There are two salient narratives driving anti-Rohingya/anti-Muslim sentiments. Share of children in total population in Myanmar from 2013 to 2022. A few Buddhist monastics have even taken prominent roles in quelling the violence, trying to calm crowds on the ground during riots, or even sheltering their Muslim neighbors. [8] Michael Tanchum, The Buddhist-Muslim Violence in Myanmar: A Threat to Southeast Asia, The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, BESA Center Perspectives Paper, No. Points are best estimates, but should not be taken as exact. note: religion estimate is based on the 2014 Web Myanmar Inflation Rate - values historical data and charts - was last updated on April of 2023. Myanmar has a population of approximately 55.4 million in 2023. Settlement in the Sittang delta, the . Ethnic minoritiessuch as the Chin, Kachin, Karin, and The essays in this series tackle these and other salient questions pertaining to sectarianism in the MENA and Asia Pacific regions. endstream endobj 40 0 obj <> endobj 41 0 obj <>stream Myanmar (Burma) is a majorly a Buddhist majority country with a significant minority population residing in the country.(Section 361) of the Constitution states that "The Union recognizes special position of ```Buddhism``` as the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the Union." According to both the 2016 census of the Burmese government Buddhism is the dominant religion, of Pin Pa Patrimonios Accusations. Click the image in the popup window for a people group profile. [13] Zarni Mann, Islamic Extremists Want My Downfall, Thats Why They Put Me On The Cover, The Irrawaddy (June 24, 2013). All rights reserved. Denise Cush, Catherine Robinson and Michael York (New York: Routledge, 2008), pp. WebThe majority of Myanmars population is rural, with the density of settlement in each region related to agricultural production, particularly of rice. 0000029681 00000 n Web The difference is that Myanmar or Burma as it was known Rohingya couples in the Rakhine State townships of Maungdaw ad Buthidaung can legally have only two children, in what the state government says is an effort to reduce overpopulation and inter-communal tensions.[16] While this policy is not officially sanctioned by the government, it has received tacit approval. Interestingly enough, "The two words mean the same thing and one is derived from the other. Ongoing repression of Rohingya is driven by Burman Buddhist fear of Islamic encroachment into Myanmar, as well as an ongoing belief that the Rohingya could potentially threaten Burmese sovereignty by further segregating Rakhine State. Joshua Project may be able to provide more information than what is published on this site. 0000012125 00000 n However, the BBC reports that not all countries give legitimacy to the change due to the fact that the change was brought by the unelected military regime. [23] See Kyaw San Wai, Western Myanmar Unrest: Partisan Portrayals Risk Extremist Implications, RSIS Commentaries 131/2012, http://dr.ntu.edu.sg/bitstream/handle/10220/8784/RSIS1312012.pdf?sequen. This is especially the case for the Muslim Rohingya ethnic group who have been living for generations on the northwestern facade of Myanmar in Rakhine State. However, the role of Buddhism in this conflict is clearly no less complex. [15] Jane Perlez, Rise in Bigotry Fuels Massacre Inside Myanmar, International New York Times (March 1, 2014). World Population Prospects (2022 Revision). %%EOF [24] Human Rights Watch, All You Can Do is Pray: Crimes Against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Burmas Arakan State (2013), http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/burma0413webwcover_0.pdf. Christianity is the second largestreligion in Myanmar, making up around 8% of the population. [17] Myanmar Considers Law Restricting Inter-Faith Marriage, Australia Network News (March 1, 2014), http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-01/an-myanmar-considers-law-restricting-interfaith-marriage/5292534; and Tin Maung Maung Than, Myanmar in 2013: At the Halfway Mark, Asian Survey, Vol. Myanmar is the most religious Buddhist country with regard to the percentage of the population living as monks and the amount of money spent on religion. The vast majority of people, 89%, profess Buddhism. The most popular form of Buddhism in Myanmar is Theravada Buddhism, mixed with superstitions such as astrology, fortune-telling, and worship While the rise of 969 and Burman-Buddhist nationalism sparked the beginning of the recent inter-religious clashes, the violence has been prolonged by an enabling environment. hVmo6+p&(8qzX ? RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE, Harvard Divinity School14 DivinityAvenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. my.hds |Harvard Divinity School |Harvard University |Privacy | Accessibility | Digital Accessibility | Trademark Notice | Reporting Copyright InfringementCopyright 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College. %PDF-1.5 % Population aged 0-14 . In general, Christian ethnic minorities are have faced discrimination in Myanmar and treatment as second-class citizens. strict military rule, new found freedom of speech permits Buddhist monks, such as U [Ashin] Wirathu, to spread ideas of religious intolerance and fan the flames of Islamaphobia.[22] Indeed, while the 969 movement has been denied the official status of a religious organization, Buddhist monks are able to freely travel the country preaching the protection of their religion and race without government intervention. On-the-ground reality may vary from what is presented here. Regardless, there is no doubt that much of the Buddhist religious leadership of Myanmar has promoted violence against Muslims in the region. Some are the perpetrators of violence, some are working to end violence and promote peace, many more are bystanders, who may build up cultural violence, cultural peace, or even both. The short form, which was asked of 80 percent of the total population, includes only seven basic questions: name, relationship to the head of the household, sex, age, marital status, race and religion. 0000006478 00000 n endstream endobj startxref Due to historical ties between Hinduism and Buddhism, Hindus have faced far less discrimination than Muslim Indians such as the Rohingya. Althoughreligion in Myanmarcan be tense at times due to the friction between the different religious groups, in reality, it is a very peaceful country. Identify an example of structural violence in the case study. [25] Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Final Report of Inquiry Commission on Sectarian Violence in Rakhine State (8 July 2013), 47, http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs15/Rakhine_Commission_Report-en-red.pdf. [QJshweeM[UH~{( Qxs8+(63+ q {@g}~f=(zPA =x''''''''s;[>Ly[(-w9C8=>O4N6m When referring to the World Happiness Report, we see a ranking of 130, with an overall rating of 4.3 out of 10. H\0>E? B-x`u [20] The Rakhine Commission of Inquiry was established by Executive Order on 17 August 2012. Muslims (mostly Sunni) comprise Buddhist sermons regularly include Islamophobic messages such as unsubstantiated rumors of Muslim violence against Buddhists or Muslim plots to take over the country and destroy Buddhism. Join us on a journey of discovery as we explore the fascinating world of Myanmar's religion, and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural richness that makes Myanmar such a unique and captivating country. However, the large movement of Rohingyas in 2017 has halved the number of Muslims in the country.. endstream endobj 42 0 obj <> endobj 43 0 obj <>stream The groups listed below are not included in overall Joshua Project people group counts. This case study was created by Kristofer Rhude, MDiv 18, under the editorial direction of Dr. Diane L. Moore, faculty director of Religion and Public Life. WebMyanmar, also known as Burma, is a country rich in history, culture, and traditions.