Burma's Muslims and the War on Terror

Abstract

Burma's importance in world affairs has long derived from its critical geostrategic position, but another factor now attracting the interest of Western scholars and officials is Burma's large Muslim population. Usually overlooked in surveys of Islam in the Asia-Pacific region, Burma's Muslims are now being accorded greater attention. This is partly because of the harsh treatment they are receiving at the hands of the country's military government, known since 1997 as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). It is also due, however, to their growing international connections, which in one case at least includes links to pan-Islamic extremist groups. In this regard, the global war against terrorism has become both a burden and an opportunity for the Rangoon regime.