Myanmar
Few persecuted Christians find refuge in US, new report finds
By Bob Smietana — September 25, 2023
(RNS) — A new reports finds that the number of Christian refugees coming to the US has declined at a time when persecution is on the rise.
Myanmar’s generals unveil giant Buddha statue as they seek to win hearts and minds during civil war
By Grant Peck — July 24, 2023
BANGKOK (AP) — The military-controlled government of strife-torn Myanmar on Friday showed off a new giant statue of a sitting Buddha that is scheduled to be consecrated on Aug. 1.
In Thailand, ‘socially engaged Buddhism’ goes beyond meditation to seek justice
By Kalpana Jain — July 17, 2023
BANGKOK (RNS) — A network of socially conscious Buddhists is challenging conceptions of personal devotion to tackle pressing problems in the faith and even beyond their country's borders.
What is Theravada Buddhism? A scholar of Asian religions explains
By Brooke Schedneck — May 31, 2023
(The Conversation) — Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religious system in several parts of South and Southeast Asia, but there is a rich diversity of beliefs and practices in this tradition.
UN court to rule on jurisdiction in Rohingya genocide case
By Mike Corder — July 22, 2022
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Lawyers representing Myanmar argued in February that the case should be tossed out because the world court only hears cases between states and the Rohingya complaint was brought by Gambia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Water fights, magical decapitated heads and family reunions – the Southeast Asian festival of Songkran has it all
By Andrew Alan Johnson — April 11, 2022
(The Conversation) — In Southeast Asia, Songkran is a time to celebrate the coming year with water fights, honoring elders and offering prayers.
Myanmar military reverts to strategy of massacres, burnings
By Rishabh R. Jain, David Rising, and Sam McNeil — December 30, 2021
BANGKOK (AP) — When the young farmhand returned to his village in Myanmar, he found the still smoldering corpses in a circle in a burned-out hut, some with their limbs tied. The Myanmar military had stormed Done Taw at 11 a.m. on Dec. 7, he told the AP, with about 50 soldiers hunting people on […]
Indonesia to turn away boat with 120 Rohingya refugees
By Yayan Zamzami — December 29, 2021
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — The decision comes despite calls from the United Nations refugee agency to allow the passengers to disembark.
Bangladesh sends hundreds more Rohingya refugees to island
By Julhas Alam — November 26, 2021
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh on Thursday began relocating hundreds of Rohingya refugees to an island in the Bay of Bengal, despite ongoing concerns from rights groups over the conditions on the vulnerable low-lying island and that no refugees should be sent forcibly. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group, over 700,000 of whom fled […]
Hate speech in Myanmar continues to thrive on Facebook
By Sam McNeil and Victoria Milko — November 18, 2021
Three years ago, Facebook pledged to do better and developed several tools and policies to deal with hate speech. But the company still has problems detecting and moderating hate speech and misinformation on its platform in Myanmar.
Rohingya refugee leader shot dead in Bangladesh camp
By Julhas Alam — September 30, 2021
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — An international representative of ethnic Rohingya refugees was shot to death in a camp in Bangladesh by unknown gunmen late Wednesday, police said. Mohibullah, who was in his 40s, was a teacher who emerged as a key refugee leader and a spokesman representing the Muslim ethnic group in international meetings. He […]
Pope on Myanmar: Houses of worship serve as neutral refuge
By Associated Press — June 21, 2021
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Sunday decried the suffering of refugees in Myanmar and pleaded that houses of worship be respected as neutral places to take shelter.
‘We cannot wait!’ pleads Catholic missionary in Myanmar
By Claire Giangravé — May 13, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Democratic protests have sparked all over the embattled country, with some Catholics taking center stage in opposing the violence of the military junta.
Baptists of Burma organize multiethnic diaspora rally in DC against coup in Myanmar
By Bob Smietana — April 9, 2021
(RNS) — Baptists and members of other ethnic Burmese churches will gather in DC in support of protests against the coup in Myanmar.
Civil rights group sues Facebook over anti-Muslim posts
By Alejandra Molina — April 8, 2021
(RNS) — 'Hateful, anti-Muslim attacks are especially pervasive on Facebook,' the lawsuit alleges.
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