In many cases of communal violence
over the past couple of years,
local security forces, particularly the
police, have appeared unable or unwilling
to intervene to stop violence
and rioting. In some cases, they have
been accused of participating in the
violence (International Crisis Group
2013). Moreover, various reports
have indicated evidence of a degree of organization among rioters
that implies pre-planning, and government, religious, and civil society
actors make frequent references to undefined “dark forces” responsible
for driving this violence. Local residents often claim that
the riots were led by people from outside, and that prior to the events
there were no significant religious tensions between neighboring Buddhist
and Muslim communities (Wade 2013).8 Though some have
accused elements of the military or economic elite of orchestrating
these events in order to turn back the reform movement, there is no
direct evidence tying the events to either current or former members
of the military or government.9 However, the continued instability is
a threat to the current democratic reform process because it could be
a pretext for martial law and the resumption of direct military rule
(Stoakes 2013). It is notable, and hopeful, that in Mandalay and elsewhere
stories did emerge of effective community policing, Buddhists
sheltering Muslim neighbors from attacks, and religious and community
leaders coming together to refute rumors and restrain militant
elements of their own communities. These positive illustrations of
indigenous community resilience against communal violence will be
discussed later in this paper.