Communal violence in Rakhine, Myanmar

[Bhadra]

Myanmar rejects Muslim crackdown concerns

YANGON — Myanmar on Monday told a UN rights envoy it rejected accusations of abuse by security forces in the wake of communal unrest, after the United Nations raised fears of a crackdown on Muslims.

In a press conference attended by UN Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana, Myanmar's foreign minister said the government had exercised "maximum restraint" in bringing an end to the violence in western Rakhine State.

"As such, Myanmar strongly rejects the accusations made by some quarters that abuses and excessive use of force were made by the authorities in dealing with the situation," Wunna Maung Lwin told reporters.

He said the country "totally rejects the attempts by some quarters to politicise and internationalise this situation as a religious issue".

Quintana told reporters that on Tuesday he planned to visit Rakhine, where tens of thousands remain displaced by fighting that erupted between Buddhist and Muslim communities in early June.

His trip comes just days after the United Nations warned that Muslim communities in Rakhine, particularly the Rohingya people, were being targeted by security forces.

Earlier this month Amnesty International warned of "credible reports" of abuses -- including rape and unlawful killings -- by both Rakhine Buddhists and the security forces.

According to official figures, at least 77 people were killed in the unrest, including eight killed by security forces.

Of the more than 60,000 displaced, Myanmar officials said the vast majority -- around 53,000 -- were Muslims.

Ten aid organisation staff -- six from the UN and four employees of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) -- are among more than 800 people being held in relation to the unrest.

Both sides have accused each other over the attacks, which flared up following the rape and murder of a local Buddhist woman and subsequent revenge killing of 10 Muslims on June 3 by a mob of ethnic Rakhines.

Fears about the situation have spread across the Islamic world, with threats of violent reprisals against Myanmar from extremists from Pakistan to Indonesia.

Myanmar's government considers the estimated 800,000 Rohingya in the country to be foreigners while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and view them with hostility.

Earlier this month, President Thein Sein told the United Nations that refugee camps or deportation was the "solution" for the Rohingya, according to his official website. Quintana is set to meet the Myanmar leader in the capital Naypyidaw on Friday
AFP: Myanmar rejects Muslim crackdown concerns

 

[LurkerBaba]

Once at front of fight for freedom, Burmese monks now march against Muslim minority

After leading some of the largest demonstrations against Burma's former military junta in 2007, hundreds of Buddhist monks have once again taken to the streets in protest. Yet instead of marching to demand greater freedoms, they are demonstrating in support of President Thein Sein's recent proposal to either deport members of the country's minority Rohingya Muslim community, or send them to camps.

The demonstration follows months of unrest in the country's western Rakhine state between the region's ethnic Buddhist communities and the Rohingya. Violence first broke out in June, after a Buddhist woman was raped and then killed, allegedly by Muslims. Outraged by the crime, a local mob attacked a bus, beating 10 Muslims to death in the process. Since then, Rakhine state has been plagued by periodic clashes between the two groups, which have left at least 90 people dead, according to an official estimate. Human rights group fear, however, that the death toll could be much higher.

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....

Sign reads: "Protect mother Myanmar by supporting the president"

http://observers.france24.com/conte...st-highlights-xenophobia-among-buddhist-monks

 

[Iamanidiot]

I seem to like the Buddhist monks

 

[LurkerBaba]

Buddhist monks march in Myanmar to thwart Islamic office plan

Thousands of Buddhist monks marched in Myanmar's two biggest cities on Monday to protest against efforts by the world's biggest Islamic body to help Rohingya Muslims involved in deadly communal clashes four months ago.

The monks, a potent political force in the predominantly Buddhist country, denounced plans by the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to set up a liaison office in northwest Rakhine state, where violence erupted in June between ethnic Buddhist Rakhines and Rohingyas.

Just hours after the monks dispersed, President Thein Sein's office announced it would not permit an OIC representation in Myanmar. It was not immediately clear if the announcement was linked to the protests or had been planned in advance.

"The government will not allow the opening of an OIC office as it is not in accordance with the desire of people," said a statement posted on its website.

The monks were joined by ordinary citizens in Yangon and Mandalay. Some carried placards with the words "get out OIC", and "no OIC" and said they would hold demonstrations until the government agreed to their demands.

Buddhist monks march in Myanmar to thwart Islamic office plan | Reuters

 

[blank_quest]

 

[parijataka]

I seem to like the Buddhist monks

Yeah me too.

 

[Ray]

It real tough going for the Rohingyas and India.

Myanmar is throwing them out and Bangladesh is shoving them into the sea and Hyderabad is welcoming them with open arms!

 

[LurkerBaba]

Sectarian violence worsens in Myanmar

Hundreds of homes burned and gunfire rang out as sectarian violence raged for a fifth day between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists in western Myanmar on Thursday, pushing the death toll to nearly 60 and testing the country's nascent democracy.

In Myanmar's volatile west, sectarian violence worsens | Reuters

 

[agentperry]

if buddhist given upper hand then they will surely try to dominate that area. a risky politics if played can turn buddhist myanmar against tibet occupier china. though it wont be a challenge but it can become what vietnam and philipines is for china right now-another pressure center.
it could be risky at the same time but whats wrong giving it a try.

 

[blank_quest]

comparing it to the partition and nascent democracy of India that suffered in '47 , it is nothing.

 

[LurkerBaba]

Burma's leader admits deadly attacks on Muslims

Satellite images show huge swath of coastal town destroyed in a wave of violence which has left dozens dead

"There have been incidents of whole villages and parts of the towns being burned down in Arakan state," Thein Sein's spokesman said.

Burma's leader admits deadly attacks on Muslims | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[LurkerBaba]

Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar security forces

Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar security forces of supporting some anti-Muslim attacks

A leading international rights group on Sunday accused Myanmar security forces of supporting some of the brutal anti-Muslim violence last month that forced 35,000 people from torched homes. The government rejected the allegations, which came one day before President Barack Obama's visit to the Southeast Asian nation after a year and a half of unprecedented democratic reforms there.

Human Rights Watch said soldiers in some parts of western Rakhine state also tried to stop Buddhist attacks and protect Muslim civilians, known as Rohingya. But the group said the government needs to do much more to protect the stateless minority, who are denied citizenship because they are considered foreigners from Bangladesh.

The New York-based rights group also released new satellite imagery detailing the extensive destruction of several Muslim areas, including a village attacked by Buddhist mobs armed with spears and bows and arrows where adults were beheaded and women and children killed.

Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar security forces of supporting some anti-Muslim attacks - The Washington Post

 

[JBH22]

Violence in India,Pakistan,Burma there is only one constant variable in this, up to you to locate