9 November 2003

Religious Riots: The emerging crisis

Background

Burma is a country with a population of 50 million which is diverse in terms of ethnicity and religion. According to government statistics, almost 90% of the population practice Buddhism, 4% Christianity, and 4% Islam. The remaining 2% are Hindus and practitioners of traditional Chinese and indigenous religions.

There is some correlation between ethnicity and religion. Theravada Buddhism is dominant among majority ethnic Burman, Shan, Mon, Arakanese, and Karen. Christianity is the dominant religion among the Kachin ethnic group of the Northern region, Chin and Naga ethnic groups of the Western region (some of whom also practice traditional indigenous religion) and Karenni ethnic groups in the Southern and eastern regions. Hinduism is practiced mainly by Indians, mostly Tamils, Bengalis, who are concentrated in major cities in the Southern Central region. Islam is widely practiced in the northwestern part of Arakan State where it is the dominant religion of the Rohingya community.

Traditionally, adherents of various religions co-exist peacefully and religious riots were rare occurrences before 1988. However, outbreaks of Muslim-Buddhist riots are more frequent now and have become indicants of the explosive politico-economic situation and the permeating anti-government sentiment throughout the society.

Military Instigated?

Most of the people inside Burma believe that these riots are instigated by the military intelligence, sometimes in the pretense of Buddhist monks, with the aim to divert the outburst of the people against the government and create chaos to justify the heavy-handed enforcement of law and order by the military. For instance, in a Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) radio interview about the Meiktila religious riot on 5 November, a recorded voice of an eyewitness said, "some of the so-called monks, wearing trousers underneath the robes, were covering their bald heads with the robes. I heard later that they destroyed the Zeenat Guest House.." It is little wonder why the terms "Ga-done Sein" (newly shaved heads) or "Thingan wut" (people wearing yellow robes) are commonly used among the people to describe those who are pretending to be monks and leading the riots.

The Spark from Kyaukse

Against the background of rising political discontent in the aftermath of Tabayin (Depayin) massacre and economic deterioration caused by the bank crisis, this religious explosion erupted. This time, Buddhist-Muslim riots started from Kyaukse, Mandalay Division, the birthplace of Senior General Than Shwe, on 19 October. Even though the exact cause of these riots is still difficult to ascertain, sources in the country indicated that at least 11 people died and 14 were severely wounded in the clashes. About 200 people including monks and Muslims said to be involved in the riots were detained in Kyaukse Jail. Two mosques, two big stores, 26 houses, and some vehicles were destroyed during the riots.

The effects of religious riots in Kyaukse have been felt in Mandalay and security forces were deployed in the vicinity of mosques. Rumors spread throughout the country that the riots broke out because women “Batik” sarongs imprinted with sacred Buddhist “Pahtan” circle symbols were worn by some Muslim women and this provoked the anger of monks.

Monks Protest

Realizing the increased tension in Mandalay, one well known senior monk called Reverend Werathu from New Masoyein Monastery warned the people not to get involved in these riots. He explained that those sarongs with "Pahtan" circle symbols were not the handiworks of Burmese opposition at the Thai-Burma border, but the machination of the regime itself. He was warned by the Commander of Central Military Command, Gen. Ye Myint, to desist but he refused. As a result of his refusal, he was arrested on 25 October.

The arrest of Reverend Werathu and the spread of Buddhist-Muslim riots instigated by military intelligence, provoked anger among young monks studying Buddhist scriptures at Masoyein Monastery. About 900 young monks staged a demonstration on the streets on the evening of 27 October. It was violently crushed by Riot Police Regiments 14 and 16 and an infantry battalion with tear gas and guns.

Monk Casualties

U Tayzawbartha (Natmauk Township), U Nansasara (Sinbaungwe), U Kaylartha (Inthapyu) and U Wannathiri (Taungthaman Monastery) were severely wounded. U Tayzawbartha passed away on October 28. About 20 Buddhist monks were arrested for their involvement in that demonstration.

