News 5
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News 5
Curfew fails to curb attacks in Thandwe
A state government spokesman denies reports from residents in the Rakhine State town that up to 14 houses were damaged by mobs and several buses torched
eieitoelwin @ gmail. com
A RAKHINE State government spokesman downplayed violence in Thandwe township last week, insisting that only one house was damaged – by its owner – contradicting earlier reports from residents.
Government spokesman U Win Myaing also said two Muslim men were arrested on July 1 and charged with rape. They are being held at Thandwe police station.
While the details of the incident remain unclear, the latest violence is thought to have been sparked by allegations that a Buddhist girl was raped as she was returning home on the night of June 29.
Residents told The Myanmar Times that up to 14 houses were burned the following day by a mob that appeared to be targeting Muslim households.
However, U Win Myaing said officials had responded promptly and put in place a curfew under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“ One Muslim burned his own house after moving his property to another place on June 30 but [ the fire ] did not spread to other places. The security forces could contain it in time,” U Win Myaing said.
He added that the local authorities were taking“ necessary measures” to ensure peace and stability
EI EI TOE LWIN MANNY MAUNG
manny. maung @ gmail. com
in Thandwe.“ The state government is trying to maintain stability in accordance with the law and to prevent more violence.”
However, residents said the heightened security presence and the curfew had failed to prevent more arson attacks in Thandwe.
A bus station in Ann Daw ward was targeted by arsonists on July 2, with nearby residents alerting police about 9:30pm.
U Nyi Nyi She, a worker at the bus station and also a resident of Ann Daw ward, told The Myanmar Times by phone that he had seen at least two buses and the main
‘ They were people that my friends and people living in my neighbourhood recognised... They were throwing rocks and carrying knives to terrify people.’
Ko Win Han Thein Thandwe resident
building at the station torched. However, the authorities had managed to stop the fire from spreading, he said.
“ I saw tyres had been slashed on the buses and windows smashed in,” he said.“ The main building was completely destroyed but the fires didn’ t take hold.”
He said the perpetrators had fled the scene by the time police arrived.
U Win Myaing said neither the bus station nor any buses had been torched.“ It’ s just a rumour,” he said.“ Some people threw stones at the buses as they passed along the road but there was no serious damage. It was just a short incident and the security forces could control it.”
The attack on the bus station followed similar violence targeting Muslim households on June 30, which saw as many as 14 houses burnt and three homes completely torched.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing armed gangs carrying knives, batons and slingshots circling No 5 ward on foot and motorbike. They then kicked in doors and smashed windows of homes, before setting the buildings alight.
Resident Ko Win Han Thein, who has friends living in the area, said not all of the damaged homes belonged to Muslims.
“ At least five of the homes that caught fire [ from the other houses ] belonged to Rakhine Buddhist households,” he said.
He provided The Myanmar Times with a comprehensive list of those whose homes had been affected.
“ Ko Myo Thin’ s house was burnt down, as was Ko Than Lwin’ s house,” he said.“ Daw Win Kyi, who runs a pharmacy, also had her house burnt down completely.”
Ko Win Han Thein said he wanted authorities to investigate the arson attacks thoroughly. He said many of the perpetrators were locals.
“ They were people that my friends and people living in the neighbourhood recognised,” he said.
“ They were throwing rocks and carrying knives to terrify people. Many of us saw who they were.”
However, police have so far made no arrests over the mob violence and arson attacks.
Ko Zaw Linn Naing, manager of Shwe Nan San Guest House in Thandwe’ s No 3 ward, said he heard that three or four houses had been destroyed, some by their owners.“ Now the situation is stable and there is more security,” he said.“ But there are just a few guests at my guesthouse.”
Ma Hnin Phyu, a receptionist at Thande Beach Hotel at nearby Ngapali beach, said the number of guests was normal.
“ We warned our guests not to go out after 7pm... we have had no problems,” said Ma Hnin Phyu, who lives in Thandwe.“ I know some riots happened in Thandwe... but the situation is stable now.”
Min Ko Naing( left) at the 88 Generation press conference in Yangon on July 3. Photo: Zarni Phyo
88 Generation to mark uprising anniversary
EI EI TOE LWIN eieitoelwin @ gmail. com
THE 88 Generation student group has invited ethnic minorities and expatriate Myanmar to take part in the 25 th anniversary of the 1988 uprising next month.
The activist group is organising a three-day ceremony from August 6 to 8 to mark the silver jubilee of the August 8, 1988, protests, a key event in the uprising of that year.
All people – including members of ethnic minority groups and Myanmar people living abroad – are encouraged to participate in the event, 88 Generation member Min Ko Naing said.
“ We invite all people – both those involved on that day and those not involved – because the 8-8-88 revolution concerned all our citizens,” he said.
Participants at the event will discuss six topics based on the two themes of peace and national reconciliation. These include the peace process, human rights and the development of democracy, realistic national reconciliation and state building.
“ We have to find out what we will do and what we should stand for,” said Ko Htay Kywe, another member of the group.
“ After we discuss [ the six points ] we will come up with a political agreement that will become a‘ roadmap’ for the future written by the democratic forces,” he said.
88 Generation leaders said the country faces numerous challenges, including ensuring effective checks and balances and amending the 2008 constitution.
‘ We are still trying very hard to ensure everyone has their democratic rights.’
Ko Htay Kywe 88 Generation leader
“ We devoted our lives to changing the country and have struggled to bring about those changes. We are still trying very hard to ensure everyone has their democratic rights,” Ko Htay Kywe said.“ But from this year we have to make concrete decisions about what we should do in the future.”