Current event summaries
APWH CURRENT EVENT SUMMARIES
1. Extremism Rises Among Myanmar Buddhists :
In the past year, Myanmar has faced an outbreak in hatred aimed towards the Muslim population within the country. Monks that are influential to the Buddhist-dominant country are inciting violence among all age groups within the state. A main leader in the campaign against Muslims, called 969, is an ex-prisoner of war, Ashin Wirathu, is causing ethnic and religious strife with his violence inciting sermons. Ashin, using the newly transitioning state government to his advantage, preaches extreme Buddhist orders, and is stirring up paranoia towards Muslims, but is also pulling from the already suspicious attitude toward Muslims, that has been deep-set in the predominantly Buddhist country since colonial days. Pulling from the attitude of division created by decades of iron-fisted military rule, Ashin uses this past oppression as an excuse to rally a growing collection of followers and wage attacks not only in Myanmar, but also in neighboring Bangladesh and also in India. With the stateless Muslims fleeing the country, the movement is raising alarm in countries with a largely Muslim population, but also in adjoining countries that are also Buddhist. The Dalai Lama in India is also criticizing the revolts. The Myanmar government is also not issuing any means to stop them; rather the government may have corrupt officials and may be giving aid in the movements efforts.
THEME:
The anti-Muslim movement and its outcomes fall under the history themes 2 and 3, which are Development and Interaction of Cultures and State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict. Theme 2 is apparent in the religious xenophobia which is a main factor in the battle between religions. Accompanying the religious fears, revolts and attacks against the ethnic Muslims, many of them from next-door Bangladesh, with the revolts carrying over into violence against all age groups, even children. Theme 3 can be applied in the way
1. Extremism Rises Among Myanmar Buddhists :
In the past year, Myanmar has faced an outbreak in hatred aimed towards the Muslim population within the country. Monks that are influential to the Buddhist-dominant country are inciting violence among all age groups within the state. A main leader in the campaign against Muslims, called 969, is an ex-prisoner of war, Ashin Wirathu, is causing ethnic and religious strife with his violence inciting sermons. Ashin, using the newly transitioning state government to his advantage, preaches extreme Buddhist orders, and is stirring up paranoia towards Muslims, but is also pulling from the already suspicious attitude toward Muslims, that has been deep-set in the predominantly Buddhist country since colonial days. Pulling from the attitude of division created by decades of iron-fisted military rule, Ashin uses this past oppression as an excuse to rally a growing collection of followers and wage attacks not only in Myanmar, but also in neighboring Bangladesh and also in India. With the stateless Muslims fleeing the country, the movement is raising alarm in countries with a largely Muslim population, but also in adjoining countries that are also Buddhist. The Dalai Lama in India is also criticizing the revolts. The Myanmar government is also not issuing any means to stop them; rather the government may have corrupt officials and may be giving aid in the movements efforts.
THEME:
The anti-Muslim movement and its outcomes fall under the history themes 2 and 3, which are Development and Interaction of Cultures and State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict. Theme 2 is apparent in the religious xenophobia which is a main factor in the battle between religions. Accompanying the religious fears, revolts and attacks against the ethnic Muslims, many of them from next-door Bangladesh, with the revolts carrying over into violence against all age groups, even children. Theme 3 can be applied in the way