Myanmar Considers Declaring Emergency In West

[Lite Beer]

Myanmar considers declaring emergency in west

Yangon

Myanmar's government could declare a state of emergency in Rakhine state if sectarian violence continues there, a legislator said yesterday.

A total of 67 people have been killed and 95 wounded in clashes this week between Buddhists and Muslims in the western state, the government-run New Light of Myanmar and other newspapers reported yesterday.

"We will declare a state of emergency" if the violence continues, Home Minister Lieutenant General Ko Ko said Friday, according to Phyo Min Thein, an opposition member of the Lower House said yesterday.

The minister was responding to a proposal by the opposition National League for Democracy to address the clashes, Phyo Min Thein said.

A hospital was treating 26 people hurt in the clashes, most suffering from gunshot wounds, staff told a photographer from the European Press photo agency in Sittwe, the Rakhine state capital, about 500 kilometres northwest of Yangon.

This week's violence reportedly flared when minority Muslim Rohingyas protested at the lack of aid and food in their villages and burned down houses in the townships of Min Bya and Mrauk Oo.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday called on the government to "take immediate steps to stop the sectarian violence", including attacks against in the Rohingyas.

The group claimed to have access to satellite photos showing 811 structures, including 633 buildings, 178 houseboats and floating barges, as being destroyed in an arson attack on October 24.

Parliament will keep a watchful eye on how the government addresses the ongoing Rakhine conflict, the Rule of Law and Stability Committee of the Lower House said.

The committee led by Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday submitted an important proposal on the renewed conflict in Rakhine State to parliament during its regular session in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

The proposal urges the union government to respond quickly in the violence-hit townships by increasing the number of security forces and the level of security.

The MPs representing Rakhine state said the ongoing conflict had nothing to do with Buddhism and Islam. "It is not a conflict between the Rakhine people and Islam, either. It is only a conflict between local Rakhine people and Bengalis," they said.

Home Affairs Minister Lt-General Ko Ko said various groups were formed to address the Rakhine conflicts.

"This proposal needs real action. Parliament is also responsible for this. If authorities don't take action, we need to take action against such irresponsible authorities. Otherwise, it is completely meaningless to make this proposal in Parliament… We need to record and monitor the government's steps concerning the case," said Lower House speaker Shwe Mann.

Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the committee, said: "Actually it is not necessary to enact emergency laws very often. Normally the process for ensuring law and order should not be that difficult. The violence could have been stopped if the situation there was contained lawfully and transparently. We should take action lawfully. Some may dislike us talking about the law and order.

"Some people like to highlight the violence as the main focus. Our vision of the situation is that we should take rapid action to restore law and order there. Transparency is very important. If the people believe the events are unjust, the violence will surely continue."

-- The Nation 2012-10-28

[lizardtongue]

I have always been led to believe that Buddhists were non violent?

http://danyawadi.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/muslim-rohingyas-under-vicious-attack-in-myanmar-rights-group/

Edited October 28, 2012 by lizardtongue

[SeaVisionBurma]

Never come across a religion yet, that hasn't declared itself to be "non violent"...