Alarming at Critical Point: Anti-Muslim Riot in Meikhtila and the Possibility of Third Rohingya Massacre

M.S. Anwar 

RB Analysis 

March 21, 2013 

You have recently been alerted about the systematic approaches and plans of Rakhine Extremists and their leaders to massacre Rohingyas twice more in 4th week of March and 2nd week of April respectively. Government has been being providing trainings to Rakhines on how to use guns and swords. Rakhine extremists have been being distributing anti-Muslim leaflets among Rakhine community all over Arakan. Yet, until yesterday, we hadn’t had any clue on how Burmese (including Rakhine) extremists would initiate or trigger anti-Muslim violence. 

Yesterday morning, a Burmese couple, in order to sell their FAKE Gold, came to a Muslim’s jewelry shop in Meikhtila Township, Mandalay Division. When the Muslim shop owner refused to buy the fake gold, a brawl took place and reportedly the fake gold seller (the husband) got injured. They went back to their village and came up with his co-villagers to attack Muslims in the township. According to some people, the fake gold seller was a spy of Burmese military who had been trying to incite the violence for weeks. 

In the attack, yesterday, eight Mosques were burnt down, 3 Muslims were killed and 15 Muslims got injured. A few Muslim houses were also razed. The names of the Mosques burnt down were: 

(1) Mingala-Zayune Masjid and Madrasa (Religious School) 

(2) Myo Oo Masjid 

(3) Pakistan Masjid 

(4) Hman-Lun Masjid 

(5) Jameh Masjid at the west from the Market 

(6) Peace Masjid 

(7) North Pye-Thaya Masjid 

(8) Thiri Mingala Masjid 

The Imam (teacher) of the Myo Oo Masjid was among the killed Muslims. Meanwhile, a Monk, as he was trying to set fire, died getting blocked in a burning Masjid. (Fig. Ref: Kay Te Zat O) 

According to the latest reports, at 11AM today, 28 Hafiz (students of Learning Quran by-heart) including Hafiz Student Mohammed Ihtishaam S/o Hazrat Maulana Hafiz Nurul Haque and 4 more Imams (the teacher of the Mosques and Madrasa) were also killed by the barbaric Burmese extremists. Blazing of Muslims’ houses is still going on and Muslims are running for their lives. The names of the martyred imams are: 

(1) Maulana Mohammed Shafie (Around 45) 

(2) Maulana Zakaria (Around 40) 

(3) Mufti Wajib (Around 30) 

(4) Unidentified yet. 

Amidst the declaration of Martial Law under section 144, the Burmese hooligans are set free to torch Muslims’ houses. Rather, Security Forces were seen talking in friendly terms with the hooligans. Therefore, there is no doubt that Security Forces itself involve in it and it is, in most cases, similar to the anti-Rohingya violence in Arakan. And it might be called the beginning of the new era of anti-Muslim violence all over Myanmar backed by the central government. As usual, Burmese domestic media especially Eleven Media Group dominated by Rakhine racists took up the role of spreading wrong propaganda and fooling the innocent Burmese people in order to persuade them to involve in the violence. 

At a time when people are showing their sympathy to the victimized farmers in La-Pan-Taung, Sagaing Division and their attentions are given towards the victims, triggering an anti-Muslim violence is the perfect way to divert the attention of the people and continue the Copper Project. Besides, it is a chance for the pseudo-civilian government led by Thein Sein to gain public supports and for NLD to take them back to the earlier position. And for the military, they can coup power and crawl back to the dictatorship. Last but not the least, it is the opportunity that the leaders of Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) have been seeking to massacre and cleanse Rohingyas with the support of and in solidarity with all Burmese.