Violence of a new kind erupts in Myanmar

Violence in Myanmar is not unusual – it has existed since the country gained independence from Britain in 1948. But most of the conflict has been of the political kind, between state authorities and the ethnic minorities who strive for a degree of self-determination, or among the Burmans themselves over who controls the administration of the country. But the new kind of conflict that surfaced last year has an ethno-religious character, and it is a dispute between people outside the state’s authority. To be more precise, it’s a sectarian communal conflict between minority Muslims and the vast majority Buddhists, and it is centred in western Rakhine State. It has now spilled over to other areas such as Meikhtila and Bago.

Authorities in the capital Nay Pyi Taw have to take some of the blame for poor handling of the incidents, which have claimed the lives of more than 100 people since the violence broke out. However, the root causes of the conflict need to be addressed. The main factor is the negative attitude among the Buddhist majority towards their Muslim fellows. Extremist Buddhists are exploiting the greater openness and freedom brought by the government’s reforms of the last two years to launch a campaign against Muslims. 

Making up only 4 per cent of Myanmar’s 60-million population, Muslims are a tiny minority in the predominantly Buddhist country. They are mostly of Indian or Bangladeshi origin and immigrated after the end of British rule. Extreme nationalism during the rule of the military junta in the 1960s implanted a negative feeling among Buddhists towards Muslims. In many cases, Muslims were regarded as illegal aliens. The term by which they’re addressed, “kalar”, has a negative connotation, expressing their unequal status in Myanmar society.

Some Buddhists, who in their faith are supposed to exercise the utmost restraint in dealing with differences they might have with others, have never tolerated behaviour with which they disagree. The Lord Buddha taught his followers to tolerate differences, yet sometimes it has been Buddhist monks leading the anti-Muslim campaign.        

President Thein Sein is preparing to adjust his reform programme, initiating peace talks with the armed ethnic groups as well as amending the 2008 constitution to accommodate all stakeholders. The aim is to bring about national reconciliation and democracy. So this is the right time to try to expand the public space for all to express their grievances, while the people of Myanmar seek a lasting peace and reconciliation.

A state of emergency, curfew, restrictions on public gatherings and even a military presence might be necessary in the short term to contain the inter-religious violence. The country has long experience of such measures. In the long run these measures will be part of the problem, not the solution, and therefore they must not be imposed permanently. Opening minds and getting people to talk to each other should be the priority in solving this problem and bringing a lasting peace and genuine reconciliation.