Sittwe, Buddhists attack Rohingya: one dead man and six injured
The 55-year-old Maung Nu killed. The attack arose from an argument over purchase of a boat. Myanmar considers Rohingya Muslims illegal immigrants from nearby Bangladesh. The worst clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya in Rakhine occurred in 2012. The Church's commitment to the dignity of people and "against all kinds of oppression."
Yangon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Burmese authorities have strengthened security in Sittwe, Rakhine state capital, after a crowd of Buddhists attacked and killed a Rohingya Muslim and injured six others in the latest act of sectarian violence in Myanmar West.
According to a statement issued by Aung San Suu Kyi's State Office yesterday in Buddhist majority Ywer Gyi Mrauk, a Buddhist group launched bricks at Rohingya and attacked the vehicle they were traveling in, killing 55-year-old Maung Nu.
Lieutenant Colonel Win Naung, head of the Sittwe district police, said violence prompted law enforcement officers to step up patrols in the area: "We've put all the necessary measures to ensure the security of Sittwe's citizens." Police are investigating the incident, but no arrests have yet been made.
State media say that the attacked men are among the 10 Rohingya who had been granted permission to leave the Dapaing reception camp, on the periphery of the city, to issue a testimony to the Sittwe court. During a break in the trial, the seven asked the police to accompany them to a nearby pier, where they were to discuss the sale of a boat from a local entrepreneur. A discussion broke out on the pier, attracting the attention of local residents who then attacked the men.
Buddhist majority Myanmar, considers Rohingya Muslims illegal immigrants from nearby Bangladesh and denies them citizenship, some fundamental rights, access to work and health care. The worst clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya in Rakhine occurred in 2012 when sectarian violence caused more than 200 deaths and pushed tens of thousands of Muslims to seek shelter in refugee camps. To date, there are about 120,000 Rohingya hosted in the facilities.
More recently, about 1,000 Rohingya were killed and 90,000 were forced to flee from their homes in the northern part of the state during a four-month security operation by Myanmar soldiers. It began in October 2016 after a deadly attack on some military border posts. A group of Rohingya militants have been accused of incursions.
The Catholic Church has always been active in the dialogue between the various ethnic and religious groups that make up the Burmese population. On 26 June, marking Eid al-Adha, one of the two most important religious festivals of the Muslim calendar, Card. Charles Bo, archbishop of Yangon, published a message recalling that in Myanmar "peace is possible, peace is the only way". "There are regions in our country where the lives of our brothers and sisters are confronted with war and oppression. May our prayers bring them peace and joy, "wrote the cardinal in a message that recalls the Church's commitment to the dignity of people and "against all kinds of oppression. "
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