Myanmar: Seven Rakhine Buddhists killed in riot Jan. 16

Event

Seven protesters were killed by security forces during a riot involving some 5000 Buddhists in the city of Mrauk U in Rakhine state on Tuesday, January 16. Police opened fire on the crowd of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists as they tried to seize a government building and hoist a Rakhine state flag. Thirteen other protesters were injured.

Context

Mrauk U, home to an ancient Buddhist complex of the last Rakhine kingdom, remained unscathed by the military’s crackdown on the region’s minority Rohingya Muslim community. But ethnic Rakhine, many of whom are marginalized and live in very poor conditions, have a longstanding animosity with the Myanmar state. Rakhine state is home to the Buddhist rebel group - the Arakan Army - fighting Myanmar’s army. Clashes garner little attention however due to the news being dominated by violence against the Rohingya.

Advice

Due to poor security conditions, some Western governments and Myanmar authorities advise their citizens against nonessential travel to Rakhine state - with the exception of the southern townships of Kyaukpyu, Ramree, Munaung, Toungup, Thandwe (including the tourist resort of Ngapali), and Gwa - as well as the Bangladeshi border.