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Mizzima: Burmese authorities accuse



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            Burmese authorities accused of oppressing Muslims

By our correspondent
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

Chiangmai (Thailand), Oct. 25: The ruling Burmese military regime, State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) confirmed persistent rumors of
rioting and clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in Prome (Pyi) in
central Burma and clamped down curfews in some cities in the country.
The government?s confirmation came only after several foreign news
agencies reported on the matter during the past week.

Hla Min, government spokesperson, confirmed only on 19 October that
there had been clashes along religious lines at Prome on 9 October.
However, to date no details on the clashes and rioting have been
provided by the government.  ?The state-run newspapers, radio and TV
stations inside the country did not carry reports of the religious
clashes?, said a Rangoon resident.

According to eyewitnesses, the situation had assumed grave dimensions.
"Nearly 50 Muslim shops were destroyed. One person was killed and over
100 people were wounded in Prome alone?, said a staff member in Prome
Hospital.

As the clashes spread from Prome to Pegu Township, the authorities
imposed curfews in five townships in Pegu Division. In Taungoo Township,
police and army were stationed near the mosques.

Parallel to these activities, the government took ?preventive measures?
such as imposing travel restrictions on Muslims, not allowing Muslims to
attend prayers in mosques and monitoring Muslim leaders? activities. "In
Tha Kay Ta Quarter in Rangoon, people have not been allowed to pray in
mosques since June?, said a Rangoon resident.  Muslims living in Tha Kay
Ta Township are now compelled to conduct their prayers in a mosque in
Nwe Aye Ward, Daw Bon Town.

?It is now a common practice for mosque-attending Muslims to be watched
closely by military intelligence (MI). This is no longer a strange
occurrence?, commented a Muslim in Rangoon, adding that the practice
affected Muslims not only in Rangoon but also in Moulmein, Pegu, Pa-an
(Karen State) and Bu Thi Taung, Maung Daw, Kyauk Phyu (townships in
Arakan State).

Another Muslim who recently arrived Rangoon after secretly traveling
there from Bu Thi Taung in Arakan State (which borders with Bangladesh)
confirmed that MI is watching Muslims in his township.

Moreover, authorities have also banned the building of new mosques and
the refurbishing of old ones across the country.  ?If you want to repair
a Mosque, you have to pay bribes of 200 to 300 thousands Kyats to local
authorities?. In Pa-an and Phapon townships in Karen State, the Burmese
army not only destroyed mosques but also whole villages inhabited by
Muslims.

Recently, Buddhist monk leaders belonging to the Democratic Karen
Buddhists Army (DKBA) which is manipulated and controlled by the Burmese
regime, warned villagers in Pa-an Township (in Karen State) not to buy
anything from Muslim shops.  The monks allege that anyone buying from
Muslim shops is an anti-national and a traitor. DKBA monks put up
notices to this effect in shops and on trees across the town.

"Muslim living in Arakan State are being oppressed severely by the
authorities", said a Burmese Muslim from Bu Thi Taung. "In Kyauk Phyu,
Myay Pon, Bu Thi Taung and Maung Taw towns (which are close to
Bangladesh border), a Muslim requires a visa from the immigration office
to travel to other States and Divisions, whether he or she has National
Identity Card or not?, he said. ?Two acquaintances need to vouch for the
traveler in order for him or her to get a one-month visa.  If the
traveler does not come back, the two people having vouched for him or
her are liable to punishment of three months in jail term and a fine of
fifty thousand Kyats?.

Under these circumstances, many Muslims prefer to travel to Rangoon and
other cities secretly, bribing authorities along the journey. The
unfortunate ones are caught. U Kar Man (41) from Bu Thi Taung was
sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in August this year when he was
intercepted by the Ward authorities in Nwe Aye Ward, Daw Bon town,
Rangoon, when traveling secretly from Bu Thi Taung to Rangoon.

A spokesman from an exiled Muslim group alleged that Muslims in Burma
have been oppressed by the authorities since 1962.



