As for Afghans, I have zero doubt your guy is an exception - hell, he's over in Merika, right? Not your average AK-47 totin' Warlord followin' be-turbaned Afghan, I'd wager. Look, knowing an individual is not the same as the culture or the society. They always put their best foot forward when they are the visitor. How do they act at home and YOU are the visitor - that will tell a far different story. It's like saying that knowin a guy named Wang in HS means you're ready to run the China Desk at State. Wait! That may just be the secret criterion used! Shit! ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-21 12:48:34 PM |
| #5 i fail to see that a military run PI would be any more effective than Arroyo. In particular a democractic Burma would be able to reach out to the West in ways that the current regime cannot. And would be less like to snuggle up to China (have we forgotten about them?) And just might do a better job of mobilizing its own populace. Oh, and throwing any minority out is despicable. And btw PA is not an organization, its a pseudo govt. The org youre thinking of is Fatah. Which does nasty things yes. So does PFLP, under the leadership of George Habash, Christian by background, Marxist by practice. Are you claiming he's really an Islamist, too? Dot com - ever spent any time in Turkey or the Balkans? (I havent, but Turks Ive met over here seem pretty secular. Ive also met an Afghan, who while not secular, was pretty bitter about the Taliban and AQ - something about being tortured by them) |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-10-21 11:36:15 AM |
| #4 Sorge - That's what I wondered about. I have never met a secular or moderate Muslim, when there was another Muslim around. They remind me of the Golden Rule of Parakeets (Honest!). If you have just one, he'll be friends with you. If you have two, they'll be friends with each other. Same same. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-21 11:11:59 AM |
| #3 Mr. liberalhawk; They resist democracy because it will lead to their demise, I agree with that. But I'm worried about a democratic, weak Myanmar, in which Islamism will be tolerated. (See Philliphines.) Mr. Moloney; Secular Muslim groups turn Islamist with frightening speed. Come to think of it, the 'Palestinian Authority' is a secular Muslim group. (Oxymoron warning.) Also, throwing out others minorities is despicable, but throwing out muslims is not. (Like the Spaniards were right expel the Muslims after 1492, but wrong to expel the jews.) |
| Posted by: Sorge 2003-10-21 10:06:45 AM |
| #2 The Burmese Junta is truly loathsome, and they have had trouble not just with their Muslim minority, but also with just about all of their dozens of ethnic minorities, whether Muslim, Christian or Buddhist. It is true that many Burmese Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Pakistan have fallen in with local Jihadis, but the major Rohingya groups active in Burma are secular, and thus have received little to no support from the above mentioned Muslim countries. As for throwing them out, the Junta have managed to drive out hundreds of thousands, but they have done the same to the Karen, Shan and others. |
| Posted by: Paul Moloney 2003-10-21 9:28:02 AM |
| #1 the junta in Myanmar has been resisting democracy for years. This is just the flavor of the month. Their not resisting democracy cause it will lead to islamism, but to keep power out of the hands of the buddist majority - and keep it in the hands of the buddist junta. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-10-21 9:14:51 AM |