Five dead and a mosque is burned to the ground in Myanmar after argument between Muslim shop owner and Buddhist customers sparks riot 39 people also injured in town of Meikhtila during the violent clashes Muslim and Buddhist communities involved in violent clashes for decades Buddhist monk and one woman are thought to be among the dead Muslim-owned shops, vehicles and education office among burned buildings Curfew established for second night as US ambassador expresses concern At least five people died and a mosque was burned to the ground after a riot was sparked in Myanmar following a confrontation in a shop. The town of Meikhtila has seen two days of violence, after the clashes were sparked when a Muslim shop owner is believed to have had a group of Buddhist customers beaten up. The two communities have enjoyed a fractious relationship in the country for decades, with 39 people injured and a number of Muslim-owned shops and vehicles set on fire during the latest confrontation. Scroll down for video Riots: Two residents sit on a railway track as a mosque burns in riot-hit Meikhtila, central Myanmar, where at least five people have died during rioting +5 Riots: Two residents sit on a railway track as a mosque burns in riot-hit Meikhtila, central Myanmar, where at least five people have died during rioting Spark: A man stands in front of the burned down mosque. The riots are thought to have been started during an argument between a shop owner and customers +5 Spark: A man stands in front of the burned down mosque. The riots are thought to have been started during an argument between a shop owner and customers The five fatalities are believed to include a Buddhist monk, two local Buddhists and two Muslims, according to an employee of Meikhtila General Hospital, while state television said a woman was also killed. Police established a curfew in the town for the second night as the violence continued. The riots are the worst in the state since clashes in the western state of Rakhine between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya last year left approximately 200 people dead and more than 100,000 homeless. People are going crazy, especially young people, said a Meikhtila resident under the condition of anonymity. More... Germany drives Cyprus into the arms of Russia: Cash-strapped country refuses to take part in call with EU as poll says Cypriots want to exit the euro zone Peace at last: Kurds call for ceasefire in 30-year struggle with Turkey which has left more than 30,000 people dead How the U.S. Secret Service almost shot Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a United Nations gathering Its hard to stop them. Some Muslims run to the safety camps and some run into the fields near town. She said some houses belonging to Muslim residents had been destroyed, including one of her neighbors. We dont dare to leave our home as burning and riots are going on outside, she said. The biggest mosque in town burned to the ground today. It had been burning since yesterday, but no one dared to put out the fire and the rioters wouldnt let others put it out. Curfew: The unrest between Buddhists and Muslims has led to a curfew being imposed for two days +5 Curfew: The unrest between Buddhists and Muslims has led to a curfew being imposed for two days International concern: US ambassador Derek Mitchell said he was deeply concerned by the unrest +5 International concern: US ambassador Derek Mitchell said he was deeply concerned by the unrest Win Htein, a Meikhtila member of parliament from the opposition National League for Democracy, said the death toll was likely to be higher than five. I saw three dead bodies myself. And my people also found some bodies, he said by phone. Even though the curfew has been imposed since yesterday, the police seem a bit hesitant to control the rioters as they dont have much experience on handling riots. An announcement on state-controlled television said those responsible for inciting the violence would face legal action, as would the gold shop owner. Under the military governments that ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, ethnic and religious unrest was typically covered up tough censorship. But since an elected government took power in 2011 the press has been unshackled, while people have been using the Internet and social media in increasing numbers to discuss ongoing situations. By Daily Mail Reporter Read more: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297070/Five-dead-mosque-burned-ground-Myanmar-argument-Muslim-shop-owner-Buddhist-customers-sparks-riot.html
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 04:07:30 +0000
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