Sittwe, Arakan State: Recent violence that has erupted between Arakanese and the Rohingya has been heating up resulting in thousands of people being made homeless and dozens dead, according to locals and officials.
The violence that started in Minbya on Oct.21 has spread to many other townships, including Mrauk U, Kyauk Pru, Minbya and Mray Bon. It’s believed the violence is spilling into central Arakan State.
According to U Hla Thein, who is a spokesman for the Arakan State government, the violence broke out in Minbya after an Arakanese man named U San Thein,(47), was shot with an arrow by a Muslim man. Soon after, a group of Arakanese men in downtown area Minbya rushed to the scene to help him.
A fight ensued between groups wielding sticks, swords and fire in the Muslim ward of Paik Thei. Eighteen of the two-hundred houses in the ward were burned down. Both Arakanese and Muslims accused each of burning down the houses.After this, 200 homes were burnt down in the early morning in Thet Yet Okk village, Minbya Township.
An Arakanese teacher from Pan Myung village, who didn’t want her name used, claimed Muslims, who hadn’t eaten in days, were responsible for the attack.
“I heard it was poor Muslim villagers who were starving because they hadn’t made any money since June since violence broke out in Arakan state. They couldn’t go to the mountains or rivers, and they couldn’t get work on Arakanese owned farms. Muslim landlords in their village distributed some rice to poor families every day but it wasn’t enough for their family to survive. So they wanted to be listed as refugees in order to get international aid, and burned down their own homes themselves, and then fled the village.”
At the time of press, Narinjara News hasn’t being able to confirm this information.
After the arson attack in Thet Yet Okk, it spread to other areas when villagers from Thet Yet Okk village gathered in Pa Rim village resulting in further violence involving swords and arrows being shot. About 100 houses, including a monastery and mosque, were torched. Three Arakanese and two Muslim women were killed, with several others injured.
On Oct. 23, San Bali village was attacked by Arakanese mobs, burning 29 houses to the ground. According to locals, a Muslim man from San Bali was shot dead by security forces.
The violence also hit Mrauk U Township on the same day. Two Arakanese, Maung Aung Myint, (28), and Maung Soe Soe, (27), from Pan Myunt village were killed by the Burmese army. Thousands of Arakanese attacked Nagara village.
Yin Thi village was set on fire, killing three Arakanese. Naga Kwe was also attacked. Many houses were also torched in Kyauk Pru and Mray Bon.
