Buddhist monks and people stage protest against TIME magazine and Hannah Beech

[Ensapa]

....right and they expect their actions to be justified, and that the whole world will accept it?

Buddhist monks and people stage protest against TIME magazine and Hannah Beech in Yangon
Published on Monday, 01 July 2013 02:33



 A Buddhist monk protesting against TIME magazine on June 30. (Photo-EMG)
 More than 1,000 Buddhist monks and people gathered near Sule Pagoda in Yangon and staged a protest against TIME magazine’s cover story for July issue “The Face of Buddhist Terror” and writer Hannah Beech on June 30.
The protest was permitted by the authorities and it was the largest protesters in number when compared with those that took place before.
The protesters also strongly supported President Thein Sein who protested against the words expressed in the article and the currently-writing law to protect religion and nationality.
Buddhist monks and people arriving in the US will stage a demonstration with the intention of bitterly opposing the words used in the story in TIME magazine at the headquarter of TIME maganize in New York on July 5, said Buddhist monk U Parmaukkha.
Our Buddhism is not a terror-stricken religion, but the words and expressions in the story of TIME magazine ensured underestimation to the world people. That’s why we raise strong objections, said the Buddhist monk.
What we work is to safeguard our religion and nationality. The TIME maganize and its author go against journalistic codes of conduct. Its expressions won’t ensure a barrier to our writing law to protect religion and nationality.  We will step up to protect religion and nationality, said legal adviser Aye Paing of Theravada Buddhism Dhamma Network.


Buddhist monks and people numbering over 1000 protesting against TIME magazine and author on June 30. (Photo-EMG)

Myanmar government should sue TIME magazine. Buddhism is peace and calmness guiding principle. The various organizations in Myanmar strongly opposed the accusation of TIME magazine, said an activist Aung Myaing of Theravada Buddhism Dhamma Network.
The protesters were holding placards writing “Buddhism is not terror”, “We denounce TIME magazines”, “Does Hannah Beech write accusing Buddhism of being terror by history or by money?” We support President Thein Sein” and “We support the writing of the law to protect religion and nationality led by U Wirathu”.
The protesters including monks turned around Mahabandoola Park once praying for the well-being of others.
The State-owned newspapers on June 29 announced that the government strongly objected to TIME magazine dated on June 23 and the Ministry of Religious Affairs did the same.
The TIME magazine featured the portrayal of U Wirathu along with the article titled “When Buddhists go bad” on its July issue cover, expressing that Buddhists are hot-blooded and naughty groups of Buddhists have been targeting to attack minority of religion since a few years ago.

[bonfire]

More than a demonstration, facts of tolerance and kindness towards others will be proof that Buddhism is a promoter of peace and civil harmony.
Demonstrating is mixed with a sense of pride as a group of people offended by an article, and thus reacting.
Actions will show that the demonstrators are correct in saying that Buddhism is not a religion of terror.
Actions of compassion, actions of generosity, actions of selflessness, actions of tolerance and understanding, actions of peace.

[Ensapa]

Instead of protesting, they should have done this:

Myanmar's prominent Buddhist monk talks peace and unity
Published on Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:17


Sitagu Sayadaw giving speech at the ceremony (Photo - EMG)
Bhante Ashin Nyanissara, commonly known as Sitagu Sayadaw, one of the most prominent Buddhist monks in Myanmar, has urged the government and the people to work together to safeguard the religion and the nationality in the country.
Speaking at a special ceremony held at Aung Sann Tet Monastery in Insein Ywama, Yangon on June 27, Sitagu said, “The objective is good enough. We need to choose a word wise enough to capture the whole process of protecting the country as well as safeguarding the religion and the nationality. In front of the respected monks here, I would like to announce to you [the monastery's head] that a leading committee will be formed, and its organizational rules, structure, and title will be decided soon. The unity is very important," said Sitagu Sayadaw.
He also urged the monks attending the ceremony to be patient, forgiving, and united in accord with the Buddha teachings regarding the current situations.
"I'd like to request from here to all people from different religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity not to turn small incident into a bigger one. The ones who take refuge under a tree should not destroy it. What should not be retaliated must not be exaggerated. The wild exaggeration is the main cause behind the destruction of peace and unity. Nowadays the incidents like those have happened often in our country. We all should not take part in those incidents. If we do, we will be the same as the Time Magazine's cover story accused [of the Buddhism]," he added.
He also said the Buddhist monks should be aware of those who are behind the recent incidents and to act wisely.
Support from those persons having international outlook and the law experts is essential for the Buddhist monks to be able to protect the nationality and the religion. The government and the people must also cooperate in it, Sitagu Sayadaw said.
He also questioned the coincidence of religious riots with the peace talks between the government and the ethnic groups. He believed this is an attempt to derail the government’s peace effort, and he urged his fellow monks not to become the tools of the riot-inciting people.
“In our noble country, while the government is trying to build national unity and reconciliation with ethnic peoples, I think incitements to religious riots have come about to disrupt the peace process. Don’t be moved by the incitements. Our monks, be cautious not to become the tools of inciting people,” Sitagu Sayadaw told an audience of over 1000 monks.
During the occasion, Sitagu Sayadaw also condemned the cover story of TIME magazine’s July issue, which referred to a senior Myanmar Buddhist monk with the title “The Face of Buddhist Terror”. He said he opposed all the contents of the story, and took a vote on his opinion. All of the monks joined him to condemn the TIME’s story.
In his conclusion, Sitagu Sayadaw repeated the importance of unity, forgiveness and patience among the Buddhist monks, the government, and the law experts to protect the nationality and the religion.