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Monk U Wirathu Denies Role in Anti-Muslim Unrest
Monk U Wirathu Denies Role in Anti-Muslim Unrest
Nationalist Buddhist monk U Wirathu inspects the injuries of a farmer who was injured during a land dispute in Maupin Township, Irrawaddy Delta last month. (Photo: Jpaing / The Irrawaddy)
U Wirathu is a 45-year-old Buddhist monk from Mandalay’s Masoeyein Monastery who has acquired notoriety for spreading anti-Muslim sentiments under his nationalist “969” campaign. It encourages Burmese Buddhists to shun Muslim businesses and communities.
U Wirathu was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2003 for inciting religious conflicts, but was released in January 2012. In October, he organized protests against the international Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s plan to open a Burma office.
In a recent interview with The Irrawaddy’s Thalun Zaung Htet he blames some of the communal violence in Meikhtila on March 20-22 on the Islamic community, and claims his campaign played no role in the anti-Islamic unrest.
QUESTION: According to government figures, the death toll of the conflict in Meikhtila is 42. You went there to stop the rioters, why have there been so many deaths?
ANSWER: The death toll was highest on the second day of the unrest and most victims were Muslims who were stuck inside a mosque, mainly Muslim students from the madrassa and some civilians. Local village officials had hid them there to protect them.
After that, at 4 am early morning when the police guards were gone, the hidden Muslims became agitated and shouted slogans in unison. So the townspeople found out the Muslims are there and then they were surrounded. To the left of the group was a mosque and at the right side there was a burned area and in front there was a field, so there was no place for them to run. Then, one of the Muslims shot a slingshot at one of the Buddhist monks and the crowd became angry. Then they [the Muslims] threw bags containing acid at the crowd, which had just stood and watched the situation. The Muslims stayed inside but continued to throw things. I was there on the night of 20th March and [88 Generation Student leader] Min Ko Naing and [dissident monk] Shwe Nya Wah Sayadaw, were also there. Then, 20 Muslim people came out and fought with the Burmese crowd outside. Then people died there, almost 10, 11 deaths occurred. Security personnel saved the rest of the persons in hiding. These were the most deaths that occurred at one spot in Meikhtila. Other casualties were burned in fires. The only group killing was this case, the other deadly incidents involved just one or two people.
Q: The UN secretary-general’s special rapporteur on Burma Vijay Nambiar and international media outlets have said the Meikhtila riots were acts of planned violence. What do you think of these allegations?
A: On the first and second day, there was no systematic violence. Actually, on first day, people living in the kalar [derogatory term for Muslim] quarter were systematically [attacking]. They were carrying knives, sticks and other weapons and attacked the Burmese. When the crowd heard that one monk was killed during the unrest, they went to the kalar quarter without weapons. Only one Burmese person out of ten carried a stick from the ruined houses, and no other weapons. When they clashed Muslims used knives and many were hurt. Two died and 16 were injured. The injuries were from severe knife cuts. So, the planned attacks came from the Muslim quarters. Until the second day nothing was planned.
Q: Currently, international media report that “Buddhist extremists” are leading the “969” campaign. Can you tell us more about your campaign?
A: Sure. The first 9 stands for the nine special attributes of the Lord Buddha and the 6 for the six special attributes of his Dhamma, or Buddhist Teachings, and the last 9 represents the nine special attributes of Buddhist Sanga [monks]. Those special attributes are the three Gems of the Buddha. In the past, the Buddha, Sangha, Dhamma and the wheel of Dhamma were Buddhists’ sign. And the same goes for 969; it is another Buddhist sign.
Now people blame 969, saying it is involved in the atrocities because they cannot find the real culprits. [But] the 969 leaflets were not found and no one distributed it in Meikthila. When I came and made a sermon there, I shared 25 stickers and it says “Save Our Future”. The 969 campaign was made the culprit, but actually it is innocent as it only represents the special attributes of the Buddha.
