Myanmar Reports Latest Incident of Sectarian Conflict

Myanmar Reports Latest Incident of Sectarian Conflict

 

Over the past year, growing tensions have left more than 250,000 people displaced and more than 200 dead. Most were Muslims living in the western Rakhine state that borders Bangladesh.

 

Anti-Muslim sentiment has risen, stoked by a radical Buddhist movement whose roots have deepened in the country, leaving many Muslims—5% of this predominantly Buddhist country—feeling isolated and vulnerable.

 

Police on Sunday had to fire warning shots in the air to disperse the growing mob, the statement said, as villagers grew increasingly violent and threatened members of the police force with sticks and pitchforks.

 

Authorities said the situation in the village was under control by Sunday evening, with about 150 police deployed there and in surrounding towns.

 

But this was after the villagers had torched dozens of Muslim-owned shops and businesses—mostly small, family-owned tea shops and warehouses—on Saturday night, in scenes similar to other instances of sectarian violence between the two groups.