Burma death toll rises to 112

Oct 26, 2012, Posted 46 minutes ago

Photo: The latest violence raises questions over the reformist government's ability to contain historic, ethnic and religious tensions in Burma. (Reuters: Soe Zeya Tun)

Up to 112 people have been killed in Burma as security forces used deadly force to break up the worst sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the country in years.

The deaths have come in six days of unrest in western Burma, in violence between ethnic Buddhist Rakhines and Rohingya Muslims.

The UN warns that Burma's fledgling democracy could be "irreparably damaged" by the clashes, which come just five months after communal unrest killed more than 80 people and displaced at least 75,000 in the same region.

Buddhist Rakhines say they were shot by security forces struggling to impose order on Rakhine state, where violence with Rohingya Muslims has engulfed several districts, including Kyaukpyu, where a multi-billion dollar China-Burma pipeline starts.

The latest death toll severely tests the reformist government's ability to contain historic, ethnic and religious tensions suppressed during nearly 50 years of military rule that ended last year.

A statement from UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon described the violence as "deeply troubling".

"The fabric of social order could be irreparably damaged and the reform and opening up process being currently pursued by the government is likely to be jeopardised," a spokesman said.

"The widening mistrust between the communities is being exploited by militant and criminal elements to cause large-scale loss of human lives."

Rakhine state government information officer Win Myaing says 112 people - including 61 women - had been killed and 72 people had been wounded.

At least 2,000 houses and eight religious buildings have been destroyed.

Reuters spoke to Rakhine people treated for bullet wounds and other injuries at a tiny, ill-equipped hospital in Kyauktaw, a town north of the state capital, Sittwe. One man died soon after arriving.

In a separate incident, security forces reportedly shot at a crowd of Rakhine protesters on Kyauktaw's outskirts, killing two and wounding four.

The shooting of Buddhists is a sign that the military is getting tougher, following international criticism that Burma's new government was failing to protect Muslim Rohingyas.

Reuters

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-26/burma-death-toll-rises/4336712?section=world