32 Hate Speech Ignited: Understanding Hate Speech in Myanmar Political parties are also not immune from playing into this discourse for their benefit. Mem- bers of NLD, National Development Party (“NDP”) and National Unity Party are also embracing such nationalist rhetoric. CSOs interviewed for this report stated that problematic language and discourse around ethnic and religious minorities has appeared during parliamentary debates for example.157 The social media feeds of politicians, entertainers, and social influencers have also been rife with hate speech targeting ethnic and religious minorities. The screen capture below is just one example. While historically the Tatmadaw was one of the most reviled institutions in Myanmar, the mil- itary has galvanized its domestic support and seen its popularity grow as a result of the Rohingya crisis.158 Other ethnic minorities have experienced ongoing violence and abuses as armed conflict has continued and peace talks with EAOs have effectively stalled.159 As of June 2020, the military offensives in Kachin, Shan, Chin and Rakhine State persists.160 With the global COVID-19 outbreak, EAOs had called for a nationwide ceasefire, but at the time of writing, the Tatmadaw had still refused the request.161 CSOs increasingly worry that the military’s rising popularity could lead to a return to authori- tarianism.162 Many people interviewed for this report believe an emboldened Tatmadaw has been the reason human rights violations against ethnic and religious minorities in the aforementioned states have continued and space for civil society and HRDs has been shrinking.163 While the Rohingya crisis has diminished the military’s stature internationally, the crisis has had the opposite effect domestical- ly, strengthening the military’s legitimacy and allowing its nationalist message to reach people who had previously fervently opposed the military dictatorship in the past.164 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 https://apnews.com/5e4a1351468f4755a6f861e39ec782c9/Rohingya-women-methodically-raped-by-Myanmar’s-armed-forces. MS-R1-02 Richard Paddock, “Myanmar General’s Purge of Rohingya Lifts His Popular Support,” The New York Times, November 26, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/26/world/asia/myanmar-rohingya-min-aung-hlaing.html. International Crisis Group, “Report: Rebooting Myanmar’s Stalled Peace Process,” Crisis Group Asia Report, no. 308 (June 2020), https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/308-rebooting-myanmars-stalled-peace-process. Ibid. Ibid. FGD (January 2019 and December 2019). Also see: “Thousands March in Support of Myanmar Military,” VOA News, October 29, 2017, https://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-march-in-support-of-myanmar-military/4090915. html. Ibid. Ibid.