"UN chief hits out at Myanmar election 'hate speech' - AFP 02 November 2015
YANGON: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hit out on Monday (Nov 2) at "extreme elements" in Myanmar who are sowing hate and bigotry towards religious minorities, days before the country votes in landmark elections.
Myanmar heads to the polls next Sunday in what observers are hoping will be the fairest election for decades as the nation slowly shakes off almost a half-century of brutal military rule.
But the vote is taking place against a rising tide of anti-Muslim sentiment, spear-headed by a small but increasingly influential movement of hardline Buddhist nationalist monks.
In a statement put out by his office, Ban Ki-moon said he had "deep concern" about "the continuous resort to hate speech, the incitement of communal animosities and the abuse of religion for political purposes resorted to by extreme elements among the majority community in Myanmar".
Ban also called on voters to reject politicians who espoused discriminatory policies when they went to the ballot box.
"He urges all concerned in Myanmar to eschew any kind of pressure, intimidation, dissemination of hatred or violence against individuals or organizations based on their ethnic identity, gender, religious persuasion or political views," the statement said.
The UN chief did hit out at "vulgar remarks" directed against Yanghee Lee, the UN's special rapporteur for Myanmar. During a visit to the country in January she was rounded upon by influential firebrand monk Wirathu who described her as a "whore".
Lee has been vocal in her criticism of those who persecute and sow sectarian animosity towards Myanmar's minorities, particularly its Muslim population.
The so-called Ma Ba Tha movement and Wirathu are the best known among these groups, espousing virulently anti-Muslim sentiment.
At the core of their ideology is the belief that Myanmar's Buddhist identity is under attack from Muslims and other ethnic minorities, despite the country hosting such groups for generations.
Dozens of people, mainly Muslim, have died in religious violence over the last few years.
The USDP has aligned itself with this conservative view, agreeing to pass a series of controversial race and religion laws earlier this year."
I AM in Yangon, Myanmar! Will be here till 7 November 2015. It is distressing to see such behaviours as reported. Hopefully democracy will NOT take a back step to 'hate' politics!
Lessons for me are:
1. puzzling that Buddhist would kill since the central theme of Buddhism is: not taking of life. Any kind of life! Including that of animals or insects, etc! So, how the Buddhists in Myanmar, some of them, can possibly justified their 'hate' speeches and even 'hate' criminal actions against Muslims!;
2. some defenders of this Buddhists' behaviours may be: Buddhism is peaceful and want to live to its true teaching BUT when Buddhists are under persecution and 'suppression', they have a right to fight, and even kill, to protect its belief and self! So, when is that 'intolerable suppression' crossed?;
3. are Muslims THAT aggressive that they will 'kill' Buddhists? For no reason? Unlikely right?
Anyway, this is ONE big issue for the Myanmar people to decide. May there be peaceful campaigning AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
Be democratic. Be CIVILISED too!!
YANGON: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hit out on Monday (Nov 2) at "extreme elements" in Myanmar who are sowing hate and bigotry towards religious minorities, days before the country votes in landmark elections.
Myanmar heads to the polls next Sunday in what observers are hoping will be the fairest election for decades as the nation slowly shakes off almost a half-century of brutal military rule.
But the vote is taking place against a rising tide of anti-Muslim sentiment, spear-headed by a small but increasingly influential movement of hardline Buddhist nationalist monks.
In a statement put out by his office, Ban Ki-moon said he had "deep concern" about "the continuous resort to hate speech, the incitement of communal animosities and the abuse of religion for political purposes resorted to by extreme elements among the majority community in Myanmar".
Ban also called on voters to reject politicians who espoused discriminatory policies when they went to the ballot box.
"He urges all concerned in Myanmar to eschew any kind of pressure, intimidation, dissemination of hatred or violence against individuals or organizations based on their ethnic identity, gender, religious persuasion or political views," the statement said.
The UN chief did hit out at "vulgar remarks" directed against Yanghee Lee, the UN's special rapporteur for Myanmar. During a visit to the country in January she was rounded upon by influential firebrand monk Wirathu who described her as a "whore".
Lee has been vocal in her criticism of those who persecute and sow sectarian animosity towards Myanmar's minorities, particularly its Muslim population.
The so-called Ma Ba Tha movement and Wirathu are the best known among these groups, espousing virulently anti-Muslim sentiment.
At the core of their ideology is the belief that Myanmar's Buddhist identity is under attack from Muslims and other ethnic minorities, despite the country hosting such groups for generations.
Dozens of people, mainly Muslim, have died in religious violence over the last few years.
The USDP has aligned itself with this conservative view, agreeing to pass a series of controversial race and religion laws earlier this year."
I AM in Yangon, Myanmar! Will be here till 7 November 2015. It is distressing to see such behaviours as reported. Hopefully democracy will NOT take a back step to 'hate' politics!
Lessons for me are:
1. puzzling that Buddhist would kill since the central theme of Buddhism is: not taking of life. Any kind of life! Including that of animals or insects, etc! So, how the Buddhists in Myanmar, some of them, can possibly justified their 'hate' speeches and even 'hate' criminal actions against Muslims!;
2. some defenders of this Buddhists' behaviours may be: Buddhism is peaceful and want to live to its true teaching BUT when Buddhists are under persecution and 'suppression', they have a right to fight, and even kill, to protect its belief and self! So, when is that 'intolerable suppression' crossed?;
3. are Muslims THAT aggressive that they will 'kill' Buddhists? For no reason? Unlikely right?
Anyway, this is ONE big issue for the Myanmar people to decide. May there be peaceful campaigning AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
Be democratic. Be CIVILISED too!!
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