Q: Houses, shops and mosques were destroyed in Pegu Division and the 969 was spray-painted on damaged cars and Muslim buildings in Gyobingauk Township. What can you say about the fact that your symbol was painted there?
A: I don’t have any contacts in Pegu. So I have no idea. There was no problem in the place where I have formed and organized my campaign and it goes in accordance with my rules. And, I have been told about many cases, such as cases of fighting between Burmese and Muslims and rape cases of 4 and 7-grade girls. Most rape victims are students. Other cases are physically attacks and insulting to Buddhism—to tell you the truth, there was a case of verbal abuse of monks. Other cases include illegal mosques; mosques and Muslim graveyards constructed without government permission. I’m received over 50 such cases and I provided suggestions in over 100 cases. I told them to solve the cases in accordance with the law and most take my advice, even the senior monks. Everything is fine as I deal with the cases within the law. In our community, the real 969 [campaigners] do not use violence.
Q: The Ministry of Religion in Naypyidaw said 969 is not officially recognized as a Buddhist symbol. Can I ask for your views on this matter?
A: Sure. We share it in ways that we can. We don’t register it to distribute it legally. For example, some prepare the symbol, and others donate and distribute it. We don’t register it as our official trademark symbol for our movement.
Q: In your sermon “Don’t take nationalism lightly”, you preached that Min Ko Naing and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could not achieve much [for Burmese Buddhists] and that the National League for Democracy is not a real fighting peacock [the NLD’s symbol], but it is a peacock fighting for Muslims. Can you comment on this sermon?
A: I have been supporting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi through the years, but she was not a reliable leader during the Arakan State [sectarian] unrest. I think it is because of the people around her. And also, nearly every NLD township office is operated by Muslims. Because of them, Burmese coming there are turned back. In some towns, as the NLD offices are rented from Muslim house owners, the NLD members don’t offer meals to monks on the day of General Aung San [Burma’s Martyr’s Day] as it is prohibited by the house owners.
So I said the symbol of the NLD peacock is becoming a symbol for Muslims. I rely so much on the [88 Generation Students] group of Min Ko Naing as the second biggest opposition force and I have much hope for them in the future. But they are not very reliable in supporting the public in the case of the Arakan State riots. They don’t stand on the side of the public. After helping refugees in Arakan they made a press conference on the issues. That’s all. They don’t issue a specific statement to say that Rohingyas [Muslims] are not a recognized national minority [in Burma] and they should condemn the killing of Arakanese [Buddhists] by Bengalis [Muslims]. So as a man who is supposed to stand for justice and against injustice, Min Ko Naing was not standing up for justice in the Arakan unrest. This is what I said in my sermon.
Q: In your sermons, you said that people must not support Muslim business marked with the sign “786” (a numeral used by Muslims on the Indian subcontinent representing a phrase in the Quran). Does it create discrimination, hatred and mistrust between communities?
A: Well, it is not the Burmese way, but a Muslim way and do they practice this [marking their shops with “786”]. So go around the town and see how many Muslims are visiting Burmese shops. If they support their own shops, why won’t we Buddhist [Burmese] do the same? If we support our Burmese shops, we will not have problems and it cannot be that bad. Look what happened in Meikhtila, if people support the Burmese gold shops then there would not have been an argument. [The unrest in Meikthila supposedly began as a fight between a Muslim gold shop owner and a Buddhist customer.] This kind of buying behavior doesn’t mean its discrimination. It can protect our people’s interests.
Q: Now conflict and fear is spreading in the communities. How can it be stopped?
A: After I was released from prison I always suggested to Muslim communities that we all should work and solve things together. Muslim communities should form their own groups and Burmese communities should form their own too. Those two communities must take actions for their own people when there are problems.
Q: President Thein Sein said in his recent speech that the government will take effective actions against those who exploit the noble teachings of these religions and have tried to plant hatred among people of different faiths for their own self-interest. What do you think of his words?
