Twitter CEO under fire for tweeting about Myanmar trip without mentioning human rights abuses

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey sparked criticism after he encouraged his Twitter followers to visit Myanmar, the government of which has been accused of genocide against the Muslim Rohingya people.

“[I]f you’re willing to travel a bit, go to Myanmar,” Dorsey tweeted after traveling to the country for a meditation retreat. 

And if you’re willing to travel a bit, go to Myanmar: https://t.co/9qKm78uq7o

— jack (@jack) December 9, 2018

“Myanmar is an absolutely beautiful country,” he added. “The people are full of joy and the food is amazing.

{mosads}”I visited the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan. We visited and meditated at many monasteries around the country.” 

Myanmar is an absolutely beautiful country. The people are full of joy and the food is amazing. I visited the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan. We visited and meditated at many monasteries around the country. pic.twitter.com/wMp3cmkfwi

— jack (@jack) December 9, 2018

Twitter users took issue with Dorsey’s tweets, given that Myanmar’s military has been accused of ravaging the Rohingya in what the United Nations has deemed a genocide.

“Sure, if you arent bothered by literal ethnic cleansing, it’s probably real nice scenery,” wrote one Twitter user.

Sure, if you arent bothered by literal ethnic cleansing, it’s probably real nice scenery.

— Ang (@Anghellik9) December 9, 2018

“The people are so full of joy! I suppose you didn’t visit any of the hundreds of villages burnt by government forces or talk to any of the more than half million Rohingya forced to flee the country who are now living in overwhelmed refugee camps in Bangladesh,” another wrote. “Meditate on THAT.”

The people are so full of joy! I suppose you didn’t visit any of the hundreds of villages burnt by government forces or talk to any of the more than half million Rohingya forced to flee the country who are now living in overwhelmed refugee camps in Bangladesh? Meditate on THAT.

— Techie no longer on island time 🙁 (@Infoseepage) December 9, 2018

“It’s a country actively committing genocide against its own people, but great job advertising for them,” wrote another user.

It’s a country actively committing genocide against its own people, but great job advertising for them

— newtman (@newtman) December 9, 2018

Twitter did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

A source familiar with Dorsey’s intentions in visiting Myanmar, however, told The Hill that the Twitter CEO visited the country because it is the only place where the particular type of meditation he practices is done in its original form.

“The culture of Myanmar is the only one that retains the original teachings,” the source said. “So he wanted to go and experience this particular type of meditation where it is still practiced traditionally.”

— This report was updated at 12:13 p.m.