Myanmar authorities aided violence against Muslims - HRW
Despite reforms from the new, quasi-civillian government in Myanmar, last year's ethnic cleansing of the country's Rohingya Muslim population continues to spark Buddhist and Muslim infighting.
And a new Human Rights Watch report on Monday claims Myanmar authorities supported the violence -- standing by, or even joining in, as Buddhist mobs killed Muslim men, women and children.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT AUTHOR AND CONSULTANTMATT SMITH SAYING:
"So despite very clear warning signs of imminent and serious violence and despite humanitarian and human rights implications of what was happening, the government authorities did nothing to intervene to stop it. Not only did they fail to intervene, but government security forces and authorities destroyed mosques, effectively block humanitarian aid to Rohingya populations and at times acted alongside Arakanese to forcibly displace Muslims."
The group said this tacit support emboldened those behind campa
And a new Human Rights Watch report on Monday claims Myanmar authorities supported the violence -- standing by, or even joining in, as Buddhist mobs killed Muslim men, women and children.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT AUTHOR AND CONSULTANTMATT SMITH SAYING:
"So despite very clear warning signs of imminent and serious violence and despite humanitarian and human rights implications of what was happening, the government authorities did nothing to intervene to stop it. Not only did they fail to intervene, but government security forces and authorities destroyed mosques, effectively block humanitarian aid to Rohingya populations and at times acted alongside Arakanese to forcibly displace Muslims."
The group said this tacit support emboldened those behind campa