Myanmar declares state of emergency in state of Rakhine
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Yangon - Myanmar President Thein Sein on Sunday declared astate of emergency in the western state of Rakhine, amid reports ofspreading sectarian violence.
The announcement was made on Myanmar state-run television at 8 pm (1330 GMT). Parts of Rakhine have been under martial law since Friday, when agroup of Muslims allegedly went on a rampage in Maung Taw township,burning about 500 houses and killing at least seven people, promptingthe government to dispatch troops and military doctors to the area.
On Sunday, Muslims set houses on fire in Pipe Thwe, just north ofSittwe, the capital of Rakhine, situated about 500 kilometresnorth-west of Yangon.
"The Muslims fled by boat after they torched our houses," saidShwe Mya Oo, a retired teacher in Pipe Thwe, said in a telephoneinterview.
The government announced Sunday afternoon that dusk to dawncurfews were in force in Sittwe, Tan Twel, Kyauk Phyuu and Yan Byeltownships in Rakhine, and then declared a state of emergency in theentire province, which borders Bangladesh.
Many of the militant Muslims involved in the violence reportedlybelonged to the Rohingya minority group, who are stateless people inMyanmar. The government claims they come from neighbouringBangladesh, and refuses to grant them citizenship.
There are an estimated 750,000 Rohingya living in Rakhine.
About 1,000 Rakhine Buddhists gathered in Yangon Sunday to demandthe government restore law and order in their state and expel theRohingyas from Myanmar.
Members of the Rohingya minority were not available for comment.
The Maung Taw violence has been linked to a recent attack byRakhine Buddhists on Myanmar Muslims.
A week ago, a mob killed 10 Muslims in nearby Taunggup to avengethe rape and murder of a local woman on May 28, allegedly by Muslims.
Authorites arrested three Muslims as chief suspects in the murder,one of whom hanged himself while under detention Sunday, in anapparent suicide.
The mob of 300 people attacked a bus carrying some Muslimpassengers from nearby Thandwe to Yangon, killing 10 occupants anddestroying the vehicle.
Muslims are a minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. Rakhineborders Bangladesh, which is mostly Muslim.
