(Reuters) – Religious extremism could derail Myanmar’s much-vaunted reform process, the Buddhist-majority country’s first Catholic cardinal, Charles Maung Bo, said on Tuesday.
Bo, who was named a cardinal by Pope Francis on Jan. 4, warned that Buddhist nationalism directed against minority Muslims could drive the latter to connect with international extremist groups that would “retaliate”.
“So far they have been more on the quiet side, but if they come with the force of an international community of Muslims, then violence, terrorism, suicide bombers and all these things could happen,” Bo told Reuters in an interview at the red-brick cathedral in downtown Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.
Bo called for mutual understanding and urged the government to do more to curb hate speech by radical monks.
Myanmar emerged in 2011 from half a century of military rule, and the semi-civilian government has lifted curbs on freedoms of speech, association and media.
But the reforms have been accompanied by a rise in Buddhist nationalism, with monks forming groups aimed at promoting the country’s Buddhist character.
Categories: Anti-Islam Attitude, Anti-Islam Campaign, Asia, Behaviour, Burma, Double Standard