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BURMA'S MUSLIMS: Terrorists or Terrorised? Andrew Selth
BSTRACT
Burma's importance in world affairs has long derived from its critical
geo-strategic position. Another factor now attracting the interest of Western
scholars and officials is Burma's large Muslim population. Usually
overlooked in surveys of Islarn in the Asia-Pacific region, Burma's Muslims
have long suffered from discriminatiory and harsh treatment at the hands
of the country's military government. This has prompted the creation of
several armed insurgent groups. The increased attention now being paid
to the Muslim community in Burma, however, is mainly due to its growing
international connections, which in the case of one insurgent group at
least includes direct links to pan-Islamic extremist organisations. While
the relationships between some Burmese Muslims and intemational terrorist
groups like Al Qaeda and ]emaah Islamiah have often been exaggerated,
and at times even deliberately misrepresented, they are likely to attract
even greater interest from the US government and its allies. In this regard/
the global war against terrorism launched in 2001 has become both a burden
and an opportunity for the Rangoon regime.
