Burma is a country in the middle of political transformation. Since 1962 it has been under a military dictatorship, where divide and rule policy and crackdowns on Muslim and Christian groups helped keep a lid on opposition to the regime. Now that we are seeing the painstakingly slow process of reform, the forces created by five decades of dictatorship are coming to the surface.
The latest episodes of violence, predominantly against Muslims in Arakan, has been well-documented by the media. Much of the analysis has been surprisingly nuanced and critical instead of falling back onto lazy clash of civilisations explanations common during the War on Terror.
However, Burma is not the only country in South Asia to have seen a far-right movement become a powerful national force. In India, the Hindu Nationalist movement is a national political force on the verge of regaining power. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, far-right groups claiming to draw inspiration from Buddhism have entered the national political scene. So, what are the common themes of these far-right movements?
(...)
India's ethnic and religious tensions were also shaped by British rule. From the censuses dividing communities along religious and caste lines, to the manoeuvring around partition in 1947, colonial rule still runs through Hindu-Muslim tensions. The RSS and other associated Hindu Nationalist organisations have immense power and influence, with their political wing poised to take power in the next general elections.
Sri Lanka has a similar story of British manipulation of local differences with catastrophic results for its present-day politics. Under colonialism, ethnic differences between the Sinhalese and Tamils were ruthlessly exploited to control the plantation economy. After independence, a brand of aggressive populism and nationalism became dominant, and led to the Civil War. Since the end of the Tamil Tiger rebellion, nationalist groups such as the Bodu Bala Sena (the Buddhist Brigade) have directed a campaign of rallies, boycotts, and direct action against Muslims in Sri Lanka. Full story...
Related posts:
The latest episodes of violence, predominantly against Muslims in Arakan, has been well-documented by the media. Much of the analysis has been surprisingly nuanced and critical instead of falling back onto lazy clash of civilisations explanations common during the War on Terror.
However, Burma is not the only country in South Asia to have seen a far-right movement become a powerful national force. In India, the Hindu Nationalist movement is a national political force on the verge of regaining power. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, far-right groups claiming to draw inspiration from Buddhism have entered the national political scene. So, what are the common themes of these far-right movements?
(...)
India's ethnic and religious tensions were also shaped by British rule. From the censuses dividing communities along religious and caste lines, to the manoeuvring around partition in 1947, colonial rule still runs through Hindu-Muslim tensions. The RSS and other associated Hindu Nationalist organisations have immense power and influence, with their political wing poised to take power in the next general elections.
Sri Lanka has a similar story of British manipulation of local differences with catastrophic results for its present-day politics. Under colonialism, ethnic differences between the Sinhalese and Tamils were ruthlessly exploited to control the plantation economy. After independence, a brand of aggressive populism and nationalism became dominant, and led to the Civil War. Since the end of the Tamil Tiger rebellion, nationalist groups such as the Bodu Bala Sena (the Buddhist Brigade) have directed a campaign of rallies, boycotts, and direct action against Muslims in Sri Lanka. Full story...
Related posts:
- Massacre in Myanmar ignored by everyone...
- ‘I am proud to be called a radical Buddhist’
- Myanmar monk Wirathu accused of inciting religious violence...
- Sri Lanka: what is the new halal?
- Why are Buddhist monks attacking Muslims?
- Hindu extremists in Mangalore beat up girls for partying. WTF!
- Hindu radicals ransack churches, beat up clergyman in India's Karnataka...
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