Online campaign waging against TIME magazine’s use of “Buddhist Terror”

An online community campaign is waging against the use of “Buddhist Terror” in the cover story of the July issue of TIME magazine.

The campaign by AVAAZ.org is collecting signatures for a petition and has requested a total of 50,000 signatures within 48 hours from the supporters at the link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Buddhist_is_not_Terror_Please_Reevaluate_July_Issue_Time_Cover_Story_Title/?copy
The petition says, “We’re requesting to re-evaluate the title of TIME magazine’s cover story for July issue, “The Face of Buddhist Terror” by Hannah Beech / Meikhtila, Burma, And Pattani, Thailand. I know the incidents happened. I am not a supporter of U Wirathu. Every media wrote against the violent cases. But the combination of these two words “Buddhist” and “Terror” is a very sad thing for every Buddhist. Our religion becomes weaker year after year. Please don’t do like that.

“Our Buddhism preaches peace but not terrorism. You’re the first user of those words so I really go against it. But those words will cause more tension between Buddhists and Islamists in Myanmar. I believe you’ll never create violence. Let’s create mindfulness in the society. I think this is not an article. It’s a hate speech around the world. I honestly request TIME magazine to avoid using the combination of these two words. Thanks you very much!”

The petition was created by a Myanmar national Sai Thiha Z on the AVAAZ.org. By 1am on Monday, it has been signed by some 22,600 people.

Among the signatures are not only those of Myanmar people but also those by people from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan, China, South Korea, India, UAE, US, UK, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Brazil, Sweden and so on.

Myanmar government condemns TIME magazine’s July issue

Myanmar’s President Office issued a press release on Sunday’s night, lashing out at the TIME magazine for featuring a Buddhist monk as “Buddhist Terror” on the cover of its July issue.

The press release says the government of Myanmar opposes the TIME magazine’s cover story titled “THE FACE OF BUDDHIST TERROR”, as it can be detrimental to the trust building between religions in Myanmar, and as it can damage the image of Buddhism which has been the main religion of Myanmar for thousands of years.

It says the Buddhist monk U Wirathu, portrayed as “Buddhist Terror” on the cover of TIME magazine’s Vol 182, No. 1, is “a Sangha or a Buddha’s son”. Buddhist monks, also known as Sanghas, are the noble persons who keep 277 precepts or moral rules, and strive peacefully for the prosperity of Buddhism, said the release.

Myanmar government says it does not discriminate the religions and grants freedom of religions. Although the majority of Myanmar people are Buddhists, the government has recognized in the Constitutional Section 362 that Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Animism as are the existing religions in the country, it is said in the release.

Buddhism is also explained as a peaceful religion that is based on knowledge and that preaches Kamma or ’cause and effect’, and self-reliance to attain enlightenment.

Regarding the use of 969 labels, it explains the symbol 969 stands for the 9 virtues of Buddha, 6 of Dhamma (Buddha’s teachings), and 9 of Sangha (Buddhist monks). It is a peaceful symbol and Buddhist monks’ associations have been requested not to misuse it in places that can tarnish Buddhism, the release said.

It also calls for mutual trust building among the religions to avoid undesirable conflicts in the fledgling democratic society of Myanmar. It says the government, religious leaders, political parties, media and the people must co-operate each others to achieve the purpose.

Buddhist Women Interfaith Marriage Law is Necessary to Protect the Burmese Buddhist Women’s Rights

Burmese Buddhist Women Interfaith Marriage Law is Necessary to Protect the Burmese Buddhist Women’s Rights
We have just read the draft Burmese Buddhist Marriage Law proposed by Buddhist Monks and we totally understand why religious leaders are taking the lead proposing such law in Burma. We also understand that the proposed draft law is referring and referencing a lot on Singapore’s marriage law and we also realize that no-one make any noise about Singaporeans’ law.
Even in accordance with Burma’s 1954 marriage law, there is no protection on Burmese Buddhist Women who marry with non-Buddhists. Burmese Buddhist Women are the ones who suffered most and lost all their rights since there is no protection by state. They got no legal rights, religious rights nor civil rights whatsoever after Burmese Buddhist Women married with non-Buddhist.
We believe it could be the driving force behind Why Burmese Buddhist Monks Are Proposing To Draft Burmese Buddhist Women Marriage Law since according to the existing law of Burma, Burmese Buddhist Women Lost Their Rights After Married With Non-Buddhist. we also understand why they are using Burmese Buddhist WOMEN Marriage Law since WOMEN are the ones who lost all their rights.Please study the following extract from RELIGION AND FAMILY LAW IN BURMA by U Aye Kyaw of CORNELL UNIVERSITY who is a SOUTHEAST ASIA PROGRAM FELLOW
Law With Reference To Burmese Buddhist Women’s Mixed Marriage
With respect to mixed marriages, the principle of the
lex loci contratus is accepted, but the importance of mixed
marriages is not clear in the law. The courts in Burma, therefore, had been frequently
called upon to decide the validity of de facto mixed marriages,