Rakhine Extremists Continued Attack On Muslims In Thandwe

RB News 

October 1, 2013 

Thandwe, Arakan – Rakhine extremists are continuing attempts to attack the local Muslims in Thandwe Township of Arakan State since last Saturday and have successfully committed arson attacks on Sunday and continued again on Monday night. 

Rakhine groups set fire to the house of U Hla Myint on Sunday night which is in Quarter (3) in Thandwe. They also set fire to the shop of U Ko Gyi Maung on that night. Extremist groups of Rakhine spread news that they will attack again on Monday night. As Rakhine Extremist groups spread threats and news of the attacks they set fire again to U Ko Gyi Maung’s shop. Moreover, they set fire to a hut situated in by a Cashew plant in Bawdi Gone quarter, which is owned by a Kaman Muslim, U Maung Maung. Then they again set fire to the hut of Molvi Thein Aung in Linn Thi village. 

There are several reports that the Rakhines group have also been trying to attack Mosques during these last two days, and finally they successfully torched a Mosque in Kyauk Gyi village. On Saturday there was a fight between a motorcyclist and Kaman National Party Chairman, U Kyaw Zan Hla. The authorities arrested U Kyaw Zan Hla for questioning and later he was released. However the authorities later arrested him again and sent to the Thandwe prison according to locals. 

Extremist Rakhines have been trying to attack local Muslims since August but were mostly unsuccessful, however tmany believe their plan is for attacks on Thandwe to be carried out in a similarly to last Spring's attacks on Meikhtila. 

Although the government knows that the attacks were led by Ye Aung Lan Kyaw Kyaw (aka) Tun Thant Kyaw, Htay Aung and Win Ko Lay, the authorities are not taking any action against them. 

The authorities imposed the curfew, section 144 in the region for the past a few months. However the Rakhines can go out at any time during the curfew hours and the security personnel are not taking any action against those who are torching the houses and mosque.