There have not been many bombings in Burma in recent years, but they do indicate internal security problems facing a nation as it moves in a more democratic nation, and while not as much damage and death as a result of terrorist bombings compared to other nations, where the blame lies is not always clear. The government sometimes will blame Muslim extremists, or point the blame toward an ethnic group know and as the Karen (mostly Christians), which had a nearly 6 decade civil war with the Military Junta. Some of the various ethnic groups would point the blame toward the government or Buddhist fanatics. The following is an interesting article that addresses the issue:

http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2013/11/11/Bombings-in-Burma-The-long-view.aspx?COLLCC=2678090782&COLLCC=3027911203&

www.ethnologue.com is an excellent source of languages still spoken around the world. The link below is an ethnologue for Myanmar which shows the linguistic diversity of this nation:

http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MM

http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201306242119-0022853

A January 2013 Time Magazine article suggests that while ‘Free Speech’ has some ways to go in the New Burma, it is making positive steps in that direction:

“The relaxation of media restrictions in Burma has allowed for greater press criticism of both the Suu Kyi–led opposition and Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian administration,” he says. “Both have taken their lumps in the local press, a positive development in terms of open debate and press freedom.”

The article suggests that Social Media is being used by both the government and oppositions to stake their claim. The government position that the Rohingya ethnic groups are Muslim terrorists, while the Rohingya claim they are victims of terrorism by pro-Buddhist groups.

In Burma, Media Reform Tests the Limits of Free Speech

The following web site suggests social media, such as, Facebook, is outright lying about Muslim cleansing occurring in Burma:

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/12867/social-media-is-lying-to-you-about-burmas-muslim-cleansing/

One such picture is supposedly that of a 2010 earthquake in China, where Tibetans are attempting to rescue survivors.

As Burmese attempt to find their way in a country with more freedom of expression, attempts at distorting the truth will come about, and it may become a big learning experience for some to work through the information for themselves to determine what is true, what is false, and what is a distortion of the truth.

A summary of Myanmar’s history can be difficult to put together because of the overlapping of dynasties, locations, capitals, and lack of accurate records. During British rule, the British tended to place borders for political reasons that did not always fit the demographics of the more than one hundred ethnic groups that made up the area, which is responsible for the multitude of internal conflicts that still exist in the country.

One such conflict is between the majority Buddhists and minority Muslims of the country, and there is a belief that since the military junta has loosened its grip on the government, and there is more freedom expression, that some in Myanmar are taking advantage of Social Media to promote violence.  Ashin Wirathu, a Burmese Buddhist Monk, is accused of inspiring such speeches on Youtube an other other sources of Social Media.  Ashin Wirathu himself says his messages are about peace, and he is simply addressing what he feels is a problem, but he despite what he says are “messages of peace”, he does openly refer to the Muslim population in Myanmar as “the enemy”.   Here are some youtube clips of Ashin Wirathu on the

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp9PcPOh-cB-4FgaejROASdcaBkE0t-bK

Various folks in the group have volunteered on a country between Myanmar, Pakistan, and North Korea; regarding our topic on Social Media’s effect on terrorism. I will be researching Myanmar and will post to our group blog.

4/18/2014 – When looking at a brief history of Myanmar (Burma) up to the present, I like the reference to think of the history up to the present as a U-shape, or making a U-turn toward something resembling its former glory.  I think this U-shape could become a reality as long as the country can continue on what I hope is new democratic path, and it answers the needs of groups feeling marginalized, particularly the muslims communities, that could spread terrorist acts throughout the country causing instability, and forcing into place infrastructures that could deter any hopes of Myanmar returning to its former glory.

For a brief history, lets begin with the 6th-the century when the region was ruled by the people known as the Mon.  Somewhere in the 8th or 9th century, the Bamar people (Burmese), arrived from somewhere in the eastern Himalaya, establishing the cultural foundation of Myanmar that is known today.

Around 1057 the Mon are conquered and the First Burmese Empire emerges.

Around 1270 we have the arrival of Marco Polo.

1435 – Portuguese explorer Nicolo di Conti becomes the first European to explore region.

1550 – After a couple of centuries of chaos and disunity, a Second Burmese Empire is born reunifying all of Myanmar when a man named Bayinnaung ascends to the thrown..

1627 – Dutch and English East India Company opens shop.

1826 – England annexes the region after the First Anglo-Burmese War.

1852 – England acquires more of Myanmar after Second Anglo-Burmese War.

1885 – Third Anglo-Burmese War ends the era of Burmese Kings.

1947-1948 – General Aung San assassinated; independence achieved.

1962 – Military coup takes puts power of government completely in military’s hands.

1988 – Army kills over 3,000 demonstrators in pro-democracy non-violent marches.

1990 – Army refuses to turn over power to National League for Democracy (NLD) party despite acquiring 82% votes during an election.

2003 – NLD Secretary General Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest for third time; USA and European Union impose tougher sanctions.

2010 – Military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party said to have won election, a claim highly disputed.

2011 – Military Junta officially dissolved, but many state military still controlling government, but relaxed authoritarian grip, allowing more freedom of speech and freeing Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

2012 – NLD one first election.

2012-present-Myanmar still rife with many internal conflicts despite promising rise to a more democratic state.

And in regards to North Korea – my wife pointed out how North Korea has been put on and taken off terrorist watch lists for either sponsoring terrorist activities  or harboring terrorists. This site I found very interesting:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/11/us.north.korea/

I also saw an article how in 2010 North Korea was suspected of torpedoing a South Korean ship, but that Obama would not add them to the watch list since the incident did not happen in international territory so was not considered a terrorist act, and since the two countries are technically at a state of war.

Such things as this might be worthy of a discussion when comparing with other nations. Perhaps something to consider for the final project???

I would like to modify the three country list to:

Myanmar (Burma)

Pakistan

North Korea

The reason is although I think we know Pakistan gets many, North Korea has none reported because of how closed off to the world they are. Burma is opening up. Malaysia I thought would compare to Indonesia, but they seem actually a bit free of terrorist attacks. Appreciate all thoughts.