by Andrew Selth

Andrew Selth is a Research Fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute. Part 1 of this post here.

The initiatives for closer ties between the West and Burma’s police and armed forces summarised in the previous post have aroused the ire of the activist community, which has been quick to remind everyone that the armed forces still dominate politics in Burma. The Tatmadaw is also engaged in counter-insurgency campaigns against armed ethnic groups and has been guilty of crimes against Muslim Rohingyas. The MPF too has been accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

Another criticism has been that assistance to Burma’s security forces helps them maintain their grip on Burmese society by increasing their coercive capabilities. Also, formal recognition is seen as giving them a legitimacy they do not deserve. Even the US Senate has warned that there is the potential for ‘well-intended engagement misdirected towards a negative result’.

Xinhua

Myanmar on Saturday denied the existence of severe religious and racial discrimination in the country which saw a series of communal riots in the past year.

The government stressed the need for all communities to preserve mutual respects, understanding, sympathy and patience, oppose hostilities of religious extremism and stand against those who are instigating the escalation of religious divergence and instability.

“Today, although stability has been restored in Myanmar, certain organizations both at home and abroad are portraying as if there exists severe religious and racial discrimination. All should be cognizant of the fact that such fabrications will further complicate the situation,” the statement warned.

By LIN THANT / THE IRRAWADDY

Burma and China will likely enhance military ties, according to state media reports.

Burma’s President Thein Sein met on Tuesday with Gen Fan Changlong, deputy chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC), at his residence in Naypyidaw, according to a report by the state-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) network. Their conversation included a discussion about enhancing relations between the two countries’ armed forces and maintaining positive relations between governments, MRTV said.

The Burmese president also told the Chinese military leader that his administration would continue to promote warming relations with other countries in the region and in the West, the broadcaster added.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of Burma’s armed forces, also met with the CMC deputy chairman on Tuesday morning, prior to his meeting with the president, according to state-run newspapers.

Shan Herald Agency for News

There couldn’t be a greater blow to all ethnic nationalities than when Britain offered to train the Burmese dictatorial army; and hearing the news that The British government has approved arms export licenses worth over US$5 million (£3.3 million) to Burma, even though it is considered a country of “serious human rights” concern and continues to be the subject of an EU arms embargo.

By following and studying the behavior and mentality of members of the Burmese military/political Institution for many decades, can anyone blame me if I am skeptical of the promises made by any of these members? Bertil Lintner wrote in his article, “The Military’s still in Charge”: “It is too often forgotten that Thein Sein came to power through the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the name for Burma’s military regime. —.” His positions included General in the Burmese army, First Secretary of SPDC, and later Prime Minister (a position he held up until he became president).

Jonathan Mirsky

It’s hard to get a handle on Burma. When Aung San Suu Kyi was recently here in London, feted on every hand, she was asked about the persecution of the Rohingya, the Burmese Muslims. She replied, “I’m not sure they’re Burmese.” The Dalai Lama, who has declared that Burma’s Buddhist monks must stop beating up Muslims, was here at the same time and wished to meet her. She agreed, but only if there was no publicity. She had been advised about this by the office of Prime Minister David Cameron, who had earlier been denied contact with Beijing for having met with the Dalai Lama for forty minutes. I know about the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi only because the Dalai Lama told me during his London visit.

(Author title: “Matthew Walton: A Primer on the Roots of Buddhist/Muslim Conflict in Myanmar, and A Way Forward” )

Matthew J. Walton writes at ISLAMiCommentary

Recently Myanmar has been in the news for more than just its surprising political reforms and nascent transition from military rule. Violent attacks—mostly by Buddhists against Muslims—have occurred in cities across the country and an insistent and vocal new movement called 969 (named after the holy attributes of the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of monks) has galvanized Buddhist nationalism. Monks have been some of the loudest voices in this movement, calling for laws that discriminate against Muslims and even threatening politicians who refuse to support them. Many casual observers know that Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, but relatively little is known about the Burmese Muslim community. In this essay I will give a brief introduction to the Muslim community in Myanmar, explain the roots and dynamics of the current religious conflict, and consider some of the challenges facing Muslims in the country.

By Koraunghfee

 After five decades when Myanmar dictatorial regime has to step down unwillingly due to international pressings, in 2008, the notorious dictator Junta Than Shwe held referendum throughout the state with his adopted Hitlerite fiddles senior talented militaristic officials to rule the state militaristically as quasicivilian regime.

To implement perpetually the ancient pre-planned propaganda against Muslims, in particular, Rohingya across the country that were unwillingly postponed amidst ongoing democracy transition from military transition, the histrionic military backed president Thein Sein triggered continual riots with some Buddhist ultra-nationalists, as well as  in corporation, with Buddhist radical monks and racialistic Buddhist youth clubs. Then, the president empowered the Rakhine terrorists with all the necessary tasks conspiring with the current Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) not only to massacre the Rohingya in a vast momentum but also to strip of Rohingya rights during ongoing democracy.

By Stephen Hindes

Constant armed clashes in Myanmar, despite continuing peace talks, and rising tensions between Buddhists and Muslims underscore the fragility of President Thein Sein’s attempts to bring democracy to the country.

For the international community to effectively negotiate these complicated and deeply embedded tensions and effect positive developments it must leverage the knowledge and talent of
Myanmar’s established network of local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Such a process will be instrumental not only in solving such disputes in a much more amicable environment but also serve to sow the seeds for positive change in a country in desperate need of a new direction.