Myanmar leader seeks to capitalize on anti-Muslim sentiment

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Myanmar leader seeks to capitalize on anti-Muslim sentiment

ROBIN McDOWELL, Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — With an eye on upcoming elections, Myanmar's president has ticked off a list of accomplishments under his administration — noting with apparent pride a number of anti-Muslim policies he hopes will help him win another five-year term.

In a video message posted on Facebook this week, Thein Sein said he repeatedly, and firmly, told the international community there were no Rohingya Muslims in the predominantly Buddhist nation.

He said a string of controversial laws on race and religion were passed under his watch and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — which represents more than a billion Muslims across the globe — tried unsuccessfully to open an office in western Rakhine state.

The president's comments came as the U.S., Britain and other governments expressed concern about rising religious tensions ahead of the Nov. 8 general election in the country also known as Burma that many hope will be relatively free and fair following decades of military rule.

The countries issued a statement this week saying they were "concerned about the prospect of religion being used as a tool of division and conflict during the campaign season."

In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. was aware of reports that almost all Muslim candidates have been disqualified, including some current members of parliament. He said disqualifications through an opaque and discriminatory process, "risks undermining the confidence of the Burmese people and the international community in these elections."

Myanmar has seen a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric since Thein Sein's nominally civilian government came to power in 2011, including attacks on Rohingya that left up to 280 people dead and sent another quarter million fleeing their homes. Half are now living under apartheid-like conditions in camps, where they have limited access to medical care and education. Others took to the sea, sparking Asia's own migrant boat crisis.

Though many Rohingya arrived in Myanmar generations ago, the government says all 1.3 million are migrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

Adding to their disenfranchisement, the Rohingya for the first time will not be allowed to vote.

Thein Sein, a former army general, has expressed on-and-off again interest in running for another five-year term.

His video message appeared to be aimed at a domestic audience.

He said the country was now being visited by President Barack Obama and other powerful leaders after years of isolation and sanctions. He noted there has been an increase in foreign investment and that people now have access to mobile phones.

He also cited his handling of the Rohingya.

"There are no Rohingya in this country," Thein Sein said in the video message. "We clearly and strongly announced this to the international community."

"We did not allow the OIC to set up an office in our country," he continued. "And our country successfully passed four laws protecting race and religion."

Critics say the laws regulating religious conversion, interfaith marriage, population control and monogamy could further entrench discrimination against women and religious minorities.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015.09.18

[Rimbuman]

Excellent, if Thailand ever screws up on those so called refugee issues I don't have to go so far to move :-D

[razer]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

[Berkshire]

Excellent, if Thailand ever screws up on those so called refugee issues I don't have to go so far to move :-D

So you support the anti-Muslim sentiment? Maybe radical Islam will choose Myanmar over Thailand when seeking retribution.

[simple1]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

7 million+ Thai Muslims, Sharia Civil Law in some provinces since 1948, freedom to practice the Islamic faith in the Thai Constitution, Thai government assists with funding to build & maintain mosques, three mosques in Ratchatwei and so on. More info on the status of Thai Muslims at the URL kink below.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/riyadh/en/organize/29025-Muslim-in-Thailand.html

Time to reconsider your location?

[Nick167]

I keep on repeating and repeating....the world needs to wake up to the threats of Islam and Muslims. Do not pity muslim refugees...let them perish or lese they will rise in the same nations that provoded them refugee and slaughter non-muslims in the name of Islam. The world needs to eradicate these terrorists once and for all.

[farangmick]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

Yes. I moved from my hometown in Northern England. Changed buses at Saraburi on my first trip upcountry. Only white face there. Just like Bradford, except that the people were friendly and the language melodic.

[farangmick]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

Yes. I moved from my hometown in Northern England. Changed buses at Saraburi on my first trip upcountry. Only white face there. Just like Bradford, except that the people were friendly and the language melodic.

[razer]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

Somebody is reading ThaiVisa because the obnoxiously loud calls to pray has toned way down. Being part of a society is respecting other people in society.

[razer]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

Somebody is reading ThaiVisa because the obnoxiously loud calls to pray has toned way down. Being part of a society is respecting other people in society.

Spoke too soon. No respect from the Muslim community. I guess in Islam respect is a monopoly for Muslims only.

[simple1]

Maybe I am old and paranoid now. I lived and worked in Islamic countries many years and never had concerns over Islam until recently. I have been living in Ratchatwei awhile now and it never was a Muslim area but recently I see more and more moving in and the relatively new mosque was modest and respectful about broadcasting calls to prayer 7 times a day ... until Ramadan. Now the mosque's loud speakers are blasting away 7 times a day and can be heard all over the Rathetewi area loud and clear. So I'm thinking about the so called Islamization of other countries. Here they build a mosque ... attract Muslims ... establish a Muslim community and then it's like they don't give a damn about or respect the non Muslim community's feelings about the loud speakers and calls to prayer. Is this happening elsewhere?

Somebody is reading ThaiVisa because the obnoxiously loud calls to pray has toned way down. Being part of a society is respecting other people in society.

Spoke too soon. No respect from the Muslim community. I guess in Islam respect is a monopoly for Muslims only.

Guess your lucky not to have a local karaoke bar set up - very much doubt the owners would have any respect for you. What about the regular complaints about noise from Wats, Amphur loud speakers etc etc etc on TV; ain't solely Thai Muslims. Try having a polite chat with the Imam, (with some local Thais) might listen to your & others complaint to lower the volume - worth a try.