A: Of course, the government has to do it. But it would be more effective to take action against those who are behind the riots than just taking action on the ground. For example, like [taking actions against] imams. They brainwash children with hate speech against Buddhism. Their children look at Buddhist monks as if we were their enemy. They look at the Burmese people in the same way. That’s what’s really happening. So, the authorities have to try to take action against these instigators.
More on Burma
“Burmese monks have taken part in protests in the past, against British colonial rule and against a half-century of rule by military dictatorship. The most notable recent occasion was in 1990.
Their militant resistance to the British produced the most prominent political martyr of Burmese Buddhism, U Wisara, who died in prison in 1929 after a 166-day hunger strike.
The silence of the United Nations, EU, US and the elite keep a complete silence for more than 50 years.
The question is why?.
Now, US parade Aung San Suu Yi. Why?.
The world ignores the sacrifice of the Buddhist Monks. Now, is no different than 50 years ago. What’s had changed?. Why the Elite insists on dividing Burma in slices of religious blocks. They always had fought together as an oppressed nation, during the 1962, 1988, 2005, 2007 uprising was never a sectarian divide.
Ask yourself Burma, ask yourself peace activists, ask yourself political activist in Burma, in whose interest is served when the Media feeds a war between Muslims and Buddhists. Why Aung San Suu Yi sided with the dividers? These questions need to be ask before we make any judgements.
In 1988 Aung San Suu Yi asked for unity of the Nation against the Military Boot, because of her standing against the Junta she become an instant hero, remember her words:
“Reverend monks and people! This public rally is aimed at informing the whole world of the will of the people. Therefore at this mass rally the people should be disciplined and united to demonstrate the very fact that they are a people who can be disciplined and united. Our purpose is to show that the entire people entertain the keenest desire for a multi-party democratic system of government.”
Check every picture, search the stories. Misinformation is the best way to create chaos. At the end of the end, the community, the regular citizens, they are the ones going to bed without bread. They are the ones crowded in infested “Refugee Camps”. Starvation is part of their reality. The United Nations had failed the people. The UN and the government are leaving the job to the NGOs, which most of them are notorious to be driven by greed.
They collect the grants from the governments and they use the funds and trips and advertisement, leaving little for the real cause.
The respective governments had been waging political campaign against their opposition using the people as pawns. Buddhists vs Muslims in Burma, Shiites vs Shias in Iraq, Kurds vs Arabs, all leaders using peoples religions to stir their own fights to position themselves in power.
Social Media networks are platforms to share news, but also has been used to spread lies. Muslims are being scapegoated lately, not only since Bush wars but when it is convenient to stir the people’s emotions. Passions run wild and are used against the people.
People always lose, government leaders and the elite always win. Had this clear in your mind.
We the people are not apart for the ruling elite, and it is not in our best interest to be divided by sectarians and/or religion violence.
The United Nations it is a body that suppose to help the people, to help the countries to avert wars, but had failed in its role of peace maker, on the other hand, since it is was founded we had seen more wars and conflicts financed by the countries that formed the Security Council of the United Nations, the countries that had the power of veto.
Never underestimate the power of information, but also, never underestimate the power of misinformation.
Sectarian Violence fueled by the Government of Myramar
Posted by Akashma Online News
Rohingyas Refugees October 30 2012 Jakarta News
A new wave of sectarian violence in western Myanmar leaves five people dead and dozens hurt in recent days, triggering another exodus of thousands of Rohyngyans to emergency camps.
Hundreds of houses were burned in the last days of unrest in Rakhine State, where sectarian violence erupted again. 95 people has lost their life since June and the displaced are counted by the hundreds of 1000′s, based on the government bodies estimates.
“At least five person died, and 80 were hurt in four days since October 21 in four townships,” stated Rakhine spokesperson Myo Thant.
Houses were also torched in another town on Thursday morning, he told AFP on the phone in the Rakhine State, capital of Sittwe.
“Soldiers are actually assisting to provide security,” he added. Claim that it is dismiss by majority of refugees that flee Rakhine.
