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Buddhism
and Politics in South and Southeast Asia,
particularly in Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar)
(My research normally
involves annual travel to Myanmar and Lanka)
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Buddhist
monks (bhikkhus) in Sri Lanka represent a lineage of
holy seekers that stretches back for 2,500 years. This ideal
of the spiritual life is still much venerated. It is
characterized by a peaceful life-style and outreach to society.
But political events in largely Buddhist countries like Sri
Lanka and Burma sometime gravely affect the monastic order.
Religion can become used for nationalistic, cultural
and ethnic communalistic purposes. These two monks from the
highlands of Sri Lanka tell a story of continuity. The seated
monk is one hundred years old, and the young monk is fifteen.
They essentially share the same world view, perpetuating centuries
of tradition and practice.
(Click on the
following pictures to enlarge them) |
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A frequent scene in many South and Southeast
Asian states is that of military personnel, as here in Sri
Lanka. In so many ways, these have become important influences
in government policies, including sensitive ones affecting
human rights and minority cultural rights. For example,
a civil war in Sri Lanka lasted from 1983 to 2001 and cost
thousands of lives. The war had a Sinhalese cultural aspect
to it that harnessed Buddhism for partly political purposes.
In 2003, a tenuous ceasefire is in place between the government
and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. |
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A collateral research theme is cultural and religious
minorities. For example, thirty percent of Burma's population
is comprised of ethnic minorities. Among these, the Rohingya
Muslims in the western Arakan region (Rakhine State) are among
the most distressed by lack of civil rights and exposure to
serious human rights abuse. This image at left is of
a Rohingya mosque in Sittwe. |
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A further leading interest of mine is the Little Tradition
or indigenous spirit religion of Theravada Buddhist South and
Southeast Asia. |
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A
common sight everywhere: 'sprit houses', in this case at a
residential intersection in downtown Rangoon, Myanmar
(Burma). |
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Here
I am with Laytoo Chin children on the upper Lemros River,
Rakhine State, Burma. |
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| In
rural South and Southeast Asia, primary school education is
still sometimes offered by religious teachers. Here, a
Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka leads his pupils into class (the
lady in the middle is Pam).
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| In 2007, I became
the Canadian member of the Independent International Group of
Eminent Persons (IIGEP), working in Sri Lanka on invitation of
the government to observe and advise the Commission of Inquiry
into Alleged Human Rights Abuses. The IIGEP was under the
Chairmanship of P.N.Bhagwati, the former Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of India, and was comprised of ten other members.
The IIGEP resigned in March, 2008.
The photo shows one of the many IIGEP ventures to visit sites
of cases we were involved in |
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