George Herald | Investigative team heads to Myanmar's Rakhine state

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Investigative team heads to Myanmar's Rakhine state
12:39 (GMT+2), Tue, 21 August 2012

INTERNATIONAL NEWS - An commission is to head to Myanmar's Rakhine state this week to investigate sectarian violence that broke out in June, leaving at least 77 dead, one of its members said Tuesday.

"We will spend two days there, looking for real data and the real voice of the Rohingyas," said Zarganar, a comedian-cum-political activist and part of the 27-member commission set up by President Thein Sein on Friday.

The launch of the commission was in response to growing criticism from Muslim nations, the United Nations and human rights groups that government troops had allowed or supported Buddhist Rakhine attacks on Muslim Rohingyas.

The Rohingyas are an ethnic minority group that have lived in Rakhine state for generations, but suffer discrimination from the majority Buddhist population.

The government has refused them citizenship, saying they are descendents of immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Long-standing ethnic tensions erupted in June after a Buddhist Rakhine woman was allegedly raped and murdered by three Rohingyas on May 28.

Ten Muslims were dragged off a bus and beaten to death, sparking a wave of revenge killings that claimed at least 77 dead, more than 1,000 injured and displaced up to 90,000 people.

Myanmar has been plagued by ethnic minority insurgencies in its fringe states since achieving independence in 1948. Reaching peace agreements remains a major challenge for the reforms of the new elected government.

Source : Sapa