Renewed violence in Arakan state
An injured Rakhine Buddhist man lies on a bed at the hospital in Sittwe, capital of Myanmar's western Rakhine state, after he was injured the day before in communal violence in the Mrauk U district of the state, on October 23, 2012. (AFP/Getty Images)
Authorities in Myanmar have imposed a night-time curfew in two towns in north-western Rakhine state after fresh clashes between the region's Buddhists and illegal migrant Muslim (Bengalis) broke out.
According to the LA Times, the clashes began on Sunday. At least two people are dead and hundred of houses have been lit on fire, state media said on Wednesday, however the death toll has been put higher by other sources.
This most recent wave of violence is some of the worst in the region since June, when skirmishes gained international attention following the alleged rape and murder of a Buddhist woman by three Muslim men, the Associated Press reported. At least 70,000 people have been displaced and dozens killed since then.
According to the AP, Rakhine state has been home to fighting between the two groups for decades. About 800,000 illegal migrant Muslim (Bengalis) live along Myanmar's border with Bangladesh. Neither Bangladesh nor Myanmar, also known as Burma, recognizes the illegal migrant Muslim (Bengalis) as citizens.
Posted by BCJP
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