After this violent attack, riot police and soldiers surrounded the New Masoyein Monastery and ordered 3,000 young monks to leave the monastery. Finally, senior monks administering that monastery decided to suspend teaching and the young monks left for their native towns. Curfew was imposed in Mandalay around the monasteries.

A senior monk from New Masoyein Monastery told DVB in an interview that “the authorities are partly to be blamed in this incident and accused them of splitting and exploiting the monks.” He also warned that “all lay people and monks should know the political trickeries of the government so that they could give the right reaction when exploited.”

Meanwhile, anti-Muslim attacks have spread to Rangoon and southern Burma. On 25 and 26 October, stores and restaurants owned by Muslims in Thingangyun Township, Rangoon Division, were attacked by an unidentified mob of monks and people. The owners were beaten up and properties were destroyed. Threatening letters were also sent to the homes of Muslims in Moulmein, Mon State, and their homes were stoned.

Riots Spread to Rangoon, South

Confrontation between monks and Burmese Army has been spreading to other places. On 29 October, a military convoy led by a Tactical Commander was attacked with stones in front of Koe-dat-kyi Pagoda Compound in Sanchaung, Rangoon. Within a few hours, riot police and soldiers arrived and surrounded the compound. The chairman of the Township Peace and Development Council and Military Intelligence agents went into the compound and arrested three monks [U Zawana, U Nandia, and another unidentified monk] from Nay Nat Tha Teaching Monastery. It was known that these monks had come from Mandalay recently.

There was also a violent clash between local authorities and monks at Taikkon Pali University, Kayan Township, Rangoon Division, on October 31. After that the army raided the monastery and arrested 20 monks.

Curfew for Monks

On 27 October, state sponsored “Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee” (State Clergy Coordination Committee) issued an order to all monasteries which restricts sanghas from leaving monasteries between 1900 and 0400. At the same time, Ministry for Religious Affairs ordered all monasteries to suspend teaching and ask young monks to return to respective townships. In protest against these orders, monks at Ywama Pariyati Teaching Monastery in Insein staged a demonstration on 2 November.

Refusing Offer of Food

Since historical times, Burmese monks are known for their display of strong political will. They once refused to accept food or give merit to an evil king. The very words, "Thabeik Hmauk", literally translated means turning a monk's food bowl face down or refusing to accept food. Those same words translate into "strike" in modern day Burmese language.

In a similar vein, 500 monks studying at Naungdon Teaching Monastery expressed their defiance by refusing to accept offers of goods and food by the Military Intelligence at a Kathina religious ceremony on 2 November. The same thing happened on 4 November at Maha Ghandayon Teaching Monastery and 10 monks were arrested.

Rohingyas Flee

Meanwhile, a recent report in Bangladesh's Daily Star said "about 50,000 Rohingyas from Arakan are camping across the Naf river for the last couple of days with intent to cross into Bangladesh to escape communal riots, and the Bangladesh Border Security troops are on red alert and also closing the border."
Coxsbazar Deputy Commissioner Saifuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star by phone that the border was sealed to roll back any influx of Rohingyas from crossing the river which serves as the boundary between the two neighboring countries.

Military Reaction

The first reaction from the generals is to blame the National League for Democracy (NLD) for the religious riots despite the fact that all top NLD leaders are currently being detained and NLD Offices have all been closed down. In an interview, Dr Thein Lwin, chairman of Meiktila Township NLD and an elected representative from Meiktila Township Constituency-2, told DVB that "local authorities came to the monasteries and held discussions with the abbots supplicating them to control the monks and novices. They alleged that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the NLD, was instigating the religious unrest."

On a more practical note, all top generals in the State Peace and Development Council, from Senior General Than Shwe down, have for some time been hectically visiting different monasteries all over the country, offering robes, necessities, and donations at Kathina religious ceremonies. News of these generals visiting the monasteries is widely being covered in the state-run television, radio, and newspapers.

It seems that at this stage, nirvana or good karma does not seem to be what the generals are hoping to achieve from these visits.

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Published and Distributed by the
National Council of the Union of Burma
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma