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BREAKING NEWS
State of Emergency Declared as Death Toll Rises in Meikhtila
Meikhtila government officials visit the conflict area.
For more photos click on the box below.(Photo: Teza Hlaing / The Irrawaddy )
RANGOON/MEIKHTILA — Burma’s government declared a state of emergency in Meikhtila on Friday afternoon as the central Burmese city was hit by a third day of clashes between Muslims and Buddhists.
In announcing the move, state-run television said that “Local security forces and authorities have to seek military help to restore order effectively,” suggesting that the government would send in troops to quell the ongoing riots.
Unofficial death toll estimates of the violence meanwhile continue to rise. A local hospital confirmed that 10 people had died, while an opposition lawmaker said at least 20 had been killed. The official government figure had not yet been updated by Friday evening and still stood at five.
Photo evidence of widespread carnage is also emerging, with news media websites and social media sites such as Facebook posting pictures that show numerous charred bodies and whole neighborhoods on fire.
Some local residents told The Irrawaddy that militant Buddhist monks and laymen went on a rampage through the city in Mandalay Division on Friday morning, destroying mosques and what they believed were Muslim-owned properties.
“It’s as if they are destroying the town. The situation is now out of control,” said a Pauk Chaung quarter resident, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of his safety.
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He said Muslim residents were seeking shelter at sites in Meikhtila where police could offer them some form of protection.
“They [police] are standing guard over 800 Muslim people taking refuge at a football ground. Now I’ve heard that the ministers for internal affairs and religious affairs and the chief minister for Mandalay Division are here,” the Buddhist man said.
However, police had little control over events, according to the resident. “Now we have nearly 30 truckloads of riot police here, but they can’t control the mob,” he said. “Instead they are trying to put out the fires.”
Thousands of Muslims, who are believed to make up as much as a third of the city’s population, have reportedly fled since Wednesday out of fear that they might be killed.
On Friday evening, The Irrawaddy’s reporter in Meikhtila observed police evacuating about 1,500 residents, mostly women and children, out of the city’s Chan Aye quarter to a makeshift refugee camp on the town’s outskirts. More than 2,000 Muslim refugees were gathered at the
site.
Rioters also threatened reporters on Friday morning, including The Irrawaddy’s photographer, forcing them to delete photos they had taken of the casualties and damage. The group was accompanied by a few police officers, but some reporters decided to leave the city fearing that the authorities could not guarantee their safety.
At 4 pm Friday, state-run television announced that President Thein Sein had imposed a state of emergency in Meikhtila, which is a garrison city with a heavy military presence, located halfway between Mandalay and Naypyidaw.
Earlier in the day, a senior officer at Meikhtila District Police Office told The Irrawaddy that riot police had begun seizing weapons from mobs and arresting anyone who was believed to be instigating unrest.
“So far, we have arrested 20 people, rioters as well as looters, after we charged into a mob,” he said, without explaining why police only began such actions on the third day of the violence.
Win Htein, a National League for Democracy lawmaker from Meikhtila, said at least 20 people had been killed in the violence, adding, “I’ve seen them with my own eyes.” He said the police force had been woefully inept in dealing with the escalating inter-communal violence.
“The security force doesn’t seem to have riot-control experience, so they don’t know how to react to the clashes,” he said. According to the opposition MP, the town had never experienced such visceral religious conflict before, adding that it was “disheartening” to see communities torn apart.
Mandalay State Chief Minister Ye Myint was also on the scene to inspect the situation and coordinate local authorities. Win Htein said he and local authorities were having a meeting with the chief minister and an unofficial death toll figure would be released afterward.
Staff at Meikhtila Public Hospital on Friday afternoon told The Irrawaddy that 10 people had died as a result of injuries sustained during the clashes.
Kay Oo May, the founder of Young Buddhists Association in Meikhtila, a local NGO, said she had been informed that 20 people were killed in recent days and that mosques throughout the town had been razed.
“I learned that 12 Muslims and eight Buddhists are dead. I myself witnessed two dead bodies,” she said. “Five mosques, including the biggest one, were destroyed,” Kay Oo May said, adding that the Muslim quarter of Chan Aye was the most hard-hit.
Members of the respected activist group 88 Generation Students have been calling for calm since violence broke out and on Friday afternoon the group said President Thein Sein’s response to the violence had been inadequate.
“They are very slow in handling the issue. We’d like to say that we, the 88 Generation leaders, are ready to cooperate with the authorities to settle the riot,” said Nyan Lin, a spokesperson for the group.
The All Burma Islamic Organization sent a letter to the Burmese president on Thursday urging him to urgently provide Muslim people in the country with lawful protection.
The clashes in Meikhtila are the latest flare-up in ongoing Buddhist and Muslim inter-communal violence in Burma. Since June 2012 there have been recurrent waves of violence between Buddhist Arakanese and Muslim Rohingya in western Burma’s Arakan State, which have killed 180 people and displaced 110,000 villagers, mostly Rohingyas.
In recent months there have been several reports of inter-communal clashes in other parts of Burma, but no one was reportedly killed in during these incidents.
I would like to sincerely remind all those who are committing violence acts in Meikhtila that more than 10% of the Burmese are working outside the country to support you. Because of your inhuman atrocities, they are vulnerable now. They might be your siblings, cousins, relatives or acquaintances. Do you like to endanger their lives and liberty? Please be careful what you wish for! More than a billion Muslims can harm us Burmese much more than you can think.
Hatred between the religion and nationality is the prejudice; that not only destroy the development and reform but also can lead to civil war. it is time for the Government, political and human right activist and political party leader to stand up, speak out, against that kind of evil act. Also, the people, who involved in the violence have to rethink about their violence criminal activities, no one have the right to take the law in their own hand.
It is sad for the country’s peacefullnes democracy building. I do not think we deserve democracy if there is a slow security and protection for manorities as extremists are bullying the system of human rights.
In a majority Buddhist country, racial prejudice against other religions is no surprise. ‘Hate crime’ is punishable by law. To live harmoniously, people should be made aware that the rule of law prevails. We don’t want Myanmar to be a place where race and religion trump.
We cannot be sure North Korea, Thailand or China s not behind this incident.
Reportedly someone was trying to pawn their jewellery; people pawn jewellery when they are desperate for money and often highly emotional. We can presume they were not happy about the price being offered and there was an emotional scene. Such scenes are likely common at Gold / Pawn shops.
What happened next?
Was their an Agent Provocateur?
Who has the most to gain from the incident. The army gains nothing. The Muslim population gains nothing. The Buddist population gains nothing.
Myanmar loses potentially valuable investment as tourists fear to travel.
Western companies have second thoughts about establishing business.
These riots do not however effect the USA whose main objective through ExxonMobil is acquiring offshore drilling rights in the Bay of Bengal. All that silt washed down the Ganges has been fermenting for hundreds of millions of years.
What ever the Myanmar army does it is going to be blamed; either too little or too much. With defence ties improving between the Myanmar and the USA and Australia it is time to send in an international security force to work side by side with the Myanmar army.
It is time to develop the MYANZUS Treaty.
USA and Australia’s missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are both failures. What make you think thinks would be different in Burma?
We must see big picture of the country that facing is CHINA, not Muslin or Kachin. They are still living together in country. CHINA is everything digging and taking from our land using doing business with old generals. Be careful this type of internal conflict make by old intelligence people who make this formula for so so long using in our land. Ask yourself Burmese people, everyone must take care self and living with HARMONIES each others. GOD BLESS BURMA.
No sense of blaming China as a scapegoat. You do not have a concept of ‘give and take’ like Ne Win. Today, there’s no healthcare system, no higher education in Burma because of one screw up concept of Burmese way of thinking. Keep on thinking like that and soon Bangkok will be flooded with teenage prostitutes from Burma. We asked for it.
THEIN SEIN RESIGN!
THE ARMY SHOULD TAKE OVER!
DECLARE MARSHALL LAW!
BEFORE IT GETS WORSE!
China has already invested enough in Burma. They will not allow to harm their investment and will not like investment from other countries in Burma. They and Junta whose interests are in Chinese investment can do anything to destabilize Burma. I suspect their hands are behind this tragedy.
