Myanmar Bans Time Magazine over Buddhist Terror Cover Story

TEMPO.CO, Naypyidaw - The Myanmar government banned the July 1st issue of Timemagazine due to a cover story about a Buddhist monk accused of fueling recent religious violence in the country following waves of protests dominated by Buddhists across the nation. 

"Our message is very clear: Time’s writing can cause a misunderstanding among the international community; they might think that Buddha’s teachings involve terror," Myanmar’s Deputy of Information Ye Htut told The Irrawady. 

Inwa Publications, Time magazine’s distributor in Myanmar, promised to recall 600 publications from the market. From New York, Time Inc. said they felt no guilt about publishing the article. Spokesman Daniel Kile wrote an e-mail to The Irrawaddy saying the article was written carefully with all of its facts confirmed and properly portraying Myanmar’s current condition. 

Time magazine Asia’s July 1st cover story explores the rise of aggressive, nationalist Buddhism in Myanmar and other parts of Asia, such as Sri Lanka, and describes the role of radical monk U Wirathu. His ‘969’ movement has called on the country’s Buddhist majority to shun Muslim-owned businesses and to "think in a nationalist way".

L IRRAWADDY | WASHINGTON POST | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI