Myanmar formerly known as Burma is located in Southeast Asia and considered
an impoverished and economically weak country, relatively unknown to the
outside world. But it recently grabbed international headlines and garnered
much notoriety due to the vile inhumane treatment of its Muslim population at
the hands of its Military Junta and Buddhist followers.
Myanmar has a population of around 64 million people with 79% adhering to
Buddhism, 4% Christianity, 5% Islam and 2% to Hinduism. The junta deems all
the minorities as its own citizens and gives them their due rights except for
the Muslims who are considered outcasts.
The Muslims of Myanmar have not only been deprived of their basic human
rights, religious rights and partaking in the country's electoral process but
have also faced systematic killings, genocide and eviction at the hands of
Buddhists under the protection of government mandate.
The general elections which took place last week in this country raised hopes
for an elected government after half a century military rule however the
Muslims were once again denied participation rather the mantra of most of the
candidates was that if they are to be elected leaders, they will treat the
Muslims even worse than what they had previously faced.
Now that the junta's most ardent opposition party (National League for
Democracy) headed by the 70 year old female Aung San Suu Kyi (who won the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1991) has won most of the Parliament seats and seems
likely that the upcoming government will be formed by them, they have yet to
declare a policy regarding the Muslims which might be drastically different
or be able to treat the wounds of this oppressed, deprived community.
The verdict of the west and America concerning the elections in Myanmar was
also two-faced and unjust. Why? Because the right which they have bestowed
upon themselves to interfere in other countries and a major reason behind
considering elections as illegitimate is when minorities are deprived from
participation. However the tongues of the self-proclaimed torch bearers of
human rights have become paralyzed when it comes to the Muslims of Myanmar
and they have even failed to show their distress for the Muslims who have
been deprived from their so-called 'democratic rights'!!! …..
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