Violence erupts in western Burma refugee camp, at least 2 killed - UN

NAIPYIDAW, BURMA (BNO NEWS) -- At least two Muslim refugees were killed in western Burma after security officials opened fire at the refugee camp, officials said.

According to the United Nations (UN) UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the incident occurred in the Kyein Ni Pyin IDP camp in Pauktaw township on Thursday morning in Burma's Rakhine state. Reports indicate that two Rohingya Muslims were killed, while the UN reported six injured, including two minors.

UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards in a news conference in Geneva said the latest violence was believed to have been triggered by a dispute between displaced people and a village leader.

"A reportedly poor relationship between them had been compounded by false rumors that displaced people would be isolated and prevented from returning to their places of origin," Edwards stated.

"When some of the displaced gathered at a nearby military post asking that the leader be handed over, gunfire was used by the authorities to disperse the crowd and resulting in the fatalities and wounding," Edwards explained.

UNHCR staff arrived at the scene shortly after to follow up with the victims' families and facilitate medical attention to the injured. Since last year's inter-communal violence, the UNHCR has been building temporary shelters for some 4,400 displaced ethnic Rohingya. According to the UN, a year after the first wave of inter-communal violence erupted, there are still up to 140,000 people displaced within Rakhine state.

The agency is calling for an investigation into the incident, and appealing to the authorities to handle the matter in a peaceful and calm way to avoid fueling further violence and loss of life. It is also calling for dialogue between the involved parties to resolve the grievance.

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