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As hate speech is a term that comes from emotion, there is a wide spectrum in defining it, not a specific one. BHRN, therefore, standardized the definition of hate speech for this report as follows. Hate speech in this report means aggressiveness and hatred against protected characteristics of a person or a group, blaming, discriminative expression, writing, gesture, or art expression of excoriation, or dehumanization.
It means attacking someone’s faith, language, gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, skin color, race, belief, citizenship, and physical appearance. The monitored hate speeches were categorized as (1) Criminalizing Hate Speech, (2) Abusive Hate Speech, (3) Dehumanizing Hate Speech, (4) Violence Inciting Hate Speech, (5) Threatening Hate Speech, and (6) Hate Speech that supports prejudicial actions inspired by hate speech.
Read more: January 2025 - Digital Hate Monthly Report (Eng -Myan)
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A deepening political crisis looms in 2025 in Myanmar as the civil war intensifies and the junta increases using airpower to stop rebel offences in several parts of the country. Without any political dialogue, which is highly unlikely to happen in the coming months and with the junta pushing for an election later this year, more violence and instabilities are expected in the coming weeks and months.
As a consequence of the ongoing conflict in the country, the United Nations warned of acute famine in Rakhine State later this year. The conflict affected food production and a blockade of supplies of food into the state imposed by the junta is likely to create additional challenges for the sustainability of food for the region’s nearly 2 million population.
The rebel groups continue to make major gains in territories across Myanmar. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) also known as the Kokang rebel group, a close ally of China celebrated its first Lunar New Year in Lashio, the commercial capital in Northern Shan State which it took over last August. However, its continuing control of the town is uncertain as China is putting pressure on the group to return the control of the town to the Min Aung Hlaing regime, as a part of a ceasefire deal Beijing brokered at the beginning of the year.
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Hate Speech Targets and Usages
In this month’s (the month of December 2024) monitoring, hate speech targeted the most was PDF and the second most was Muslim community and the third was women. Moreover, hate speeches targeting Arakan Army, Rakhine people and Chin people were found as well. Hate speech targeted to the Rohingya community in Rakhine State were also recorded along with AA.
In addition, the most used terms of hate speeches for this month are dog, terrorists, Muslim terrorists, Kalar (a derogatory term referring to Muslim), evil and non-pork eaters.
Hate Speech targeted to the Rohingya community
During the intense fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the junta in Rakhine State, the Rohingya are often considered a common target of ethnic, religious, military, and political hostility. The spread of hate speech against the Rohingya, particularly those who were forcibly recruited by the military, has increased since the AA took control of almost all parts of Rakhine State.
The Rohingya in Rakhine State can be divided into two groups: those living in areas controlled by the AA and those living in areas controlled by the Myanmar military. They face significant pressure from hate speech as they are caught between both the AA and the junta. The Irrawaddy News Agency has accused and spread hate speech against Rohingya who were forcibly recruited by the military, labeling them as “Muslim Pyusawhtee,” which translates to “Muslim Militant.” This is misleading, as these individuals were compelled to serve in the military against their will. The term “Pyusawhtee” is commonly used to refer to the military's puppets; thus, applying the same term to the Rohingya community fosters a misunderstanding that they are aligned with or complicit in the military's actions. The use of this term against the Rohingya can foster animosity not only among ethnic minorities but also among the ethnic majority towards the Rohingya community.
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A total of 87 hate speech cases were found during BHRN’s monitoring process this month. Facebook and TikTok accounts were not consistently used but temporarily and moved to other accounts and some moved to Telegram channels. The military mainly used Telegram channels and TikTok accounts to spread hate speeches.
Hate Speech Targets and Usages
In this month’s (the month of November) monitoring, hate speech targeted the most was PDFs and the second most was Arakan Army (AA) and the third was NUG. Moreover, hate speeches targeting the Rohingya ethnicity and Muslim community were found as well.
In addition, the most used terms of hate speeches for this month are "dog, terrorists, Bengali, Kalar (a derogatory term referring to Muslims), and evil.
Hate Speech Targeting the Muslim Community.
The Rohingya community in Germany was collecting donations for the Rohingya community of Myanmar. A Facebook account named Ko Than Win posted by referring to that news, that “the collection of money by the Rohingya community will not be for the local Rohingya in Myanmar but these funds will go to the Islamic Extremist Armed Groups. Even though the international community has been supporting the Rohingya since 2012, those funds went to Muslim armed groups only. There is no effective change on the ground by those fundings. This is a very dangerous issue”. In that post, Muslims were mentioned as terrorist criminals. That post used Criminalizing Hate Speech. Original Post (See the translation of the attached link below conclusion - 1)
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A total of 103 hate speech cases were found during BHRN’s monitoring process this month. Facebook and TikTok accounts were not consistently used but temporarily and moved to other accounts and some moved to Telegram channels. The military mainly used Telegram channels and TikTok accounts to spread hate speeches and the hate speeches were done through the cartoons as well.
Hate Speech Targets and Usages
In this month’s (the month of October) monitoring, the hate speech targeted the most was PDF and the second most was the Arakan Army (AA) and the third was the Muslim community. Moreover, hate speeches targeting NUG, Rohingya ethnicity and the Muslim community were found as well. In addition, the most used terms of hate speeches for this month are "dog, terrorists, illegal immigrant Bengali, Kalar (a derogatory term referring to Muslims), and evil. Hate Speeches Targeting Arakan Army
A pro-military channel posted a cartoon drawn by MaGa. The cartoon’s message is that AA is genociding the Rohingya community and they are trying to hide it to the Muslim leaders. In that cartoon, AA leader Tun Mrat Naing was referred to as the Drug King and Rohingyas were referred to as Bengali. The cartoon used Criminalizing Hate Speech against AA and Rohingya.
Original Post Attach link file Translation (1)
A pro-military telegram channel named Min Chit Oo posted that the Arakan Army was defeated by the Myanmar military and then ran away after the clash happened between the military and the Arakan Army while the Arakan Army was heading to takeover Kalarpyin village located 7 miles away from Kyitenali township on October 1st. In that post, Arakan Army members were referred to as dogs. That post used Dehumanizing Hate Speech. Original Post Attach link file Translation (2)