At Shwegadon

Myanmar has many problems: an absence of democracy, widespread poverty, forced labor, armed persecution of ethnic minorities, jailing of political prisoners without trials, no freedom of expression. The list goes on. However, one of the places the country does not seem to have a problem is with religious freedom. I've observed Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Taoists. In fact, in central Yangon, there is a paya, a mosque, a church, a Hindu temple, and a Chinese temple all within a block of each other. Sure, ethnicity determines religion, with the Bamar majority being Buddhist, but people seem free to worship whatever deitie(s) they choose.

The reason I point this out is because the US State Departement included Myanamr on its list of "Countries of Particular Concern" that deny religious freedom. The list consists of Myanmar, China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan. Conspicuously missing is Saudi Arabia, a country that prohibits all religions besides the state sanctioned Sunni Islam. But George W needs Saudi Arabia's help for his war. Could Myanmar just be an easy target to fill out the list since so few people know the first thing about it?