The ethnic violence in Myanmar seems to be spreading in nearby countries.
Some Myanmar Buddhist migrants in Malaysia have been attacked [1] in recent weeks which many people believe are related to the ongoing ethnic and religious tension [2] in Myanmar. According to Eleven Media [3], 6 died and 12 were hospitalized with injuries during the violent attacks against Myanmar nationals in Malaysia from May 30 to June 8.
Myanmar's Embassy in Malaysia initially dismissed the news which angered many Burmese netizens. Ye Htut, Myanmar's Deputy Minister of Ministry of Information clarified [4][my] the report:
(We) read the news on the Internet about the clashes near a Myanmar monastery at KamPung and Selayang and that some Myanmar nationals died. (We) immediately asked the Myanmar Embassy in Malaysia about this issue at 5 pm and again at 8 pm via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador said the news was false. […]
[5]A Myanmar national put 11 red roses in front of Malaysia's Embassy in Yangon in honor of Myanmar migrants killed in Malaysia. Photo – Ye Moe's Facebook.
Wai Lin Oo expressed [6][my] his frustration with the Embassy's response:
It's actually happening! If you want to approve Embassy's words, just prepare a flight in Myanmar to carry the dead bodies back.
Fang Ran asserted [7][my] a similar point.
People are suffering. They are just simply liars who don't even go outside the Embassy. And they charge us extreme taxes. I can't even mention in words how they often reprimand ( citizens who are seeking refuge in the Embassy). […] When can we depend on Myanmar government? It's really discouraging. Where is respect for human rights of Myanmar nationals?[…]
Myo Set compared [8][my] how the governments of other countries are behaving when faced with a similar situation:
When a Japanese was killed in 2007 in Myanmar, a Japan Minister came at once. When Myanmar workers had issues with a Korean factory owner, the Korean Embassy suddenly became involved in the case. North Korea cleared away the books about Kim Jong Ill from book shops in Myanmar. What a shame! US came down to Myanmar once there were issues of Yettaw.
Our turn?
In Malaysia, the Ambassador's mouth got a stroke. Ministry of Information is crippled and Myanmar government is paralyzed.
We are Burmese, a community page of Myanmar citizens around the world questioned [9] the silence of NGOs and media regarding the abuses suffered by Buddhists in Malaysia:
When riots in Meikhtilar Township in Myanmar happened, (the global) media and international organizations (like the) UN, Human Rights Watch (reported) about it and some even exaggerated the (situation), labeling it ethnic cleansing, genocide, Muslims in Myanmar are being brutally massacred, or something like that….But why are they silent than normal about the current massacre in Malaysia targeting Myanmar Buddhists? How many lives must the Burmese Buddhists sacrifice further to put the (situation) on pages and screens? Please show the so-called RIGHTS you all repeatedly use whenever you get every chance to make the Burmese Buddhists dishonorable in every page and every screen worldwide.
On June 4, when voices became louder and attacks became more serious, the Myanmar government issued [10] an Aide Memoire to Malaysia's Ambassador in Myanmar urging [11] the Malaysian government to investigate the issue immediately and take legal actions against responsible persons. On June 6, Malaysia reported [12] that 900 Myanmar nationals were detained during a security sweep. Myanmar government is preparing [13][my] to send a team of special representatives to Malaysia.
Since some of the injured Myanmar migrants cannot afford the hospital bills, the Malaysia Kampung Free Funeral Service Social Team (Kampung FFSS) gave donation to the victims. U Aung Ko Win, President of the Kanbawza Bank who also runs Myanmar Airways International (MAI) donated [14][my] $50,000 US dollars and cut the MAI air ticket fees of the Malaysia-Myanmar route by 50% for the convenience of migrants who wish to go back to Myanmar. Another well-known wealthy personnel, U Zaw Zaw, who is President of Myanmar Football Federation announced [15][my] that he will donate 1,000 air tickets for those who want to go back to Myanmar, plus additional $20,000 US dollars donation to Kampung FFSS.
Many netizens on Facebook changed their profile pictures to black [16] to grieve the deaths of Myanmar citizens in Malaysia.