58 Hate Speech Ignited: Understanding Hate Speech in Myanmar Finally, there is the NLD government’s role in contributing to the rise of hate speech by failing to take effective action against ultranationalist groups and succumbing to political pressure to distance itself from the Muslim community. Several CSO members interpreted the government’s silence and actions as condoning hate speech.317 One interviewee expressed that the “NLD government is still very weak at handling racial and religious issues” and “the government is involved in spreading the hate speech. They may be not directly involved but they allowed things to happen.”318 Another interviewee suggested that the government does not have the political will or capacity to resist popular sentiments: “By staying silent, the government is supporting hate speech in another way. . . . They have no guts to resist the crowd, they just follow and listen to them.”319 Policies that Enable or Facilitate Hate Speech CSOs have stated that hate speech is enabled by a number of factors. Domestic laws that should be en- forced against state and non-state drivers of hate speech are not enforced. Such enforcement has the potential to curb hate speech and protect ethnic and religious minorities. Instead, these key drivers and their narratives of hate have been permitted to continue whereas a myriad of domestic laws are routinely applied against HRDs and activists critical of the military and the government. Furthermore, the NLD government actions and policies have also maintained Burmanization agenda and perpetuated prejudice towards certain minorities.320 In 2015, facing criticism regarding Muslims, the NLD excluded Muslims, even long-term, qualified members, from representing the par- ty.321 One CSO member put it bluntly: “The NLD has issues with Muslims. They don’t have a proper stand and policy on the other ethnicities. Also, they said they’re working on national reconciliation but they only work closely with the Myanmar military.”322 Other government officials have also tried to distance themselves from the Muslim community. For example, Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein has attended Hindu religious ceremonies and Chinese ceremonies but not Islamic events.323 Government efforts to cater to popular sentiment and distance themselves from the Muslim community has led to the disenfranchisement of the Muslim population, who “don’t have any representatives in parliament to speak for their rights, and no one in politics.”324 Furthermore, a CSO member noted that the government’s actions have also created intergroup tensions as they only consult with the Sunni Muslim community “when they make decisions” and have ignored Shia Muslims.325 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 See, e.g., MS-R1-01; MS-R3-01. 002-R3-03, 1. 002-R1-01, 4. FGD (January 2019). Holmes. 002-R3-01, 3-4. Ibid; Ramzy. Ibid; 002-R3-03, 2. Ibid.