The “Burmese Bin Laden” Spreads Hate in the New Burma

[Valin]

Via Meadia:

6/22/13

 

His sweet and innocent-looking face dominates the most recent cover of Time magazine. He calls himself the Burmese Bin Laden. He warns his fellow Burmese that crude and savage Muslims are everywhere, out to get innocent Buddhists, to rape their daughters, to slaughter them. We are being raped in every town, being sexually harassed in every town, being ganged up on and bullied in every town. His sermons are recorded on DVDs and heard by thousands across the country.

 

Ashin Wirathus hate-filled views on Muslims in part contributed to violence that has swept Burma since its political reforms released pent-up social tension. Several times over the past year sword-wielding Buddhists rampaged through Muslim neighborhoods, burning and killing. Hundreds have been killed, thousands more displaced. To this day many remain in squalid refugee camps, denied healthcare and basic rights.

 

(Snip)

 

The dark side of Burmas opening must serve as a sobering reminder to democracy activists in the west who champion Democracy! without considering the side effects. Burmas political reforms should rightly be celebrated, but mobs of killers inspired by the Burmese Bin Laden are a product of those reforms.