Punishment for violent offenders, but Buddhist agitators go unpunished

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) accuses the Burmese security forces and the judiciary of stirring up violence between Buddhists and Muslims by failing to adequately proceed against Buddhist agitators. "Burma punishes violent offenders, but the Buddhist extremists – who are sowing hatred – go unpunished," said the STP's expert on questions regarding Asia, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Thursday. "We are especially concerned about the hatred spread in social networks. Burma should not establish double standards, but must also proceed against Buddhist extremists – especially among the monks, who are spreading propaganda against the Muslims and are openly calling for their exclusion from society."

Last Tuesday, a court in Lashio (Shan State) sentenced a Muslim to 26 years in prison. He was found guilty of dousing a female gas station attendant in gasoline and setting her on fire following a dispute on May 28. The woman was seriously injured. The incident had caused violent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Lashio. More than 1,400 Muslims were forced to leave the city.

Before, Muslims and Buddhists had lived together in Lashio peacefully, so local observers were surprised about the sudden outbreak of violence. They agree that the violence must have been carried into the city from outside.

"Of course, it is important that the authorities bring those who are responsible to justice," said Delius. "But that alone will not be sufficient to prevent further violence between Buddhists and Muslims. The blatant propaganda of the Buddhist extremists against the Muslims must come to an end too." The Buddhists use public events and Facebook messages to discriminate the Muslim Rohingya as illegal immigrants who should be expelled – and to call for a boycott of shops that are run by Muslims. "These acts of sedition must be vigorously pursued and punished," said Delius. "At the same time, Burma's authorities must do more to promote understanding between the members of both religious communities in order to reduce the conflicts."