Myanmar’s military junta has honored an ultra-nationalist anti-Muslim Buddhist monk dubbed the “face of Buddhist terror” with a prestigious national award and also announced the decision to release thousands of prisoners under amnesty. In a statement Tuesday, the military intelligence team said junta chief Gen. Min Aung had awarded Hlaing Wirathu the honorary title of “Thiri Pyanchi” for his “outstanding work for the benefit of the Union of Myanmar.”
Wirathu has long been known for his ultra-nationalist, anti-Muslim rhetoric, particularly against Myanmar’s Rohingya. He was once dubbed the “face of Buddhist terror” for his role in promoting religious hatred against Rohingya Muslims. Wirathu has called for a boycott of Muslim-owned businesses and restrictions on marriages between Buddhists and Muslims. He has been accused by human rights groups of fomenting hostilities against the Rohingya. Wirathu was later imprisoned by Aung San Suu Kyi’s government for sedition.
Back in September 2021, the junta announced that it had released Wirathu after all charges against him were dropped. Suu Kyi, 77, was arrested by the junta that orchestrated a military coup nearly two years ago. Last week, a junta court rendered its verdicts on the latest charges against Suu Kyi, with a total of 33 years in prison. The monk is also believed to have laid the groundwork for a horrific military crackdown on the Rohingya community in 2017. The internationally condemned operation forced 750,000 Rohingya people from their homes into Bangladesh.
Thousands have been killed, raped, tortured or arrested in what the United Nations, which has labeled the community as the world’s most persecuted minority, said was carried out with “genocidal intent”. At least 920,000 Rohingya refugees, half of them under the age of 18, are currently stuck in overcrowded conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh’s south-eastern border district of Cox’s Bazar.
Myanmar refuses to recognize the Rohingya as citizens, and officials even refrain from using the word “Rohingya,” meaning natives of Rakhine, a state in Myanmar where they lived for centuries before state-sponsored violence began in 2017 . Bangladesh also refuses to grant them citizenship. The junta celebrated the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from Britain on Wednesday, when state broadcaster MRTV reported that Myanmar’s military government would release 7,012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the occasion.
“I would like to thank some international and regional countries and organizations and individuals who have worked positively with us… amidst all the pressure, criticism and attacks,” Gen Min said in his speech marking the 75th Myanmar Independence Day. “We work closely with neighboring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development,” he said at a parade in the capital, Naypyidaw.
The junta leader also revealed detailed plans for elections to be held later this year. The military should control the entire process. “Once the provisions of the state of emergency are fulfilled, free and fair elections will be held in accordance with the 2008 Constitution, and further work will be undertaken to hand over state functions to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards,” said Gen. Min. Myanmar has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military coup that swept power from Suu Kyi in early February 2021. The military cracked down on post-coup street protests in chaotic Myanmar.