Myat Moe you forgot to my regret to mention the biggest Myanmar Buddhist Monks as Sithagu Seyadaw, Alodawpyi which could not be heard to preach peace for Rakhine as well now they should be in Meiktila and have mass celebrations and teach Buddhism to the people and real Buddhism and not only to ensure that they can stay in Golden Castles many stories high as Ngapali – pearl Seyadaw which is one of the strongest in hate speeches against others. It is time that highest Buddhists in Myanmar and their strong men behind from before show the world that Myanmar people understood their teachings well the past 20 years – when due to repair payments by the than Khin Nyunt Government to the monks after 88 a Air Con Pajero head Monks wealth group came up
Right Teaky many of the 10 % Myanmar Buddhists in foreign working , make good money in Muslim Mid East countries, — around 2 million Buddhists are illegal in Thailand alone, than Malaysia , Singapore. Why not just have them sent back to Burma Country , stay with 30.000 to 60.000 kyat a month again,– you are right many Myanmar know globalization only one sided and “Me First” , but can we blame them. Direct Law enforcement is the way and order to shoot below waist is not my stile but sure the only language the rioters understand, make sure they pay for their hospitalization than by them self and get prison terms on top or hard labor… Other countries had same problems as East Germany after the wall came down, need most quic k rule of law.
The internal conflict in Burma is the longest ongoing war in the world. ASSK has shown that she is something of a lightweight when it comes to this complex matter. Gen 88 offers the best chance yet for ALL BURMESE to work toward building national reconciliation.
Enough is enough. These Burmese buddisht thugs have not allowed the media as well. I have heard from true sources that they even went into muslim orphanage school and beaten kids and destroyed their school and mosques. Now Muslims countries will not stay idle. The Muslims of Burma have suffered a lot. I agree with Teaky’s point. The 10′/’ of Burmese will now pay the price in Jordan,Dubai,Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, and Malaysia. There is no guarantee these Burmese including monks will never loot properties of Muslims in Mandalay and Yangon. NLD and 88 students should lead a mass protest against the military who has orchestered these riots. Thein Sein is a muppet and still supporting his crony military friends.
Dear Derek and hpmaungaung
I am very surprised that Derek and hpmaungaung are blaming on China for this deadly religious conflicts between Muslim and Buddhism. I am not sure why it happens but Derek told about Pawn shop. Pawn shop’s license is sold by government so nobody knows how much Pawn shop is cost to get license. If all are corrupted, Pawn shop’s license is not in the reasonable value and it costs more and more. All the properties and industrial lands are in the sky rising prices in Burma. The cronies and ex-armies companies who owns all lucrative businesses and lands , are waiting to cut the throats of the foreign investors. Ultimately , all the cost will go to the poor Burmese. Most foreign investors except naive and greedy China, will not come in to give their throats to cut by those opportunistic ones. Naive and greedy investors, China went and goes to than shwe and his connected shops. I am worry that the next riot might be aiming to Chinese ethnics because the majority of people are very poor in Burma to displace their anger to anyone. Those poor have no place to express their anger and dissatisfaction because than shwe has a gun. DASSK has no military power. Than shwe and min aung laing are still killing Kachin and are going to kill all ethnics step by step with his private army. DASS is persuaded to be in their ( than shwe) circle. Burmese economy is still in the bad shape although there are a lot of promises and projects. This and that will come but will be long and long.
I am sure to say that the root of the problem is due to the world most poorest country, Burma. The cause is not due to China, Thailand, Singapore and North Korea. If than shwe opens and opened his shops , there is and are greedy and naive buyers around the world to come in to deal with cruel fox than shwe. Now, than shwe changed his shop name and his shop was sold to thein sein with zero dollar( no military power). China is now in the position of helpless child in Burma with holding the large amount of paper businesses ( payment receipts without lucrative goods ) from than shwe shop. China proudly said and says that they ( their policy) will not interfere anythings about Burma. It means Than shwe can do or can kill anybody what he likes in Burma for the sake of China or USA or DASSK or his private army. Than shwe can make use of China, USA , DASSK alternately for the sake of his pockets and his long survival.
In Burma, still there is no concrete, effective, feasible economic policy to rebuild the country from than shwe, and thein sien bama military government. Thein sein has to visit and visit and beg and beg oversea for foreign investments.
Then, in the more conditions of unrest, than shwe’s private army will need to control again Burma so the new and more cruel bama military thugs will be born again and again very soon. Thein sein needs to delay to clear up all riots in Burma with the order of than shwe. For issuing curfew , Burma needs the important of military’s role as well as polices-controlled by army man.
