Saturday, July 19, 2025
spot_img

Myanmar police make arrests after nationalist, Muslim scuffle

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Yangon: Yangon police arrested several Buddhist nationalists on Friday for inciting violence after at least one man was left injured in a confrontation with local Muslims in Myanmar’s largest city.
Police issued arrest warrants for seven people including two monks — among dozens of hardliners who stormed into Mingalar Taung Nyunt township hunting for “illegal” Rohingya Muslims. Officers fired warning shots to break up the scuffles in the early hours of Wednesday.
The incident comes as nationalists from Myanmar’s Buddhist majority have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the country’s hard-pressed Muslims. The Rohingya, a group of more than a million Muslims who live mainly in western Rakhine State, are particularly maligned as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and their movements are heavily restricted.
Earlier on Friday the nationalists held a press conference defending their actions and demanding the authorities investigate the case. At least two people have been arrested out of seven who have been charged with incitement to commit violence, which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison.
”About three lay men were arrested by police this evening,” a local police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. “Warrants have been issued to arrest seven people altogether, including two monks, U Thu Seitta and U Pyin Nyar Wuntha,” he added.
However, local media reported that two people had been arrested. Nationalists in Yangon have held protests, stopped Islamic religious ceremonies and most recently forced two schools to close temporarily over accusations they were illegally doubling up as mosques in recent months.
Tensions have boiled over since militants attacked police posts in northern Rakhine, leading to an army crackdown that has sent more than 70,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. (AFP)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

‘Meant for global domination’

Bebo wishes PeeCee on her 43rd birthday Actress Kareena Kapoor said ‘You were meant for global domination’ as she...

Entertainment Buzz

Tickets for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sell out in minutes The tickets for the upcoming film The Odyssey from...

EU, UK impose new sanctions on Russia’s energy and spies

EU and UK ramp up pressure on Moscow with toughest sanctions yet, targeting energy, intelligence, and shadow oil fleet Brussels,...

US blacklists TRF; China pushes for anti-terror efforts

BEIJING, July 18: China, on Friday, responded cautiously to the United States’ designation of The Resistance Front (TRF)...