{"id":3375,"date":"2025-10-20T04:31:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T04:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=3375"},"modified":"2025-10-20T04:32:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T04:32:47","slug":"should-religion-define-citizenship-a-historical-reflection-on-nlds-early-missteps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/10\/20\/should-religion-define-citizenship-a-historical-reflection-on-nlds-early-missteps\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Religion Define Citizenship? A Historical Reflection on NLD\u2019s Early Missteps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Jeffrey Tin Ohn (R.I.T \u2013 Rangoon Institute of Technology)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s Note:<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This reflective essay, originally written by Jeffrey Tin Aung<\/strong> of M-Media, examines the controversy surrounding an early statement by Myanmar\u2019s Minister for Religious Affairs in 2016, which appeared to question the citizenship status of Muslims and Hindus. With careful reference to historical records, the author calls for truth, fairness, and responsibility from national leaders \u2014 reminding us that Myanmar\u2019s diverse faith communities have long been part of its national fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time to Change \u2014 and Time to Reflect<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the National League for Democracy (NLD)<\/strong> campaigned under the slogan \u201cTime to Change,\u201d<\/em> it inspired citizens across Myanmar \u2014 people of all ethnicities, faiths, and social backgrounds \u2014 who were yearning for an end to dictatorship.
On 1 April 2016<\/strong>, their votes made history as power shifted peacefully to a new civilian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after, on 2 April 2016<\/strong>, Voice of America (VOA)<\/em> aired an interview with Thura U Aung Ko<\/strong>, the newly appointed Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture. During that interview, he remarked that during past military regimes there had been no suppression or discrimination<\/em> against minority faiths such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism<\/strong>, or other small religions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That statement, however, caused deep hurt and disappointment<\/strong> among Myanmar Muslims \u2014 both among those officially recognized as national races and those categorized as \u201cassociate citizens.\u201d Many saw the comment as a betrayal<\/strong> from a government they had supported with great hope. Some viewed it as a stab in the back<\/strong>, others as a deliberate denial<\/strong> of their long struggle for recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four major religions in Myanmar today \u2014 Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism<\/strong> \u2014 were all introduced from abroad. The only indigenous beliefs of ancient Myanmar were forms of nat (spirit) worship<\/strong>. Religion, in its true essence, teaches moral conduct and purpose in life. It should never divide people by race, color, or class. In a civilized world, there is no such thing as a \u201chost religion\u201d<\/em> or \u201cguest religion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Truth vs. False Claims<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The minister\u2019s later claim \u2014 that most Muslims were descendants of immigrants who arrived only during the British colonial period \u2014 was not only unsupported by evidence<\/strong> but also contradicted official historical records<\/strong>, including those produced by the military government itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, during the SPDC era in 1997<\/strong>, the Ministry of Defence published a book titled \u201cTo Illuminate the Light of Religion.\u201d<\/em> On page 65, it clearly stated that Islam reached Myanmar over 1,000 years ago<\/strong>, long before British annexation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, the University Journal of July 1973 (Vol. 3)<\/strong> confirmed that Muslim Pathi (Pashi) people<\/strong> lived during the Pagan (Bagan) period<\/strong>, supported by ancient stone inscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historians such as Zeya Kyaw Htin Ba Shin<\/strong>, teacher of NLD leader Thura U Tin Oo, wrote in \u201cHow the Ancient Burmese Kings Honoured Their Muslim Subjects\u201d<\/em> that Burmese Muslims were granted royal privileges and recognized by early monarchs.
Similarly, Dr. Than Tun<\/strong>, in his studies of royal edicts, listed the Muslim Pathi people<\/strong> among the 18 recognized ethnic groups<\/strong> in Myanmar\u2019s chronicles \u2014 the Hmannan Yazawin<\/em> (Glass Palace Chronicle), Konbaung Chronicle<\/em>, and U Kala\u2019s Chronicle<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the British<\/strong>, Japanese<\/strong>, and AFPFL (post-independence)<\/strong> periods, the state officially recognized Myanmar Muslims (\u1019\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1019\u102c\u1019\u103d\u1010\u103a\u1005\u101c\u1004\u103a)<\/strong> as a legitimate national community. The term \u201cBamar\u201d<\/strong> referred to the nation as a whole, not a single ethnic group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, a 23 February 1973<\/strong> state newspaper listed 143 ethnic groups<\/strong>, among which Myanmar Muslims<\/strong> were officially included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, citizenship cannot \u2014 and must not \u2014 be determined by religion. No government, especially one that has seized power unlawfully, holds the right to define who belongs based on faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizenship, Equality, and the Spirit of Aung San<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Only laws passed by elected representatives<\/strong> through legitimate democratic processes<\/strong> can define citizenship. When the Religious Affairs Minister carelessly described Buddhists and Christians<\/strong> as national races<\/em> but labeled Muslims and Hindus<\/strong> as guest citizens<\/em>, he gravely undermined the image of the government and the nation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, in a press briefing on 31 July 2012<\/strong>, then Minister for Immigration U Khin Yi<\/strong> clearly stated that \u201cBefore 1824, there were no foreigners in Myanmar.\u201d<\/em>
This statement affirms that all communities living in the country before British rule were native inhabitants<\/strong>, not foreigners. It stands as undeniable historical evidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In building a democratic nation, racial or religious discrimination is like a nuclear bomb<\/strong> \u2014 highly unstable and capable of destroying the country at any moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This truth was well understood by General Aung San<\/strong>, the father of Myanmar\u2019s independence and founder of the armed forces. He reminded his comrades:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo not think that only we love our country. Whether here or abroad, it is not only soldiers who love the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further declared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince the time of King Alaungpaya, there have been Muslims in our land. There are followers of the Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed faith, mountain dwellers who worship spirits, and Christians whose faith is deep-rooted. All of them are citizens of our country. When we fought for independence, it was not only we soldiers who took part \u2014 they too fought alongside us.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership and Responsibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Those words reveal the broad vision, intelligence, and moral strength<\/strong> of a true national leader. They reflect a deep understanding of unity, responsibility, and justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No human being, no matter how skilled, is infallible \u2014 as the saying goes, \u201cThere is no perfect lawyer, nor an immortal doctor.\u201d<\/em> Likewise, ministers can make mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comments made in that VOA interview<\/strong> should therefore not be seen as the official stance of the NLD<\/strong>, a party that rose to power through the people\u2019s trust. More likely, they were unintentionally influenced<\/strong> by the long legacy of discriminatory thinking<\/strong> that persisted under successive military regimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To acknowledge a mistake<\/strong> is the mark of a true and wise leader<\/strong>. History has shown that when errors are made in good faith and later corrected, the public forgives.
The key is to recognize and correct wrongs quickly<\/strong> \u2014 before they grow into lasting injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jeffrey Tin Ohn (R.I.T \u2013 Rangoon Institute of Technology)<\/strong>
Originally published in M-Media; edited and adapted for MMNN English Edition.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jeffrey Tin Ohn (R.I.T \u2013 Rangoon Institute of Technology) Editor\u2019s Note: This reflective essay, originally written by Jeffrey Tin Aung of M-Media, examines the controversy surrounding an early statement by Myanmar\u2019s Minister for Religious Affairs in 2016, which appeared to question the citizenship status of Muslims and Hindus. With careful reference to historical records, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,7,6,11,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anti-racism","category-articles","category-history","category-myanmar-muslims-history","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3375"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3379,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3375\/revisions\/3379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}