Page 58 - Beautiful Rohingyas

56 Beautiful Rohingyas

the majority and thus occupy the country. The movement regards

Islam unwisely as an existential threat and calls its members to stand
up and save their religion and traditions.

Though the group denies any connection with the acts of vio-
lence against Muslims, it has clearly contributed to the conflict by
inspiring the radical Buddhists to hatred and campaigning for exclu-
sionary practices like boycotting Muslim-owned businesses. Monas-
teries associated with the movement have enrolled 60,000 Burmese
children into Sunday school programs. It would be a pity and a waste
of good human resources to see these children grow into pro-violence
radicals of the future Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

Fallacy of "Burmanization" policy

Many minorities of the country as well as impartial human rights
organizations claim that a policy of "Burmanization" is ongoing. The

The radical Buddhist monk Ashin
Wirathu, the leader of the '969
Movement' and also known as the
butcher of Muslims in Myanmar,
called for every Buddhist to boy-
cott Muslim businesses.