Derek and hpmaungaung should glance your faces ( or the tricky faces of than shwe and thein sein) from the mirror respectively first before you both say that they ( rich China , rich Thailand, Nuclear weapon owner-North Korea , rich Singapore ) are ugly. If both of you sincerely want to help some naive Burmese people, do not stir up again the sino/burmese clash. You might know that China is the next future giant , like USA if China develops smoothly in all aspects. China has already warned that death of one Chinese citizen will cost you a lot ( recent death sentence in China to the Burmese convicts who killed Chinese killers). Please, Be patient to China as well as Muslim-minority. It is up to both of you whether you both are patient to than shwe and thein sein or military powerless DASSK for their promises. However, do not displace your angry to future gaint China and let it to sleep well.
Dear Hla,
You’re right. These two peoples want to start another ethnic communal riot and they want to destroy current democracy reform in Burma. I don’t who are they behind the mask of Derek and hpmaungaung.
Well said Hla.
Thanks,
Sai Lin Kan
Dear Sai Lin Kan
It is not very bad situation if Irrawaddy Aung Zaw wrote that he has a video or photos proofs that the racial clash happened in Miktila easily and readily. Now, Maung Kyaw nu said he was informed by someone that there was a another racial clash in Pegu division but there was no precaution from than shwe as military power is in his hand. Both blame on than shwe’s private army to ignore those clashes. It happened easily and readily. I hope we all Burmese might understand and do not go into the trick and traps of than shwe. Burma will be divided into 2 pieces very soon so min aung laing should resign or be sacked and DASSK must be chief of military force urgently to control this situation urgently. The victims are not than shwe and his cronies, not China, not USA. We all Burmese will suffers endlessly in this than shwe’s game. If those racial clash is turned out to be demanding the resignation of min aung laing for his poor action and performance, what does than shwe will act on ? DASSK and 88 should go out to the street for this demand now before it is too late for the sake of all Burmese.
My correction: It is a very bad situation that irrawaddy Aung Zaw wrote that ————
Right on Norman. It’s easier to blame others for our own failures. We Bama will not try to improve ourselves in our thinking, We tend to rely on other’s helps and yet we are defiant of actions. I think we have to change our jealousy attitude towards foreign investments. Do not just single out China. Soon, British, Iranian, Australian, France, you name it are coming in because of DASSK. It won’t work if we keep on being jealous or narrow minded or prejudiced Burmen. Do not let the vicious circle prevail. It’s about time we start the ‘anti jealous’ campaign’. The motivation is to show public of Burmese teenage prostitutes working at Bangkok brothels.
……militant Buddhist monks….. Now there’s an oxymoron for you. Monks involved in violence are not worthy to wear the robe. Burma, you have totally lost the plot. Corruption is now off the scale.
U r right, this is the reason why religious leaders of Muslim religion never wear the robes or special suit to differentiate them from others for escalate the terrorist acts any time at anywhere.
What is happenning in Mayamar? Who is creating this violence?Is the government trying to take brutal control again?
It’s Ne Win’s tactic. People will appreciate more after a short period of ‘anarchy’. It’s a 8-8-88 deju vu. Tamadaw want to show that police cannot handle this kind of case and Army is everything in Burma. God bless Tamadaw.
How can you blame other Nations’ Government for communal riot inside Burma? I must suggest those peoples need to take their medication correctly prescripted by their Psychiatrist. Please, do not try to start another ethnic communal riot.
The communal riot between Burmese ethnics and Burmese muslim was building up for many decades long and it’s not building up from yesterday.
Buddhist Burmese and other religions follower Burmese are undeclared dislike about Muslim’s chauvinism for many decades in Burma. Muslim communities in Burma are encouraging Muslim man to marriage other religions follower woman and they force her to convert Islam religion. Other religions followers do not like that kind of Muslim peoples practice. Sometime Wealthy Muslim community openly rewarded for high profile marriage between Muslim man and Buddhist woman. For example, late Muslim singer was marriage to Ne Win era high rank Government official daughter and the Muslim organization gave 1 Million Kyats to that singer as wedding gift. One of insiders said it was rewarded for marrying high rank Buddhist Government official daughter. Unwise chauvinism of some Muslim organizations are to blame for decade long building up hatred between Muslim vs. Buddhist Burmese, Christian Burmese in Burma.
Also young Muslims frequently insulting to Buddhism and Buddhist monks was one reason for Buddhist monks involving in every communal riots between Buddhist Burmese and Muslim in Burma.
In view of Burmese ethnics, Muslim peoples are dishonest and dirty in trade but there are plenty of honest wealthy Muslim merchants in Burma. Most of Burmese see stereotype of Muslim as dishonest and dirty peoples.
