By Associated Press, THE WASHINGTON POST
SITTWE, Myanmar — Government forces stood by and watched as sectarian violence erupted last month in western Myanmar and then opened fire on Muslim Rohingyas as they tried to save their burning homes, Human Rights Watch claimed Wednesday.
In a 56-page report, the New York-based rights group called for strong international reaction to “atrocities” committed during last month’s bloody unrest between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya. The fighting that left at least 78 people dead has subsided but many tens of thousands remain homeless — mostly Rohingya in need of food, shelter and medical care.
“The government claims it is committed to ending ethnic strife and abuse, but recent events in (Rakhine) state demonstrate that state-sponsored persecution and discrimination persist,” said Brad Adams, the group’s Asia director. He urged the international community not to be “blinded by a romantic narrative of sweeping change” in the country.
The report was released as a U.N. human rights envoy visited Rakhine state to investigate the conflict that constituted some of Myanmar’s deadliest sectarian bloodshed in years and raised international concerns about the Rohingyas’ fate inside Myanmar.
Tomas Ojea Quintana’s evaluation is likely to be regarded as a yardstick for measuring the reforms undertaken by elected President Thein Sein after Myanmar ended decades of repressive military rule.