By Justin Whitaker

This Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the 8/8/88 uprising in Burma, which will hopefully spur some much needed discussion about the situation in the country (officially renamed Myanmar by the military junta in 1989, but still called Burma by those who deny the legitimacy of that government).

Three articles have already popped up in the last few days that deserve mention, if only for the varying perspectives in them – all dealing specifically with recent Buddhist-Muslim violence. The three perspectives are, roughly, that of a Conservative Christian, a journalist, and an academic.

BNI

Thai border security has been wondering whether the Burmese government led by U Thein Sein and the armed forces led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing are at cross purposes when it comes to the ongoing peace process, according to senior security sources.

The question emerged following the Regional level Border Committee (RBC) meeting in Cha-am held last week, which coincided with the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) organized conference in Chiangmai, 29-31 August.

HRW

On 25th Anniversary of Crackdown, Accountability, Rule of Law Remain Elusive

The mass killings 25 years ago in Burma are an unaddressed open wound that challenges the government’s rhetoric of reform. The government should shed itself of 50 years of denial about military abuses by showing that it stands with the Burmese people and not with the killers of the past.
Brad Adams, Asia director

(New York) – Burma’s President Thein Sein should commit to an independent investigation and fair prosecutions of officials and commanders responsible for the mass killings of pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago. Burma’s friends and donors should make clear that genuine reform in Burma means ensuring justice for victims of the 1988 massacres and other serious human rights violations.

by Maung Zarni

Over the past three years, change in Myanmar has transpired at a dizzying pace. A cursory look at the turn of events, ranging from the release of hundreds of political prisoners to restored diplomatic relations with the West, indicates on the surface a new national direction after decades of dictatorship. But what is Myanmar transitioning toward and how best to understand the changes?

Thomas Carothers and Larry Diamond, two of the world’s leading authorities on democratization, reached more or less the same conclusion after recent visits to the country: that Naypyidaw’s goals, definition and modus operandi of ‘democracy’ are at odds with the essence of a truly representative government.

By RSIS

The controversial Buddhist monk Wirathu, putative leader of the Buddhist fundamentalist 969 movement in Myanmar, has fuelled Buddhist-Muslim violence in the past year. Liberal responses to let the marketplace of ideas drown his extremist rhetoric are unlikely to suffice.

Associated Press

YANGON // Punk rockers draw double-takes as they dart through traffic, but it is not just the pink hair, leather jackets or skull tattoos that make these 20-somethings rebels. It is their willingness to speak out against Buddhist monks instigating violence against Muslims while others in Myanmar are silent.

“If they were real monks, I’d be quiet, but they aren’t,” said Kyaw Kyaw, lead singer of Rebel Riot, as his drummer knocks out the beat for a new song slamming religious hypocrisy and an anti-Muslim movement known as 969. “They are nationalists, fascists. No one wants to hear it, but it’s true.”

By C. S. Kuppuswamy

Introduction

In his address at the Chatham House, UK on 15 July 2013, President Thein Sein categorically asserted that the armed fighting in Myanmar since 1948 will end soon.

“There are issues of autonomy and self determination of power sharing and resource sharing, of cultural rights and language policy, of protection against discrimination and security sector-reform” said President Thein while enumerating the complexities of the peace process.

With President Thein Sein’s assertions at the Chatham House and the government’s announcement to hold an all-inclusive ethnic conference shortly hopefully culminating in a nation wide ceasefire, there is fervour and enthusiasm and expectation of that long elusive sustainable peace in Myanmar.

Author: Dan Joyner

This just came to my attention today. Read this story at Pro Publica, about some very important and alarming work that friend of ACL, and real life former weapons inspector Robert Kelley, has done on what he has concluded is a clandestine nuclear weapons program in Myanmar. Now, I am not in any way a technical guy. But I’ve gotten to know Bob, and he’s both the most qualified person to evaluate a nuclear weapons program, and the most independent, objective, and reserved technical person, that I know. So hearing Bob say this about Myanmar:

“I state this very clearly and strongly, this is a clandestine nuclear program”

makes me say, it’s time to listen up, people.