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As hate speech in Myanmar is based around persecution of a religious group, religious education would be beneficial among the youth. Where schools do not teach about religions other than Buddhism, debating and discussion groups out of school can be a useful way to introduce people to new ideas and new beliefs. This method can also open the minds of those involved, and can teach them how to develop opinions based on reason, leading to a more critical approach to Facebook content. Foxman and Wolf use the example of an interactive campus-based website used as a platform to share rumours and gossip for fun. They explain how JuicyCampus had enabled free speech and anonymity which consequently resulted in sexist, racist and homophobic posts among the more harmless content. Instead of banning JuicyCampus out of respect for freedom of expression, Pepperdine University encouraged students to engage in dialogue about the hate that was exposed on this website.119 Creating a space for dialogue and reflection would be a useful way to introduce Myanmar citizens of all ages to different beliefs and attitudes. As we have seen in previous chapters, the internet is the paramount source for communication and information in the world today. Therefore, media training is a vital tool in aiding both the prevention of hate speech and countering hate speech. Titlet, Keen and Foldi believe that digital media literacy needs to begin promoting the ability to read text closely and carefully, and develop the skills necessary to read critically.120 They add that it would be useful for young people to become content creators themselves therefore actively engaging in creating their own digital media, which, as they say ‘helps demystify the medium in significant ways.’121 Engaging young people in anti-hate campaigns online and, within this, incorporating them in the process of media production or written work, could play a significant role in teaching young people how to address the internet’s range of information subjectively. This is also a 119 Foxman and Wolf, (2013) p.159. 120 Titley, G., Keen, E., Foldi, L., (2014) Starting Points for Combating Hate Speech Online, Council of Europe, Youth Department, available at: https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Source/Resources/Publications/2014_Starting_Points_for_Comba ting_Hate_Speech_Online.pdf [November 2015], p, 80. 121 Titley, Keen and Foldi, (2014) p, 80. - 52 -

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Religion, hate speech and social media in Myanmar: Analysing methods of intervention

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Language

English

Topic

Hate Speech
Rohingya Crisis

Author(s)

Bethany Davis

Date Published: Dec 1, 2015

Abstract: Myanmar is home to one of the longest running intrastate conflicts in the world, involving a series of ethnic and religious clashes that have caused harm to all parties involved. The ideology of a homogeneity based on Buddhism and the Bamar ethnicity has marginalized minority groups, which make up a third of the population, and has particularly affected the Rakhine state’s Buddhist and Muslim communities, the latter of which are subject to what international human rights organizations are calling an ethnic cleansing. Since the government relaxed restrictions to the access of foreign websites, the social media site Facebook has become a popular means to disseminate misinformation and rumours, and this has created mistrust and hatred against Muslims across the country, heightening the polarization between Buddhist and Muslim groups. This study will combine conflict analysis with the assessment of different approaches of countering hate speech to propose which methods of intervention are most suitable for this situation in Myanmar. Lederach argues that to counter hatred and avoid reoccurrence of violence, deep alterations of the parties’ relationships is needed. This idea forms the basis for chapter three which examines educational methods, interfaith projects and social media campaigns to both prevent and change negative attitudes towards the religious ‘Other’. It argues that education and awareness campaigns are more effective than the implementation of legal regulation as we need to combat the underlying issue. In addition to secondary sources, this study involved field research to collect information about how the youth are influence by hate speech and counter hate campaigns in Myanmar.

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2015-12-00-Religion-hate-speech-and-social-media-in-Myanmar-en-red.pdf
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Myanmar Internet Project

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Religion, hate speech and social media in Myanmar: Analysing methods of intervention

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