Security tightened after bomb rumours

Authorities have tightened security in a town of Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine following rumours about bomb attacks. 

Security had reportedly been beefed up in and around religious buildings, hospitals and schools as of Friday. 

Locals said police and army troops have been deployed in the villages of Buthidaung township in Maungdaw district, with villagers warned to be on alert. A police officer said security was in place but the situation in the town was calm. 

“Various rumours have emerged. As precautionary measures, we are tightening security at Buddhist buildings following reports that Islamist terrorists will carry out bomb attacks. At present, we have heavy rainfall and the situation in the town is stable,” said the policeman. 

“We villagers are taking security measures together with security forces. Rumour has it that terrorists are here to commit bomb attacks. Now the army troops are in Buddhist monasteries and schools for security purposes,” said a local resident from Ward-3 of the Buthidaung town. 

Authorities concerned issued a directive earlier this month, saying district and township level departments and offices should be on alert due to potential suicide-bomb attacks in Maungdaw district. 

Regarding the military’s sudden security measures in the Buddhist monasteries, a township police officer said the operation was normal. 

“Security is taking place as usual and there are no special events. Security in monasteries has already been in place. But, the arrival of some army troops is aimed at strengthening security,” said the chief of Buthidaung Township Police Force on Saturday. 

In another security-related development, the Shan Tribes Association (Interim) of Kachin State has sent a letter to UN special rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana asking him to look into the plight of the ethnic people, as well the prospect of peace, in war-affected Kachin state.

In their letter, the Shan Tribes Association said that the Shan ethnic people make up two thirds of the total population in Kachin state and have been living together with other ethnic tribes in the plains for many centuries. 

The Shan people had to move to more secure towns and villages after the war broke out between the military and the Kachin Independence Army in June 2011. 

“Quintana didn’t seem to know much about other ethnic tribes inside [Kachin] state. He looked surprised when I told him. The Shan are stuck in the state. The longer the armed conflicts last, the more difficulties they have to face. That’s why we have asked for peace to be restored quickly and to give special consideration to the basic rights of other ethnic people besides the Kachin,” said Sai Sein Linn, leader of the Shan Tribes Assocation, who submitted the letter to Quintana.

“Even though we are the majority, we never get minister or state chairman positions. As we didn’t hold arms, we didn’t receive the same rights both politically and ethnically. We want to receive the same rights rather than focusing on who was right or wrong in history,” said a representative leader of the Khani Shan tribe.

The Shan tribes’ leaders have also met with Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham and discussed literary, cultural and other issues.