Burma
03/05/2013 / BURMA
‘969’: The three digits that are terrifying Muslims in Burma
Brightly-coloured posters and stickers bearing the number "969" are popping up in cities all over Burma. These look innocuous enough at first glance. However, “969” actually denotes an anti-Islam campaign led by hardliner Buddhist monks. Burmese Muslims say it has stirred up hatred and paranoia, resulting in a string of bloody anti-Muslim riots across the country over the past weeks. Read more…
24/04/2013 / BURMA
Muslim Burmese refugees stay shut up in camps, fearing more violence
One month after the attacks that targeted its Muslim community, life in the central Burmese city of Meikhtila is still a long way from getting back to normal. Meikhtila’s police presence has been strengthened, and nearly half of the city’s 30,000 Muslim residents are now living in heavily-guarded refugee camps that they don’t dare venture out of. Read more…
Contributors
02/04/2013 / BURMA
Burmese Muslims sceptical of ‘accidental’ deadly Islamic school fire
At least thirteen children were killed early Tuesday in a blaze at an Islamic boarding school in Rangoon, Burma’s biggest city. Police immediately blamed the fire on an electrical failure, but according to reports, hundreds of local Muslims who gathered near the scene expressed suspicion that this could have been done intentionally. Read more...
Contributors
21/03/2013 / BURMA
Buddhist-Muslim violence continues for third day in Burma
Photos and videos from the central Burmese town of Meikhtila show rioting and attacks against Muslim-owned businesses, in the country’s worst communal violence since last year's clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in the eastern part of the country. The ongoing unrest has has displaced thousands and left at least 20 people dead, according to a member of parliament from Meikhtila District. Read more…
Contributors
26/02/2013 / BURMA
Angry Burmese citizens shame bad drivers by posting photos online
Heavy traffic has become quite a headache in Burma’s biggest city, Rangoon. Some of its residents find this problem is made worse by bad drivers, who they’ve decided to shame by posting photos of traffic violations online for all to see. Read more…
Contributors
04/02/2013 / BURMA
07/11/2012 / WORLD
From Iran to DR Congo, our Observers share reactions to Obama’s win
As soon as Barack Obama’s re-election was announced, Internet users from around the world went online to react to the news. Our Observers sent us some of the most interesting comments they spotted, giving us an idea of how Obama’s win is viewed outside of the United States. Some are enthusiastic, others blasé, and yet others downright funny. Read more…
Contributors
29/10/2012 / BURMA
“They killed my wife and burned down my house” says Burmese Muslim
The latest wave of ethnic violence between Muslims and Buddhists in western Burma has left at least 67 dead, and forced more than 22,000 people to flee their homes. Among those displaced is our Observer, who now lives in a refugee camp. He told us how he very narrowly escaped an attack on his town, during which his wife was killed. Read more...
Contributors
15/10/2012 / BURMA
Following monks’ protest, Islamic body blocked from setting up office in Burma
Burma’s government has blocked a global Islamic body from opening an office in the country, bowing to pressure from protests led by Buddhist monks. One of our Observers, a Burmese Muslim, shares his disappointment. Read more...
Contributors
20/09/2012 / BURMA
Video showing rampant Burmese police corruption leaked online
An amateur video has emerged showing traffic police in Rangoon, Burma’s largest city, flagging down buses on a busy street and pocketing bribe after bribe. Our Observersays this form of corruption is common – but that only now, as the government loosens its tight grip on Burmese society, are citizens daring to do anything about it. Read more...
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