8/8/22, 9:18 PM New evidence shows how Myanmar's military planned the Rohingya purge Fear and remorse By POPPY MCPHERSON Even as Rohingya poured into Bangladesh in 2017 bringing stories of mass killings and rape, many media outlets inside Myanmar echoed government propaganda, portraying the military crackdown as a legitimate campaign against “extremist Bengali terrorists.” Many Burmese also rallied behind the authorities in the face of allegations of ethnic cleansing and war crimes by the international community. But long-held prejudices have begun to change in response to the military coup of early 2021 and the violence unleashed by the junta as it tried to quell growing resistance across the country – violent repression usually reserved for ethnic areas. Many Burmese have apologized on social media for ignoring the plight of minorities. One academic study of social media posts after the coup found perceptions towards minorities, including the Rohingya, had shifted. While Rohingya activists say antiMuslim sentiment persists in Myanmar, the study found there were fewer negative posts and more voices pleading for an inclusive society. Sasa, a spokesman for the newly formed civilian parallel government, said it was only after the coup that “the people have come to understand and accept the true nature of the military, and their unfathomable disregard for human rights.” Sasa, who goes by one name, added: “Those who previously doubted the military's victims are eager to apologize.” The military junta didn’t respond to questions from Reuters. Some journalists who once toed the official line are expressing remorse over how they covered the purge in 2017. Moe Myint, an ethnic Rakhine journalist formerly with The Irrawaddy news website in Myanmar, told Reuters he traveled to Rakhine during the military crackdown but censored his reporting, in part for fear of a public backlash.  People protest against the military coup in Mandalay in February last year. REUTERS/Stringer https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/myanmar-rohingya-warcrimes-investigation/ 31/34