Monks to rally outside Time's NY office
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Recent protests against Time magazine's July 1 cover story culminated in a rally by 1,000 Buddhist monks and Myanmar citizens near the Sule Pagoda in Yangon on Sunday.
The protest was the largest yet against Time’s “The Face of Buddhist Terror” article, written by Hannah Beech.
The article focused on the activities of extremist monk Wirathu and his 969 movement, claiming he had stoked tension against Myanmar’s Muslim minority that led to deadly riots which have driven an estimated 150,000 people out of their homes.
Protesters also expressed strong support for President Thein Sein’s condemnation of the story as inflammatory of religious tension.
Myanmar Buddhist monks and supporters would travel to Time magazine’s New York headquarters on July 5 to protest the story’s linkage of Buddhism and terrorism, said monk U Parmaukkha.
“What we work to do is to safeguard our religion and nationality. Time and its writer went against journalistic codes of conduct. We will step up moves to protect religion and nationality,” said legal adviser Aye Paing of the Theravada Buddhism Dhamma Network.
Activist Aung Myaing of the Theravada Buddhism Dhamma Network said: “The Myanmar government should sue Time magazine. Buddhism has peace and equanimity as its guiding principle. Various organisations in Myanmar have strongly opposed the accusation issued in Time magazine.”
