Burma Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi Refuses To Intervene In Burma's Ethnic Violence

Aung San Suu Kyi Refuses To Take Sides In Burma Ethnic Violence -- Voice of America

Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has urged tolerance in response to a wave of ethnic violence in the west of the country, but says she will not take sides.

In an interview with the BBC Saturday, the Nobel Peace laureate said she does “not think one should use one's moral leadership” to promote a particular cause without looking into the sources of the problem.

She says advocates of both sides are displeased with her, but says the rule of law should be established as a first step before looking into other problems.

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Update: Suu Kyi says cannot back Myanmar's Rohingya: BBC -- AFP

My Comment: This is a disappointment. Even the Dalai Lama has come out asking Aung San Suu Kyi to use her considerable influence to assist the Rohingyas in Burma’s Rakhine province .... but she has chosen to stay out of a conflict that foreign observers have noticed is targeting the Muslim minority in the country.

Burma's Sectarian Violence -- News Updates October 31, 2012

Myanmar 'Rejects talks' On Ethnic Violence -- Al Jazeerea

ASEAN chief says offer turned down, even as tension between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims simmers in Rakhine state.

Myanmar has rejected an offer by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to open talks aimed at quelling deadly communal violence there, according to the regional bloc's chief.

Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday he proposed setting up tripartite talks between ASEAN, the UN and Myanmar's government to prevent the violence from having a broader regional impact.

But he said Myanmar turned down the offer to discuss the bloodshed in the western Rakhine state that has led to about 180 deaths since June.

The bloodshed has pitted Buddhists against minority Rohingya Muslims.

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More News On The Sectarian Violence In Burma

Survivors criticize Myanmar government over Buddhist-Muslim clashes that displaced 28,000 -- Washington Post/AP
3,000 Muslims stranded as Bangladesh turns away refugees fleeing Burma unrest -- The Telegraph
Bangladesh turns away Rohingya fleeing Myanmar unrest -- AFP
Myanmar says it has evidence communal violence was organized by groups and individuals -- Washington Post/AP
Myanmar unrest could develop into 'terrorism': govt -- AFP
Many Rohingya missing as boat sinks off Bangladesh -- BBC
At least 130 Burmese refugees drown in shipwreck -- The Guardian
130 fleeing Burma violence feared dead as boat sinks -- Independent
130 missing in Rohingya boat sinking: Bangladesh police -- AFP
Myanmar must protect Muslims and halt discrimination, UN says -- Reuters
ASEAN chief: Rohingya issue could destabilize the region -- Jakarta Post

Sectarian Violence Continues In Burma

Burma map, state of Rakhine

As Burma Violence Continues, Warnings Of Broader Instability -- Voice of America

BANGKOK — Authorities in Burma say they are working to restore calm to western Rakhine state after a week of sectarian violence left nearly 100 people dead, destroyed thousands of homes and displaced 30,000 people, the vast majority of them Muslim. Amid reports of continuing clashes, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has expressed concern the instability could spread.

Burma officials on Tuesday said thousands of security officers are trying to restore order in western Rakhine state, following clashes between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims.

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More News On The Religious/Sectarian Violence In Burma

Fear, mistrust grip Myanmar's volatile Rakhine region -- Reuters
Survivors Criticize Myanmar Gov't Over Clashes -- ABC News/AP
Rights groups want access to Rakhine state -- UPI
Myanmar camps overwhelmed after fresh unrest: UN -- AFP
U.N. Says 28,000 Displaced in Burma Ethnic Clashes -- Time/AP
Myanmar fighting kills 84, displaces at least 22,500 -- CNN
Burma violence: 20,000 displaced in Rakhine state -- BBC
More than 22,000 forced to flee Burma after worst sectarian violence in years, UN says -- The Telegraph
ASEAN Chief: Burma Unrest Could Radicalize Rohingya Muslims -- Voice of America
Myanmar unrest threatens to destabilize democracy and region -- Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor
Setback for Burma -- Telegraph editorial

Thousands Flee Escalating Sectarian Conflict In Burma

Fleeing Muslims Seek Food, Shelter After Myanmar Sectarian Chaos -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Boatloads of Muslims struggled to reach refugee camps and sought safety on islands and in coastal villages on Saturday as Myanmar tried to put out the fires of a week of sectarian unrest that has shaken its fragile democratic transition.

Dozens of rickety wooden vessels packed with the stateless Rohingya Muslims who fled clashes with Buddhists in western Rakhine state had reached land by Saturday after two days at sea, but nine boats were still unaccounted for, according to several Rohingya refugee sources reached by telephone.

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More News On Myanmar's Sectarian Chaos

Burma's leader admits deadly attacks on Muslims -- The Guardian
Burma destruction widespread after ethnic clashes -- CBC
Burmese government accused of failing to stop anti-Muslim violence -- The Telegraph
Dozens Are Killed in Myanmar as Sectarian Violence Flares Again -- New York Times
Global Concerns Grow Over the Muslim-Buddhist Conflicts in Myanmar -- Wall Street Journal
Burma acknowledges mass burnings in Rakhine unrest -- BBC
Burma satellite images show destruction in Rakhine state -- BBC
Human rights groups decry Myanmar ethnic strife -- AP
Myanmar Muslims call off Eid celebrations -- CNN

Sectarian Battles Continue In Burma

Burma Rakhine Clashes Death Toll At 56 - State Officials -- BBC

At least 56 people have been killed and hundreds of homes torched since Sunday, as clashes spread in Burma's Rakhine state, officials say.

Several were killed overnight as violence erupted despite a night-time curfew in at least two towns.

The latest clashes are the first serious outburst of violence since June when a state of emergency was declared in Rakhine after 90 people were killed.

But tensions remained high between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims.

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More News On Burma's Sectarian Clashes

Sectarian Violence Escalates in Myanmar -- Wall Street Journal
Myanmar steps up security after sectarian clashes kill 50 -- CNN
56 dead as Myanmar's Rakine state explodes again -- South China Morning Post
56 dead, thousands of homes burned amid ethnic violence in Burma -- FOX News/AP
Deadly sectarian violence continues in Myanmar -- Deutsche Welle
Bangladesh steps up patrols on Myanmar border -- AFP