Moreover, right speech is said to reduce fear among others: “By abstaining
from false speech, the noble disciple gives to immeasurable
beings freedom from fear” (Anguttara Nikaya).
These Buddhist calls for a form of speech that promotes concord
and does not sow division or fear appear powerfully relevant and resonant
for the current situation in Myanmar. Recently, some civil society
organizations and actors, as well as political actors, have criticized the
use of “dangerous speech,” and several new campaigns actively promote speech that can protect and fuel peaceful coexistence. As an example,
in April 2014, the Burmese activist Nay Phone Latt led a group of
civil society organizations that launched the Pan Zagar (flower speech)
campaign. This campaign promotes speech that supports coexistence
between those of different races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations.
It has distributed pamphlets and stickers, launched a Facebook
account, and produced and disseminated a song during the annual
Thingyan festival in April 2014.