Old guard attempt to restore dictatorship via new media

The article angered British authorities who were in charge of Rangoon University (now known as Yangon University). Aung San was expelled from the university, as he was seen as responsible for the article. It was in fact written by a student named Nyo Mya under the pseudonym “Yama Min” (“King of Hell”). The article sparked a nationwide students’ movement against the British. 

Today, it’s time yet again to expose the truth and exercise justice. A person, or a certain group of people, is committing to devastating actions to put Myanmar on the brink of bloodshed. They are filled with the spirit of reviving dictatorship. Their tactics run parallel to those undertaken by the previous military junta. They can be likened to a modern-day hell-hound at large.

Taking advantage of today’s speedy Internet communications, those keen to revive the authoritarian system have changed their propaganda strategy. They focus their energy and passion on Facebook and social network pages. They have made great strides in their efforts. They have successfully incited members of public using government propaganda mechanisms. 

I was questioned by a commission formed by parliament in an official investigation into an infalammatory article on the Internet by an anonymous writer called “Dr Seik Phwar”. I told the commission that I had known about this for quite a while. I told them that Dr Seik Phwar could be more than just one person. There could be a very well-run organisation behind it.

It was a surprise to me that members of the commission already know who Dr Seik Phwar, or the leader of such an organisation, is. According to the information I had gathered, I told the commission I knew who Dr Seik Phwar was. A commission member who used to work with him in the same department agreed with the information I had.

Additionally, parliament had already found out the Internet address Dr Seik Phwar used. The Seik Phwar investigation did not affect freedom of writing, obviously, but was undertaken to find out who was behind “Dr Seik Phwar” or the organisation.

Seik Phwar seemed to think that parliament would never find out who he was and would not make the revalation even if it did know. A previous Facebook account named “Sitt Aung” disappeared before Seik Phwar appeared in its place. The new posts were no longer the “Voice of Myanmar” blog under the name of Dr Seik Phwar. A new name surfaced. It was registered as “Hludu Maung Karlu” on Facebook. I will tell you why I can say this:

Writers cannot change their writing style completely. Whatever names they change to, they cannot alter their original styles completely. Every writer knows it. Under close scrutiny, it can be proven that Hludu Maung Karlu’s writing style is the same as that of Sitt Aung’s and Seik Phwar’s.

Seik Phwar and Hludu Maung Karlu attacked those who wanted “genuine democracy”, and honoured the military and “their” people.

Propagandists wanting to revitalise dictatorship tried to strengthen their membership at first on social websites. Furthermore, they allowed everyone to make comments on their comments. They also made their members “liked” or supported their writing on the sites. In this way they tried to spread their propaganda.

Hludu Maung Karlu is well known among social networking website users in Myanmar. He attacks politicians and journalists who have won public support, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Now, his target is to incite religious riots. In a conflict that took place at a mosque in Tharkayta township, his incitement and that of his accomplices played a significant role.

He continuously stirred up religious hatred before the Meikhtila riots in central Myanmar. His Facebook page is filled with posts provoking hatred against Muslims. Worse are his attacks against the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), which is expected to win the 2015 election. He even accused the NLD of being a Muslim party.

The state-owned media use the derogatory word “Muslim Kalar” but have not yet made any explanation about it. Such usage would be possible in the state newspapers unless with permission from a very senior official. No investigation was made as to who was behind the use of the term, or who ordered it.

Dr Seik Phwar is a senior official of the Information Ministry, his colleague – who is a parliamentarian – admitted officially to the probe commission. Maung Karlu also has instant access to that news which is out of reach of the general public. He can post such news on his social network pages in real time. It raises a host of suspicions. It is an odd coincidence that those making incitements on Facebook have similarly been named as the propagandists in the state-owned newspapers of the previous military regime.

Now the investigation commission has found out the identity of Dr Seik Phwar, we are watching whether he and his accomplice manipulators will be charged by parliament or the government.

Likewise, Hludu Maung Karlu and his group, which have links to Seik Phwar, need to be identified and action taken. Only then can the public see justice being exercised for the Muslim people living in Myanmar to alleviate their sufferings.

If parliament and the government fail to take action against these perpetrators, people who want the truth will reveal this to the international community. They will report the incidents to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other UN organisations. Hludu Maung Karlu should know that the ICC won’t hesitate to uncover the IP of Facebook users and the email addresss.

In fact, U Wirathu and Buddhist monks are not the main culprits in religious incitements. Dr Seik Phwar, Hludu Maung Karlu and their accomplices must be held accountable for their destructive acts. They need to be exposed. Otherwise, Myanmar will plunge into a religious crisis before 2015 and the country could face a bloodbath.

Parliament and the government are fully responsible for making known the modern-day “hell-hound”. For me, I am prepared to be questioned either at the investigation commission or at the ICC.