US Campaign for Burma Today, USCB Campaigns Director Rachel Wagley publishes a piece arguing against the use of the term communal violence to describe ongoing violence against Muslims. Calling the attacks “communal” has the power to normalize the belief that fault lies within the two communities, rather than outside of those communities. The UN and other international actors have become enthusiastic advocates for the Burmese government to help “soothe over” ethno-religious tensions, which they view to be the primary cause of the “inter-communal” violence. But the government, far from being an agent capable of soothing over ethno-religious tensions, is the key perpetrator of anti-Muslim discrimination, a tried-and-true master of ethno-religious conflict; it has successfully played this role for decades.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 01:12:04 +0000