In Meikhtila communal riot, it started by dishonest trade practice of Muslim shop owner but Buddhist Burmese’s decade long anger was exploded in wrong reason.
The victim does not go to police station and open the case against Muslim shop owner and his shop assistant who beaten him up in trade dispute. The Hospital emergency clinic did not call or inform Police station. In Western Countries, the Hospital Emergency Department must notify Police for criminal investigation but Burmese Hospital Emergency Department does not have such as practice in Burma. Other reason for the victim and family do not go to Police station was they do not trust police any more because Police officers always given hard time to ordinary peoples and usually Police took bribe from rich offender.
So victim’s friends, relatives and Buddhist monks from his village take the law in their own hands.
There’s no prove of other countries’ Government was involved in this communal riot in Burma.
The conclusion for communal riot in Burma is less of Rule of Law and Burmese peoples do not have the law they can trust.
To building trust between Polices and peoples is long way to go. Polices need to show their integrity and moral to peoples of Burmese.
To all Buddhist and other religions follower Burmese peoples please do not take the law in your own hands. Please do not harm to someone because of disagreement and dishonest trade practice. Please, do not destroy any religious buildings because the individual trade practice and behavior is nothing to do with religion.
Please, go to report to Police but if the Police is doing nothing and taken bribe from offender and then you report to Government in Napyitaw and ask assistance from your local Law Maker MP. Also you can confidence to Media. There’s many ways to get justice in Burma now.
I hope local Law Enforcement organizations will be quickly taken action on such as small matter before bigger in future.
This is so depressing. First of all labeling these hoolligans as Buddhists or Muslims does a disservice to all of those who practice their faith with devotion. One thing I noticed on my recent holiday in Myammar was that a considerable number of people wearing robes didn’t appear to have a clue what it means to be a Buddhist. I would like to think that all those involved in this tragedy will reflect on the personal damage they have done to their minds as well as the horrors they committed towards others
Dishonnest people come in all shades and groups Sai Lin Kan. This is funny. So you saying no dishonest people in the religion of buddhism. lol. You see this causes problems. In the west people say buddhist people are peaceful people. what i see like in Asia and the rest of the world people will kill by anyway. I see that buddhists are threatened by other people for example islam growing in population in the world. Its funny. Its all about a power threat that maybe islam might be coming popular so the buddhist monks are getting angry.
Hi Bennet,
Obviously, you didn’t read my comment start from end. The individual practice and behavior is nothing to do with religion. Religion taught peoples not do sin but peoples do. That person is responsible for his or her act but not religion. All races and religions have to heritage bad peoples and good peoples. However, Muslim peoples’ daily life is directly control by Islam religion. In Burma, we do not afraid and never though Islam religion was threatening to Buddhism but Burmese peoples simply do not like some of Muslim peoples’ practice. Muslim population is very small numbers in Burma. Do not check on Wikipedia or other Muslim propaganda website. If you check it and then you will be found Great Burmese General Maha Bandoola becoming Muslim and all Kongbaung era Generals, Prime Minister Kinwon Mingyi U Kaung and all Palace officials were converted to Muslim after they were dead. It’s some kind of Muslims’ vandalizing to Burmese history.
Muslims are just trying to be one of Burmese ethnics but nowhere can you be found Bengali Muslim ethnic or Indian Muslim ethnic or Arab Muslim as one of 135 Burmese ethnics in history.
Burma has Kaman ethnic who follower of Islam religion. Burmese peoples are not anti Islam or anti Muslim themselves but some trouble makers want to create problem. They may be traditional Buddhist Burmese but they may not be follower of Buddhism.
Some of Muslim peoples disrespect and insulting to Buddhist Monks and Buddhism is main reason for Buddhist Monks and Buddhist Burmese peoples dislike Muslim in Burma.
Islam religion will never popular in country like Burma.
Only Muslim population has increase by illegal entering from Bangladesh to Rakhine State.
Burmese Government has to deal them with Immigration Law. That Government’s action is protecting for Burma sovereignty land.
Buddhist peoples are naturally peaceful and friendly peoples but they will be fierce peoples too when someone threatening their sovereignty, culture and religion. That’s philosophy of Burmese peoples.
Well if I was dishonest and then I won’t be used my ethnic name I’ll use Christian name like you rather than Osama Bin Laden.