Death toll rises to 21 as Myanmar strives to halt communal violence
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2012, Wednesday
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PEOPLE fled their burning homes and Myanmar's security forces struggled to contain communal violence today in a western region where state media reported the death toll climbed to 21.
The conflict pitting ethnic Rakhine Buddhists against stateless Rohingya Muslims in coastal Rakhine state marks some of the worst sectarian unrest recorded in Myanmar in years. President Thein Sein has declared an emergency in Rakhine state and warned that the spiraling violence could threaten the democratic reforms tentatively transforming the country after half a century of military rule.
From Friday through Monday, the evening news report said, 21 people were killed, 21 wounded and 1,662 houses burned down around Rakhine state. The mass violence started last Friday in Maungdaw township, when what was said to be a mob of 1,000 Muslims - described as "terrorists" in the state media - went on a rampage and had to be restrained by armed troops.
The violence afterward spread, including to the state capital, Sittwe.
The TV report said the authorities have tried to restore stability but clashes continued and arson was committed in Sittwe and Maungdaw on Monday. It said security forces had to intervene as communal tensions erupted on Monday and yesterday in several parts of Sittwe.
Yesterday in Sittwe, police fired live rounds into the air to disperse Rohingyas who could be seen burning homes in one neighborhood. Hordes of people ran to escape the chaos.
"Smoke is billowing from many directions, and we are scared," said Ma Thein, an ethnic Rakhine resident in Sittwe, where dark smoke from numerous fires covered the skyline into the late afternoon. "The government should send in more security forces to protect both communities."
Truckloads of security forces have been deployed in Sittwe, and much of the port city was reported calm. But homes were burning in three or four districts that have yet to be pacified.
In one, police fired skyward to separate hundreds-strong mobs wielding sticks and stones; in another, soldiers helped move 1,000 Muslims by trucks to safer areas.
State TV showed Defense Minister General Hla Min visiting refugee camps for Rakhines opened at Buddhist monasteries and distributing food and other relief goods.
It also showed him meeting with some Muslim elders in Sittwe and visiting camps where Muslim villagers are sheltered, to which he also gave relief goods. It was the first time state television showed a camp housing Muslims.
Ma Thein said that some people were running short of food and water, with banks, schools and markets closed.
Myanmar's unrest was triggered by the rape and murder last month of a Buddhist girl, allegedly by three Muslims, and the June 3 lynching of 10 Muslims in apparent retaliation.
The conflict pitting ethnic Rakhine Buddhists against stateless Rohingya Muslims in coastal Rakhine state marks some of the worst sectarian unrest recorded in Myanmar in years. President Thein Sein has declared an emergency in Rakhine state and warned that the spiraling violence could threaten the democratic reforms tentatively transforming the country after half a century of military rule.
From Friday through Monday, the evening news report said, 21 people were killed, 21 wounded and 1,662 houses burned down around Rakhine state. The mass violence started last Friday in Maungdaw township, when what was said to be a mob of 1,000 Muslims - described as "terrorists" in the state media - went on a rampage and had to be restrained by armed troops.
The violence afterward spread, including to the state capital, Sittwe.
The TV report said the authorities have tried to restore stability but clashes continued and arson was committed in Sittwe and Maungdaw on Monday. It said security forces had to intervene as communal tensions erupted on Monday and yesterday in several parts of Sittwe.
Yesterday in Sittwe, police fired live rounds into the air to disperse Rohingyas who could be seen burning homes in one neighborhood. Hordes of people ran to escape the chaos.
"Smoke is billowing from many directions, and we are scared," said Ma Thein, an ethnic Rakhine resident in Sittwe, where dark smoke from numerous fires covered the skyline into the late afternoon. "The government should send in more security forces to protect both communities."
Truckloads of security forces have been deployed in Sittwe, and much of the port city was reported calm. But homes were burning in three or four districts that have yet to be pacified.
In one, police fired skyward to separate hundreds-strong mobs wielding sticks and stones; in another, soldiers helped move 1,000 Muslims by trucks to safer areas.
State TV showed Defense Minister General Hla Min visiting refugee camps for Rakhines opened at Buddhist monasteries and distributing food and other relief goods.
It also showed him meeting with some Muslim elders in Sittwe and visiting camps where Muslim villagers are sheltered, to which he also gave relief goods. It was the first time state television showed a camp housing Muslims.
Ma Thein said that some people were running short of food and water, with banks, schools and markets closed.
Myanmar's unrest was triggered by the rape and murder last month of a Buddhist girl, allegedly by three Muslims, and the June 3 lynching of 10 Muslims in apparent retaliation.
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