The other, invisible suffering of Burma « Islam, Muslims, and an Anthropologist
In the recent rush to support the monk-led uprising against the military junta in Burma, the situation of the long-suffering Muslim minority, particularly in the state bordering Bangladesh where they make up 50% of the population but do not enjoy the rights other Burmese citizens enjoy. The country's monks have also played a role in the Muslims' suffering, for example attacking mosques on the basis of rumours of Muslims raping Buddhist girls; there have also been pamphlets circulated "glorifying race purity and Buddhism and actually reinforcing anti-Muslim sentiments".
The Burmese military dictatorship are every bit as Buddhist as the monks.
Buddhist monks and their lackeys have been terrorizing both Muslim and Hindu populations in my father's home country of Sri Lanka for decades now, so it's hardly a suprise to me. I watched a documentary on Al Jazeera where a Sri Lankan monk was asked if his stance was a bit contradictory to his philosophy of non-violence. He said no you have to light a smaller fire to prevent a bigger fire destroying the forest. Unshakeable logic that.