Background: History of Hate Speech in Myanmar Figure 5. On January 13, 2019, a prominent female member of the NLD shared a post listing the party’s achievements, the first of which reads: “Drove out 700,000 Ro [reference to the Rohingya].” Statements from various government ministries and departments, including the President and State Counsellor’s Office, highlight the depth of officials’ animus and discriminatory attitudes toward the Rohingya community. The Facebook feed of Zaw Htay, the Director General of the State Counsellor Office, is full of such content.153 For instance, he famously posted a picture of dark-skinned villagers in Rakhine burning their own house with the question “Who are they?” insinuating that the Rohingya burned their own homes to solicit international sympathy.154 He was also among the first to deny allegations of what he called “fake rapes” of Rohingya women.155 Others like Phone Tint, Rakhine’s Minister for Border Affairs, suggested to Myanmar journalists that rape allegations were unfounded because Rohingya women are undesirable: “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances—do you think they are that attractive to be raped?”156 153 154 155 156 php?story_fbid=3225361654156942&id=531873223505812. Zaw Htay’s Facebook account formerly available at www.facebook.com/z.y.zawhtay. Annie Gowen and Max Bearak, “Fake News on Facebook Fans the Flames of Hate against the Rohingya in Burma,” The Washington Post, December 8, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/fake-news-on-facebook-fans-the-flames-of-hateagainst-the-rohingya-in-burma/2017/12/07/2c1fe830-ca1f-11e7-b506-8a10ed11ecf5_story.html. Rachael Krishna, “These Pictures Show That Rohingya Muslims Weren’t Actually Setting Their Own Houses On Fire,” Buzzfeed News, September 12, 2017, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/no-these-pictures-dontshow-rohingya-muslims-setting-their. A/HRC/39/CRP.2, para. 935. Kristen Gelineau, “AP: Rohingya Methodically Raped by Myanmar’s Armed Forces,” AP News, December 11, 2017, 31