The Rakhine formerly known as Arakanese, is a nationality in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma they form the majority of the residents along the coastal region of present day Rakhine State (formerly Arakan State). They constitute approximately 6 % or more of Myanmar’s total population but no accurate census figures exist. Rakhine people also live in the Southeastern parts of Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong and Barisal Divisions. A group of Arakanese descendants, living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh at least since the 16th century, are known as the Marma people. These Arakanese descendants have been living in that area since the Arakanese kingdom’s control of the Chittagong region.
Arakanese descendants spread as far north as Tripura state in India, where their presence dates back to the ascent of the Arakanese kingdom when Tripura was ruled by Arakanese kings. In northeast India, these Arakanese people are referred to as the Mog, while in Bengali, the Marma (the ethnic Arakanese descendants in Bangladesh) and other Arakanese people are referred to as the Magh people
Rohingyas Refugees languish in poor refugee camps
Tensions stay at boiling point in Rakhine State, the curfew imposed as emergency measure adding more pressure in the area, while more than 75,000 Rohingyan languish in poor refugee camps.
More Rohingyan refugees have showed up in Sittwe, the Capital of Rakhine State by boat, looking to find shelter within the camps.
The refugee agency believes that more than 1,000 displaced people had arrived at Sittwe in recent days.
“Many more are meant to be in route,” stated speaker Vivian Tan in Bangkok. “These individuals are all visiting the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps near to Sittwe, that are already overcrowded.”
About 75,000 individuals are believed to become uprooted in Rakhine State, mostly from Rohingya origin.
The UN referring to the Rohingya people to be probably the most persecuted and unprivileged people in the world.
In Myanmar their 800,000 Rohingya residents are seen as illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh the Myanmar government and lots of people call them “Bengalis”.
The bloodshed has cast a shadow over broadly recognized reforms by Leader Thein Sein, such as the liberation of hundreds of political prisoners and also the election of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament.
Independent journalists and humanitarian organizations fear that the real dying toll might be much greater that the official number.
“We are like dead people. I want to go to another country. I cannot keep suffering like this,” said Rahima, 55, whose husband and 25-year-old son were killed in clashes in western Rakhine state in June of this year.
“We are like dead people. I want to go to another country. I cannot keep suffering like this,” said Rahima, 55, whose husband and 25-year-old son were killed in Buddhist-Muslim clashes in western Rakhine State in June.
“I don’t have enough food. How long can I keep living here?” she told AFP in a recent interview, since which a fresh wave of violence has left dozens more dead and displaced about 30,000 people.
In the past Bangladesh was the destination of choice, but the neighboring country has now closed its doors, turning away boatloads of Rohingya who attempted to flee the violence in June. Many have since hung their hopes on Muslim-majority Malaysia.
But for now, Rahima’s home is one of the mud-strewn camps where tens of thousands of Rohingya have sought shelter since the conflict exploded in the flashpoint western region of the country formerly known as Burma.
Rohingya Villages Under Attack in Arakan
Posted on October 31, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Published on, October 30, 2012 12:32
Kalaban Press Network
Rohingya Culture-Kaladan News Photo Credit
Maungdaw, Arakan State: Thousands of Rakhine mobs led by Rakhine ruling political party – Rakhine Nationalities Development Party-(RNDP) had restarted mass attacking, burning and destruction of Muslims villages and houses, in Minbya, Mrauk Oo, Kyaukpru, Pauktaw, Ratheydaung, Myebone, and Kyauktaw Townships since October 21, 2012, according to joint statement of 11 national and international Rohingya organizations.
“This was the second time of genocide and persecutions of Muslims in Arakan in 2012 by the RNDP led Rakhine people with the direct help and strong involvement of the Burmese Government security forces of President Thein Sein from both central and Rakhine State Government.”
Thousands of Rakhine mobs surrounding the Kyauk Nimaw village of Manaung Township, Arakan State, for torching the houses and killing the Rohinya villagers even though the international pressure to the Burmese government, regarding the violence in Arakan State today morning at about 10:00 am, according to villagers from the locality.
