Abstract
The general impression of Myanmar monks is that they do not participate
in politics. However, even under the military regime which has suppressed
political activities by force, Buddhist monk activists have existed.
Wirathu, a Buddhist monk activist, launched an anti-Islam campaign called
969 through anti-Islam hate speech and the distribution of propaganda leaflets
to citizens by establishing a hard-line group for Protection of Race and Religion
(MaBaTha).
The author sets up a hypothesis that the islamophobia held by successive
presidents and racist monks has been a primary factor of ethno-religious
conflict between Myanmar-muslims including the Rohingyas and ethnic
Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon and Myanmar Buddhists.
For a better understanding of the features of MaBaTha that have been
rumored to incite racially and religiously triggered violence, the author
questioned the legitimacy of the emblem of the 969 campaign and that of
establishment of a religious group.
The results show that the emblem of the 969 campaign is not officially
approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and that Wirathu was ordered
not to establish a religious association by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka
Committee which is a government-appointed body that oversees Buddhist monkhood.
Despite that, why could Wirathu continue the 969 campaign? The author
suggests the reason is that islamophobic President Thein Sein afforded Wirathu
and MaBaTha special benefit in every way, which enabled him to openly
participate in politics.
The study concludes Myanmar people’s innermost fear of Islam has been
the primary factor of conflicts between Myanmar-muslims and ethnic Rakhine
(Arakanese), Mon and Myanmar Buddhists.
