Restless Myanmar State sees Mass Anti-Muslim Protests

YANGON, July 4 — Myanmar’s bitterly-divided Rakhine State saw mass protests yesterday as thousands of Buddhists, including monks, demonstrated in a show of opposition to a government edict referring to Muslim communities in the restive province.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric has spiked across Myanmar recently, with two mosques torched by Buddhist mobs in just over a week in a country where sectarian violence has left scores dead since 2012. Home to around one million stateless Rohingya Muslims, Rakhine State has been hardest hit by religious violence that has left tens of thousands of the persecuted minority in fetid displacement camps. The Rohingya are reviled by Rakhine Buddhists who refuse to recognise any shared rights to the province and instead call them “Bengalis” — or illegal immigrants from nearby Bangladesh.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s new government has sought to defuse the row over the term "Rohingya" instead ordering officials to refer to “Muslim communities in Rakhine”.

But protesters yesterday said that too was unacceptable as it "Hands Muslims recognition in a Buddhist state". We reject the term ‘Muslim communities in Rakhine State, Bengalis should be called Bengalis.www.themalaymailonline.com...

a reply to: tommo39
Didn't the Taliban destroy some Buddhist shrines in the past?

a reply to: rollanotherone

Didn't the Taliban destroy some Buddhist shrines in the past?

Yes mate, but that was in Afghanistan where they destroyed the buddha's carved into cliffs......

a reply to: tommo39

Even though it was a different country it was senseless destruction and an incredibly offensive move.
It will never be forgotten.
We know you can't tar everyone with the same brush but when its group v group individual responsibility goes out of the window.

originally posted by: tommo39
YANGON, July 4 — Myanmar’s bitterly-divided Rakhine State saw mass protests yesterday as thousands of Buddhists, including monks, demonstrated in a show of opposition to a government edict referring to Muslim communities in the restive province.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric has spiked across Myanmar recently, with two mosques torched by Buddhist mobs in just over a week in a country where sectarian violence has left scores dead since 2012. Home to around one million stateless Rohingya Muslims, Rakhine State has been hardest hit by religious violence that has left tens of thousands of the persecuted minority in fetid displacement camps. The Rohingya are reviled by Rakhine Buddhists who refuse to recognise any shared rights to the province and instead call them “Bengalis” — or illegal immigrants from nearby Bangladesh.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s new government has sought to defuse the row over the term "Rohingya" instead ordering officials to refer to “Muslim communities in Rakhine”.

But protesters yesterday said that too was unacceptable as it "Hands Muslims recognition in a Buddhist state". We reject the term ‘Muslim communities in Rakhine State, Bengalis should be called Bengalis.www.themalaymailonline.com...

Harsh but it's their country and they are right.

You know your religion is questionable when you're even pissing the Buddhists off ...

originally posted by: ManBehindTheMask
You know your religion is questionable when you're even pissing the Buddhists off ...

Yeah. That was my thought. I believed Buddhists were pacifists. I guess not.

Buddha bless you.

a reply to: tommo39

It looks like the 'Muslims' just aren't liked or welcome in this Civilised World but what to do about it apart from send them back to 'Muslim' Countries?

You will see the Left protest about that.

Islam and other cultures just do not coexist well. Us VS them thinking is to blame on both sides.

Maybe a reformation of Islam to make sure it always treat other cultures by the golden rule and not try to create a one Islamic world thru imperialism would make non Muslim and Muslim peaceful.

But Muslim do not want to change so we are doomed to insane violence between Muslim and non Muslim for all times.

China/Japan/Burma and Hindus getting annoyed at the Muslim community and now increase of anti immigration parties in EU and US. If all become anti one culture then it is that culture who do not measure up.

If there was a big problem with coexisting over culture barriers then why is it only Islam that have these big problems coexisting today.

originally posted by: rollanotherone
a reply to: tommo39
Didn't the Taliban destroy some Buddhist shrines in the past?

Muslim people are being killed in Burma every year and you're asking about a shrine or what ever in another country that has nothing to do with it and doesn't even justify it ? what a sick time we are living in.

i know where this thread is going , every body is going to blame the Muslims

before you all do so try this search and this one

warning : you might not like or bear to watch the videos

If this carries forwards, it's gonna be one hell of a ride.

History Repeats Itself.

originally posted by: Dr UAE

originally posted by: rollanotherone
a reply to: tommo39
Didn't the Taliban destroy some Buddhist shrines in the past?

Muslim people are being killed in Burma every year and you're asking about a shrine or what ever in another country that has nothing to do with it and doesn't even justify it ? what a sick time we are living in.

What a truly SICK time we DO live in. Gays being stoned to death. Prisoners being set on fire and video taped. Women being killed for being raped. Children being raped and the offenders not facing justice. Truly sick times indeed.

originally posted by: rollanotherone

originally posted by: ManBehindTheMask
You know your religion is questionable when you're even pissing the Buddhists off ...

Yeah. That was my thought. I believed Buddhists were pacifists. I guess not.

Buddha bless you.

Haha and you as well my friend