“The Rakhine mobs tried early morning at about 5:00am to attack and set on fire the village – Kyauk Nimaw -, failed as the army stayed between two communities to protect the village. The Rakhines again gather at Thayoung Byine and Magyi Gone Rakhine village to attack the village at 10:00am where the army shot to the sky for not advancing and killed 5 Rakhines while the Rakhines forced them to fire on them.”
“More than 10,000 Rakhines gather near the Kyauk Nimaw village from other village which was supported by Taungup businessman U KyaukTaung for Rakhines travel cost to joint.”
“In Kyauk Nimaw, there are around 6,000 people – Male, female and children – are not able to protect their lives and no foods security for them if they are surrounded like this more.”
“Please, inform to the international community to save us and need your help to protect our village,” said a woman from Kyauk Nimaw.
The Rakhine mob is marching to the Rohingya villages with four lines such as— children are in the front line, then the women are on the second line, on the third line are Rakhine men and the last line are Buddhist monks, according to a reliable source.
But the security forces—-police and army are firing bullets into air to disperse the mob. However, we do not now the situation till writing the report.
Similarly, the Rakhine monks sent letters to Rohingya village- Sentaymaw village under PauktawTownship- as threaten, to leave the village which they ( Rakhines) want to touch the village to show less killing to the international community who are protesting the killing of Rohingya community in Arakan, said a villager from Pauktaw.
“Beginning from the month of October 21, 2012, at least fourteen villages were burnt down and thousands of people killed. Hundreds of Muslim girls and women were raped by the Burmese security forces and Rakhine extremists during attacking the Muslims in those townships. The Burmese Government officials and Security forces did nothing to prevent and stop these mass killings and attacks. President Thein Sein led Burmese Government had claimed that Arakan State is in normal situation but, in reality the situation has become more worsened day after day. These atrocities and mass killings were being committed under the open eyes of the Burmese security forces involving the Police, Lun Htein, and Army. Available reports confirmed that Buddhist Rakhine people led by RNDP President Dr. Aye Maung and Rakhine State Prime Minister Hla Maung Tin are trying to spread this violence across the whole Muslims residing areas of all Townships in Arakan,” the joint press release of 11 Rohingya Organizations stated on recent situation of Arakan state Muslims.
We, the organizations are- Odhikar, Bangladesh; Human Security Alliance, Thailand and Asian Muslim Action Network, Thailand- deeply concerned at the recent reports in the international media that scores of Rohingyas were killed in the fresh outbreak of violence in the northern Arakan state. We are also alarmed by the reports that hundreds of Rohinyga homes were burnt by a vengeful Rakhine community, that in turn has led to the displacement of thousands of people. This is in addition to the 75,000 people who are still languishing in overcrowded camps set up by the Myanmar authorities with very little basic amenities. Observers have noted that the recent outbreak of violence against the Rohinygas is in line with the long-term plan of the Rakhine community to eliminate Rohingyas from all the townships where they are a minority. We, the three organizations notes that the local Burmese authorities in connivance with the central government is pursuing a policy of apartheid under which tens of thousands of Rohinygas are housed in camps beyond the city limits under barbed wire fencing with armed guards placed at the entrances, according to press release “International support needed to protect Rohingyas from persecution.”
More News…..
Urgent collective international action needed to protect the Rohingya – We express our serious concern that the most brutal violence is now reoccurring in Arakan; and we strongly condemn the ongoing mass killing, burning and destruction of Muslim villages and rape of their women.
Rohingya Humanitarian Mission – Hundreds from the Rohingya refugee community turned up to support a humanitarian mission by the Putera 1Malaysia Club to help their ethnic group. They were led by chairman of the Union of World Rohingya Organisation, Rashed Osman.
Muslim killings in Burma and the Social Media – Misleading pictures of Buddhist Monks killing Muslims.
Akashma Online News 