Authorities in Myanmar imposed a night-time curfew in at least two towns in northwestern Rakhine state after renewed deadly unrest between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in an area where more than 80 people were killed in June.
The earlier violence was a setback for a quasi-civilian government that has won international plaudits for its political and economic reforms since President Thein Sein took office in March last year, ending almost 50 years of brutal military rule.
Official media said on Wednesday that two people had been killed and eight injured in the violence since Sunday, while 1,039 homes had been burned down. Unconfirmed reports from other sources put the death toll higher.
Up to 800,000 Rohingyas live in abject conditions along Myanmar’s border with Bangladesh. Neither country recognises them as citizens and the Bangladeshi authorities turned away boatloads of Rohingyas fleeing the violence in June.
Most people in Myanmar regard them as illegal immigrants from South Asia. Even Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate who led the fight for democracy, has sidestepped questions on how to tackle the problem.
Hla Thein, spokesman for the Rakhine State government, told reporters curfews had been imposed in the townships of Minbya and Mrauk Oo from Monday. Some local sources reported reinforcement of armed police in these towns.
“However, I don’t think the situation has returned to normal in villages on the outskirts of Mrauk Oo,” retired school teacher Mya Thein told reporters by telephone.
