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Myanmar: 2 killed, 8 injured in fresh riot in Rakhine state

24-10-2012


YANGON, (Xinhua): Two people have been killed and eight others injured in a fresh riot which occurred with two townships -- Minbya and Mrauk U in Myanmar's western Rakhine state over the past three days, an official report confirmed Wednesday.

In the communal riot which erupted on Sunday night in Minbya and spread to Mrauk U later, a total of 1,039 houses in eight villages of the two townships were burnt down due to arson, said the New Light of Myanmar.

Measures are being taken in accordance with law by the Rakhine state government and local township authorities to prevent more violence and to restore rule of law and normalcy, the report said.

The local authorities have imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew from 7 p.m. (local time) to 5 a.m. in the two areas since Monday night as the riot escalated.

The security forces intervened to keep the situation under control.

Rakhine state has been declared a state of emergency along with imposition of curfew in six townships -- Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Sittway, Thandwe, Kyaukphyu and Yanbye since June 10.

The curfew was extended to Kyauktaw on Aug. 8 and then to Minbya and Mrauk U, bringing the total number of townships under curfew to eight.

Since June 8, altogether 90 people were killed, 116 people injured and over 65,000 others victimized. A total of 4,822 houses, 17 mosques, 15 monasteries and three schools were burned down, according to earlier official figures.

A series of bloody incidents, which took place in May-June, triggered deadly unrest and violence in Rakhine state starting with Maungtaw township on June 8.

The Myanmar government on Aug. 17 formed a 27-member investigation commission, aiming at exposing the real cause of the conflict in the western Rakhine state in May-June that have undermined peace and stability and rule of law in the region.

Editor: An


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-10/24/c_131926821.htm

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