- Title: MYANMAR: President Thein Sein visits troubled Rakhine state for the first time
- Date: 1st October 2013
- Summary: RAKHINE STATE, MYANMAR (OCTOBER 1, 2012) (REUTERS) SITTWE AIRPORT VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN GREETING PEOPLE AT AIRPORT STUDENTS WAVING FLAGS SOLDIERS STANDING ARMED SOLDIERS GUARDING HELICOPTER LANDING IN MYAUK-U TOWNSHIP VARIOUS OF THEIN SEIN GETTING OFF HELICOPTER THEIN SEIN GREETING PEOPLE VARIOUS OF CARS DRIVING PRESIDENT WALKING TO KYAUK TAW TOWNSHIP PEOPLE SITTING IN MEETING HALL PRESIDENT GIVING SPEECH AND PEOPLE SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN SAYING, "Just military and police forces won't be enough to control the situation. These burnings, killings and violence will not happen only when you take part to maintain peace by yourself" OFFICIAL MUSLIMS SITTING IN MEETING HALL IN MAUNG DAW TOWNSHIP VARIOUS OF MUSLIMS IN MEETING HALL RAKHINE BUDDHIST SITTING PRESIDENT GREETING THE PEOPLE IN MEETING HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN ADDRESSING THE GATHERING SAYING: "Our international reputation(of democratization) was damaged(by the violence). But our explanation to the United Nations and to countries in our region, convinced them to understand us. The most important thing is we shouldn't allow these things to happen again." MUSLIMS LISTENING PRESIDENT TALKING TO RAKHINE BUDDHISTS PEOPLE GREETING PRESIDENT VARIOUS PRESIDENT GETTING ON HELICOPTER
- Embargoed: 16th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Myanmar
- City:
- Country: Myanmar
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3CFUFNJRSE27JWA7WG0POH21J
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Myanmar's President Thein Sein started visiting the country's western Rakhine state on Tuesday (October 1) .
The visit is the first since sectarian clashes between Buddhists and Muslims broke out in Myanmar's border state to Bangladesh over a year ago.
Thein Sein's visit comes just after another bout of violence. Muslims hid in their homes in Thandwe township after armed police on Monday dispersed a group of about 200 Buddhists that torched dozens of houses and surrounded a mosque in the latest outbreak of violence.
Police reported no casualties from the incident.
"Just military and police forces won't be enough to control the situation. These burnings, killings and violence will not happen only when you take part to maintain peace by yourself" Thein Sein said, addressing a gathering in Pauk Taw township, one of the townships faced with unrest.
Clashes between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state broke out in June 2012, and spread to other regions in Myanmar. At least 237 people have died in the clashes and more than 150,000 become homeless.
"Our international reputation(of democratization) was damaged(by the violence). But our explanation to the United Nations and to countries in out region, convinced them to understand us. The most important thing is we shouldn't allow these things to happen again" Thein Sein said.
The violence threatens to undermine political and economic reforms that have been launched in the two years since an almost civilian government replaced a military junta. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None