Security forces are working to restore order in western Myanmar after a weekend of ethnic violence left at least 7 dead and hundreds of homes burned to the ground. Tensions between the Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have run high since last month, when a Buddhist girl was raped and murdered, allegedly by 3 Muslims. 10 Muslims were lynched in apparent retaliation on June 3rd. Rohingya Muslims are considered illegal migrants by the Myanmar government and many claim they are mistreated as a minority. Some schools, banks and businesses remained closed in the Sittwe region on Monday. 17 people have died in just over a week. More than 12,000 people have been displaced by the unrest.

President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency on Sunday, allowing the military to take over administrative functions. Emerging from several generations of military rule, observers will scrutinize the new government's response to the ethnic violence. The United Nations has decided to withdraw its staff from the region.

Read the full story at the Associated Press.

 

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