International condemnation of Rakhine violence grows Monday, 07 October 2013 The United States, the United Kingdom and the United Nations have all condemned the latest wave of violence to rock Myanmar’s restive Rakhine State. At the United Nations General Assembly in New York on October 1, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern over the violence during a meeting with Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin. Mr Ban said the government needs to take urgent action to protect Myanmar’s vulnerable citizens and stop the spread of violence. In a statement issued on October 2, the US embassy in Yangon said it strongly urges the authorities “to respond quickly and decisively to the violence to help protect all the region’s residents and their property”. “We further urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the violence, and provide all necessary protection and assistance to the victims and other vulnerable populations,” it said. British Minister of State Hugo Swire took to Twitter to say that he was “concerned” about the violence, adding that the “UK continues to call for peaceful resolution”. The most recent clashes between Buddhists and Muslims broke out on September 29 in the southern town of Thandwe. While the unrest was initially brought under control, the violence escalated on October 1-2, with about 60 homes destroyed and at least one person – a 95-year-old Muslim woman – killed. Five people, all Muslims, died in the violence. The Muslim population of Thandwe comprises mostly Kaman, an officially recognised ethnic group. On October 2, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ashok Nigam said at a ceremony in Yangon to mark International Day of Non-Violence that the riots in Thandwe and previous violence in June “go[es] against the spirit of humanity and resolution of all differences through non-violent and peaceful ways”.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 03:15:25 +0000
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