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<center><b><font color="#000099"><font size=+1>Burmese authorities accused
of oppressing Muslims</font></font></b></center>

<p><font color="#FF0000">By our correspondent</font>
<br><font color="#FF0000">Mizzima News <a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>(www.mizzima.com)</a></font>
<p><b><i>Chiangmai (Thailand), Oct. 25:</i></b> The ruling Burmese military
regime, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) confirmed persistent
rumors of rioting and clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in Prome (Pyi)
in central Burma and clamped down curfews in some cities in the country.
The government?s confirmation came only after several foreign news agencies
reported on the matter during the past week.
<p>Hla Min, government spokesperson, confirmed only on 19 October that
there had been clashes along religious lines at Prome on 9 October. However,
to date no details on the clashes and rioting have been provided by the
government.&nbsp; ?The state-run newspapers, radio and TV stations inside
the country did not carry reports of the religious clashes?, said a Rangoon
resident.
<p>According to eyewitnesses, the situation had assumed grave dimensions.
"Nearly 50 Muslim shops were destroyed. One person was killed and over
100 people were wounded in Prome alone?, said a staff member in Prome Hospital.
<p>As the clashes spread from Prome to Pegu Township, the authorities imposed
curfews in five townships in Pegu Division. In Taungoo Township, police
and army were stationed near the mosques.
<p>Parallel to these activities, the government took ?preventive measures?
such as imposing travel restrictions on Muslims, not allowing Muslims to
attend prayers in mosques and monitoring Muslim leaders? activities. "In
Tha Kay Ta Quarter in Rangoon, people have not been allowed to pray in
mosques since June?, said a Rangoon resident.&nbsp; Muslims living in Tha
Kay Ta Township are now compelled to conduct their prayers in a mosque
in Nwe Aye Ward, Daw Bon Town.
<p>?It is now a common practice for mosque-attending Muslims to be watched
closely by military intelligence (MI). This is no longer a strange occurrence?,
commented a Muslim in Rangoon, adding that the practice affected Muslims
not only in Rangoon but also in Moulmein, Pegu, Pa-an (Karen State) and
Bu Thi Taung, Maung Daw, Kyauk Phyu (townships in Arakan State).
<p>Another Muslim who recently arrived Rangoon after secretly traveling
there from Bu Thi Taung in Arakan State (which borders with Bangladesh)
confirmed that MI is watching Muslims in his township.
<p>Moreover, authorities have also banned the building of new mosques and
the refurbishing of old ones across the country.&nbsp; ?If you want to
repair a Mosque, you have to pay bribes of 200 to 300 thousands Kyats to
local authorities?. In Pa-an and Phapon townships in Karen State, the Burmese
army not only destroyed mosques but also whole villages inhabited by Muslims.
<p>Recently, Buddhist monk leaders belonging to the Democratic Karen Buddhists
Army (DKBA) which is manipulated and controlled by the Burmese regime,
warned villagers in Pa-an Township (in Karen State) not to buy anything
from Muslim shops.&nbsp; The monks allege that anyone buying from Muslim
shops is an anti-national and a traitor. DKBA monks put up notices to this
effect in shops and on trees across the town.
<p>"Muslim living in Arakan State are being oppressed severely by the authorities",
said a Burmese Muslim from Bu Thi Taung. "In Kyauk Phyu, Myay Pon, Bu Thi
Taung and Maung Taw towns (which are close to Bangladesh border), a Muslim
requires a visa from the immigration office to travel to other States and
Divisions, whether he or she has National Identity Card or not?, he said.
?Two acquaintances need to vouch for the traveler in order for him or her
to get a one-month visa.&nbsp; If the traveler does not come back, the
two people having vouched for him or her are liable to punishment of three
months in jail term and a fine of fifty thousand Kyats?.
<p>Under these circumstances, many Muslims prefer to travel to Rangoon
and other cities secretly, bribing authorities along the journey. The unfortunate
ones are caught. U Kar Man (41) from Bu Thi Taung was sentenced to seven
years of imprisonment in August this year when he was intercepted by the
Ward authorities in Nwe Aye Ward, Daw Bon town, Rangoon, when traveling
secretly from Bu Thi Taung to Rangoon.
<p>A spokesman from an exiled Muslim group alleged that Muslims in Burma
have been oppressed by the authorities since 1962.
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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