Burmese monks and sectarian violence

This video says about itself:

April 19, 2013

Buddhist monk uses racism and rumours to spread hatred in Burma. Thousands watch YouTube videos of 45-year-old ‘Burmese Bin Laden’ who preaches against country’s Muslim minority. His name is Wirathu, he calls himself the “Burmese Bin Laden” and he is a Buddhist monk who is stoking religious hatred across Burma.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Monks’ meet criticised over religious hate stance

Friday 14 June 2013

Buddhist monks were accused of stoking sectarian tensions in Myanmar today after hosting a meeting on preventing deadly communal conflicts.

Clashes between Buddhist nationalists and the country’s Muslim Rohingya minority have forced 140,000 people – almost all Rohingya – to flee their homes over the past year.

The monks’ assembly declared that it “sought peace” and accused the media of tarnishing its image.

But it dodged questions on whether it endorsed a proposal made by ultra-nationalist monk Wirathu that anyone who marries a Buddhist woman should be legally required to convert to Buddhism.

Conference spokesman Dhammapiya merely said: “The draft law was proposed at the wrong place and caused confusion.”

Wirathu is known for sermons inciting people against Muslims and has spoken of his admiration for British fascist outfit the EDL.

Petition against violence in Burma: here.

Related articles

• Monks’ Convention in Burma Calls for Restricting Buddhist-Muslim Marriage (irrawaddy.org)
• Burmese Migrant Community in Malaysia Simmers after Attacks (irrawaddy.org)
• 969 Monks’ Convention in Burma Calls for Restricting Buddhist-Muslim Marriage Against Human Rights (ireport.cnn.com)
• Rohingya Population Control: The Onslaught in Burma Continues (altahrir.wordpress.com)
• Why are Buddhist monks attacking Muslims? (richarddawkins.net)