Sectarian violence shakes Myanmar

Jun 12

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Sectarian violence shakes Myanmar

Ethnic conflict has brought deeply rooted tensions to the fore, polarising discourse both on the web and on the ground.

Buddhist men hold weapons as they guard their homes after fighting between Muslim and Buddhist communities in Sittwe June 9, 2012. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

A state of emergency has been called in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine after sectarian violence left seven dead and 17 wounded on Friday. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the state capital Sitwe, as well as in three other townships. Residents said those behind the violence were Muslims.

Existing tensions were inflamed last month when a Buddhist girl was murdered and raped, allegedly by three Muslims. This was followed by the lynching of 10 Muslims by 300 Buddhists on June 3.

View the story "Sectarian violence shakes Myanmar" on StorifySectarian violence shakes MyanmarEthnic conflict has brought deeply rooted tensions to the fore, polarising discourse both on the web and on the ground. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Jun 11 2012 17:46:44Staff/ReutersAJstreamThe Rohingya, who are the region's Muslim minority, are seen by the government as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They are not officially recognised as one of Myanmar's national ethnic minorities and the vast majority have been denied citizenship.Gallo/GettyAJstreamThe United Nations estimates that there are around 800,000 stateless Rohingya in the three districts of Rakhine, which neighbour Bangladesh. There are an additional 20,000 Rohingya in UN refugee camps in Bangladesh itself. This video sheds further light on the Rohingya, whom the BBC have referred to "as one the world's most persecuted minority groups".Stateless Rohingya...Running on EmptysuthepkritsanavarinNyein Chan Naing/EPAAJstreamBut many netizens have complained about what they perceive to be a pro-Rohingya bias in the Western media. They say the Rohnigya are illegal immigrants who are terrorising ethnic Rakhine.Sadly .... this is happening #Rohingya #Rakhine #Myanmar #BBC http://pic.twitter.com/GpRNgf5lYing Aung@cnni Plz don't use in ur article "fighting between Rakhine & Muslim #Rohingya".We r not fighting. Rohingya r INVADING our own land#Myanmar.May Nyein Chann SoeWhy foreign media are saying as #Rohingya are being attack??? WHY? actually they are attacking civilian…Htoo Tay ZarWhat retaliation killings? #Rakhine defending themselves in their own land against #Rohingya thugs. It is all in self-defense. Full stop!Alaungphra@seacorro @Francis_Wade Fire burnin at #buddhist #monastery as illegal migrant set fires #rohingya #burma @ Sittwe http://instagr.am/p/LulNoHwIxT/william lwinThis perception has only further polarised sentiments on the ground, as seen in this photo of Buddhist demonstrators.Soe Than Win/AFP/Getty ImagesAJstreamThe international community, particularly those who have praised the current administration for a slew of democratic reforms in recent months, is closely monitoring the wave of violence in Myanmar. Will the Burmese government be responsible and help the situation in #Arakan state? or fan the flames? http://bit.ly/KLEfzx #Burma #myanmarRenée WolforthJust like what I thought, After Myanmar becme democracy, they will face many riots from minorities who want to separate country. troublesomeprun poa Myanmar’s transition to democracy in danger due to sectarian violence… http://goo.gl/fb/v0Z2r #Philippines #NewsPhilippineNewsUpdate

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Sectarian violence shakes Myanmar

Sectarian violence shakes Myanmar

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