“A
generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the
things which renew humanity"(Gautama Buddha)
As
much of a peace-loving religion Buddhism is considered worldwide, the actions
of Myanmar's hardline Buddhist monk group Ma Ba Tha, show otherwise.
Myanmar
is a part of Burma, with a Muslim population of five and a half crore. It has
the 12th largest army in the world, with countries like China, India,
Bangladesh and Thailand as its neighbors. In Myanmar, lies the "land of
oppression and dismay", known as Rakhine on the world map, with a
population of thirteen lac remaining Rohingya Muslims as its maltreated
inhabitants after a massacre of four lac Muslims. Rohingya is a particular race
which has inhibited Rakhine state of Burma since centuries now. The genocide in
Myanmar is an example of Racism.
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| Distribution of Rohingya Muslims throughout the world |
These Rohingya Muslims are deprived of all
the basic necessities of life including food, shelter, access to medical
centers, education and security. They do not have citizenship rights. According
to historians, Rohingya group dates back centuries, however Burmese government
claim, they are relatively recent immigrants. They are not allowed to travel
without specific documents which comprise of almost an uncollectible data. Most
of these people dwell on the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar, as they are
unacceptable to both. Bangladesh has the largest number of Rohingya Muslims and
the next in line is Pakistan. In an interview, when Bangladesh's Prime Minister
Hasina Wajid was questioned on the refusal of her government to help Rohingya
Muslims being an inhumane act, she replied:
"You should talk to Myanmar government.
It is not Bangladesh who is responsible."
Rohingya
Muslims are not allowed to buy or own any kind of property in Myanmar. Moreover,
each Muslim family cannot have more than two children.
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| Satellite imagery of burnt villages |
Initially,
waves of deadly violence began in 2012.It was ignited by the rape and murder of
a young Buddhist woman. After this, disagreement continued between the majority
Rakhine Buddhists and minority Rakhine Muslims. Recently, Burmese government
said that Rohingya Muslims burned their 2300 houses however Human Rights Watch
confirmed:
"By
pictures taken through satellite, it is clear that fire was ignited by the
Myanmar government."
Communal
mistrust and unrest has been felt from centuries now but under the military
government, it was covered by more critical political situation. Now, in the
climate of freedom everything has come to the surface and more magnified than
ever.
"You can be full of kindness and love
but you cannot sleep next to a mad dog"
"Mad
Dog" being the raped, murdered, oppressed and burned alive minority
Rohingya Muslims. In 2015, Wanghee Lee, United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on
Myanmar was called a "whore” this UN"s High Commissioner for Human
Rights said that Wirathu’s statement is:
"Sexist, insulting and utterly
unacceptable"
According
to a Muslim spokesman in Burma:
"96%
population is scared of 5% Muslims"
Ma
Ba Tha establishes its belief on the fear; Muslims ultimately would take over
Buddhists by population expansion therefore feels a need to carry out an open
genocide, without the slightest of shame. Therefore, the next time your country
faces population expansion, take the solution from Mr. Asin. KILL THEM
because apparently lives don’t matter.
Arriya
Wutta Bewauntha, who is also a well-known Buddhist monk with many spiritual
followers, said:
"He sides a little towards hate [and
this was] not the ways buddha taught"
"Little"
I'd say is unacceptably humble. I ask everyone, is it even close to
humanitarian principles let alone teachings of Buddha?
 |
| The Nobel "PEACE" prize winner |
Aung
San Suu Kyi, who is the State Counsellor (equivalent to PM) of Myanmar and de
facto leader of Myanmar, bearer of Noble Prize has so far done nothing to
combat a situation which has been referred to as "ethnic cleansing”.
United Nation ambassador, Yong Elie said:
"Myanmar government wants to
completely finish Rohingya Muslims".
Pop
Francis has also condemned this injustice.
Religions
aside, countries and races aside, the question is: Has the UN and
"certain" people become so heartless to not even be stirred by the
nerve-racking, heart-wrecking incidents? Where is the UN? Where is the Armed
Forces consisting of 37 Muslim countries, whose main aim was to protect
'rights' of Muslims across the world. Is Myanmar a future 'Iraq', 'Syria' or
'Kashmir’?
Author: Anisa Sohail
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