"...But today if Muslims are cut out of the formal political equation then Myanmar faces some really serious challenges. The country?s own history has plenty of sad examples of what happens when disenfranchised minorities have their backs against the wall. Almost everyone involved in Myanmar?s political process deserves blame for this unedifying situation. Often critics are only prepared to target one side or another. In this case it is militarists, democrats, ethno-nationalists and conservatives who must all take responsibility for their decisions. By ensuring that Muslims feel left out of the historic vote, Myanmar?s power-brokers will condemn their 2015 election to unnecessary international ridicule. It did not need to be this way, but such decisions ? the culmination of years of ugly anti-Muslim agitation ? do not deserve our respect. As the election campaign continues, it is this narrow vision of fortress Myanmar ? one that deliberately excludes some of its most valuable citizens ? that will further aggravate communal tension."