Contesting Buddhist Narratives Buddhist Narratives of Insecurity and Conflict The next section analyzes different themes that emerge in contemporary Buddhist discourse on conflict, violence, and insecurity in Myanmar, and is separated into five subsections: rumors and fears about Islam and Muslims, the defense of the sasana (Buddhist religion), the use of “non-Buddhist” methods, the claim that nationalist groups merely promote Buddhism, and the denial of responsibility for violence associated with the movement. Rumors and Fears about Islam and Muslims As noted, one of the most prominent aspects of the current violence has been the spread of rumors that demonize Muslim populations in Myanmar and elsewhere. Some of these rumors tap into claims about Muslims in Myanmar that have existed for generations, while others have developed a modern and global twist as they are connected to broader discourses about Islam. A common claim made by Buddhists in Myanmar is that the country is being taken over by Muslims. U Wirathu has described this scenario in a number of different sermons and interviews. He says that there is a “‘Muslim conspiracy’ to conquer Burma through economic exploitation and interfaith marriage” (Galache 2013), and that “Muslims deliberately razed their own houses to win a place at refugee camps run by aid agencies” (Marshall 2012). He also gives the example of the strong Muslim presence in the construction sector in Yangon as evidence that Muslims are attempting a gradual takeover of Burmese society and the economy, with the end goal of “destroy[ing the Buddhist] race and religion” (U Wirathu 2013). Many Burmese Buddhists point to regional examples of how Islam has displaced Buddhism in the past. Ashin Sada Ma, a prominent 969 monk who claims to have designed the movement’s logo, has stated, “Only small parts of Asia are Buddhist now; in the past, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and many other places, including Turkey and Iraq, were Buddhist countries, but now they are lost” (Galache 2013). Speaking specifically about Myanmar, U Wirathu has said, “If Buddhists don’t do anything to stop it, the whole country will be like the Mayu region in Arakan state by 2100,” referring to an area of the state that is populated primarily by Rohingya Muslims (Galache 2013). 17