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Burma Muslim-Buddhist clashes erupt in Shan state | Burma Muslim-Buddhist clashes erupt in Shan state |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Clashes between Muslims and Buddhists have been reported in Lashio, the capital of Burma's north-eastern Shan state. | Clashes between Muslims and Buddhists have been reported in Lashio, the capital of Burma's north-eastern Shan state. |
Local residents said a mosque and shops owned by Muslims were set on fire. | Local residents said a mosque and shops owned by Muslims were set on fire. |
The clashes began after claims spread that a Muslim man had doused a Buddhist woman with fuel and set her on fire at a petrol station. | The clashes began after claims spread that a Muslim man had doused a Buddhist woman with fuel and set her on fire at a petrol station. |
Recent months have seen a number of clashes between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Burma. | Recent months have seen a number of clashes between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Burma. |
The unrest - the extent of which remains unclear - reportedly erupted when police refused to hand over the man accused of setting the Buddhist woman alight to a crowd. | |
The woman had been taken to hospital and the man was in police custody, reports said. The authorities have imposed a curfew in the town, according to residents. | |
"Fires have been put out at some places in the town... the situation is under control now," an unnamed official told the AFP news agency. | "Fires have been put out at some places in the town... the situation is under control now," an unnamed official told the AFP news agency. |
Presidential spokesman Ye Htut said on his Facebook page that "two religious buildings and some shops'' had been burned down in Lashio. | |
"Damaging religious buildings and creating religious riots is inappropriate for the democratic society we are trying to create,'' he said. | |
"Any criminal act will be dealt with according to the law." | |
Wave of violence | Wave of violence |
In March, at least 43 people - mostly Muslim - died in violence that erupted after an argument at a Muslim-owned shop in the central town of Meiktila. | In March, at least 43 people - mostly Muslim - died in violence that erupted after an argument at a Muslim-owned shop in the central town of Meiktila. |
The owner of the shop and nine other Muslims were imprisoned last month for that outbreak of violence. As yet no Buddhists have been convicted over the Meiktila clashes. | The owner of the shop and nine other Muslims were imprisoned last month for that outbreak of violence. As yet no Buddhists have been convicted over the Meiktila clashes. |
Ethnic violence in Rakhine state last year left nearly 200 people dead and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. | Ethnic violence in Rakhine state last year left nearly 200 people dead and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. |
The conflict that erupted in Rakhine involved Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, who are not recognised as Burmese citizens. | The conflict that erupted in Rakhine involved Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, who are not recognised as Burmese citizens. |
The communities remain largely segregated in the wake of the violence, with many displaced Rohingya Muslims living in tents or temporary camps. | The communities remain largely segregated in the wake of the violence, with many displaced Rohingya Muslims living in tents or temporary camps. |
Human rights groups have criticised Burmese authorities for being complicit in the persecution of the Rohingya. | Human rights groups have criticised Burmese authorities for being complicit in the persecution of the Rohingya. |