February 27 - March 5, 2015

Weekly Media Monitoring report for Burma

Posted on March 5, 2015

Compiled by Kate McFarland

Burma Times, February 28: “Chief Minister addresses Rohingyas in Akyab”

The Chief Minister for Rakhine state, Major General Maung Maung Ohn, held a meeting in Akyab on Tuesday, according to a Burma Times correspondent.
During the meeting, the chief minister said that the local Rohingyas were influenced by the propaganda of those living abroad. This propaganda was inciting them to violence against Buddhists, he said. “As long as that continues, you will find no peace in this country,” he said.
Ohn said that the food shortages, the lack of medical care and restriction movements will continue as long as the locals listened to the propaganda from abroad.
During the speech, a Rohingya man asked the chief minster if they would be allowed to identify as Rohingyas. The chief minister jokingly said that he would be hanged by the people if he gave that permission.

Burma Times, February 28: “BGP arrest man for spreading information to media”

BGP personnel arrested a Rohingya man for giving information to Rohingya media based abroad, according to our local correspondent.
The man was caught “passing fake information” to media in Bangladesh. He was beaten and released the next morning.

Foreign Policy (blog), February 27: “Burma’s favourite scapegoat”

Analytical piece discussing how both the Burmese government and opposition consider attacking the Rohingyas to be a surefire route to electoral success.
Explores the history of Rohingya political rights, and the government’s self-interested policies toward them. Cites the recent white card conflict as an example.
Argues that a tide of Buddhist nationalism has made it more politically profitable to vilify the Rohingya.

Asian Correspondent, Washington Post: “Burma journalist arrested for satirical post”

Police in Burma have arrested a photojournalist who posted a satirical message on Facebook that mocked a historic battle and the country’s leader.
The journalist was detained on a charge of violating the 1950 Emergency Provision Act. If found guilty, he could face a maximum seven years in prison.
His post satirized the 1971 battle between government troops and communist fighters and wrote that it was directed by President Thein Sein.

Mizzima, March 2: “White card holders say they want alternative ID cards”

Temporary ID card or white card holders in Rakhine State say they will hand over their cards to the relevant authorities only if they get a similar ID card to take the place of the white cards.
Officials say there is no plan to take punitive action against white card holders who do not hand over their cards to the authorities in March.

Democratic Voice of Burma, March 3: “Race Protection Law ‘a distraction’ to real issues: ICJ”

The four bills forming the “Race Protection” package are a distraction from Burma’s real political and economic challenges, and should never have reached parliament, says Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
The four bills –the Religious Conversion Bill, Monogamy Bill, Population Control Healthcare Bill, and Buddhist Women’s Marriage Bill – were drawn up on President Thein Sein’s urging
To many observers, the Race Protection package is an attempt to exert control over the Muslim community in Burma.
Many in Buddhist-majority Burma claim that the laws are necessary to prevent further racial and religious violence in the country.

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