TheIrrawaddy

The Irrawaddy magazine covers Myanmar, its neighbors and Southeast Asia. The magazine is published by Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG) which was established by Myanmar journalists living in exile in 1993.

e DIto R (e nglish e dition): Kyaw Zwa Moe

CoPY De SK: Neil Lawrence; Paul Vrieze; Samantha Michaels

CoNt RIBU to RS to this issue: Aung Zaw; Igor Blazevic; jacques Maudy; Kyaw Zwa Moe; Kyaw Phyo Tha; Marwaan Macan-Markar; Paul Vrieze; Samantha Michaels; Saw Yan Naing; Steve Tickner; Thitinan Pongsudhirak; William Boot

Photo GRAPhe RS: j Paing; Steve Tickner

LAYoUt D e SIGN e R: Banjong Banriankit

Re GI o NAL heADQUAR te RS MAILING ADDR e SS: The Irrawaddy, P.O. Box 242, CMU Post Office, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

YANGoN B URe AU : No. 197, 2nd Floor, 32nd Street (Upper Block), Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar. teL: 01 388521, 01 389762 e MAIL: editors@irrawaddy.org

SALe S&ADV eRtISING: advertising@irrawaddy.org

PRINte R: Chotana Printing (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

PUBLIShe R: Thaung Win (Temp-1728)

14 | diversity: Among the Moken, the Sea Gypsies of Myeik

A unique culture that has survived for millennia is rapidly vanishing, as the Moken people are forced to leave the sea for life on the land

20 | border: An Open Secret, an Illicit Trade without end Myanmar is at the heart of a flourishing illicit drug industry that is poisoning societies around the region and beyond

24 | regional: Thailand’s Turn for Peace in Troubled South Offers Little hope, So Far

Bangkok is taking a new tack in its efforts to end a nearly decade-old insurgency in Thailand’s far south, but violence in the predominantly Muslim region rages on

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regional: race Politics May Stunt reforms after Malaysian election

Though the ruling coalition managed to retain its hold on power, its leader faces tough questions about the direction of the country

30 | cover A radically Different Dhamma

While traditional Buddhism urges its followers to seek peace of mind, a new brand of Buddhist nationalism strives to stir up anti-Muslim passions

36 | cover ‘It’s naïve to say 969 is behind the unrest’

An interview with Myanan Sayadaw U Thaddhamma

38 | cover ‘Monks are being used’

An interview with U Pantavunsa

40 | nationalism: The Vicious Cycle of extreme Nationalism

As the experience of the former Yugoslavia attests, the rise of rabid nationalism can subvert an emerging democracy in dangerous—and devastating—ways

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business: Ford is First to enter Myanmar’s Growing, Volatile Car Market

One of the world’s largest automakers hopes to make strides in a market long dominated by a military conglomerate’s used-car imports

48 | business: Chinese State, US Billionaire, Irish Tycoon in Telecoms Bid

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